A Quick Look at Our History
God’s Grace throughout our History
On June 10, 1947 God led a small group of like-minded believers to start a new Church in the Dixiana area. Beginning with a tent revival at a spot near the present Church site, God brought Dixiana Baptist Church into existence on June 10, 1947. Names appearing as charter members in the proceedings of the early Church include those of Gaskins, Howell, Lee, Raines, Platt, Spires, and Vining. There were 20 charter members and Rev. M.E. Kyzer was called to become the first pastor. A building was soon erected and is still in use today as a fellowship hall and classrooms.
Rev. Johnny Johnson was called to be the second pastor, and Rev. O’Neal Sharpe was called as the third pastor. The opportunity came to purchase two small houses and a good strip of highway frontage from the “Barr” estate, which makes up the property the Church is using today, with the exception of a lot that was recently purchased from the Anderson estate. Rev. Arthur Martin was the next man to be called as pastor of Dixiana. After Rev. Martin, the Church called Rev. H.L. Hunter. During the time of Rev. H.L. Hunter’s pastorate, a “Mortgage Burning” service was held; and plans were made to begin the construction of a new sanctuary building that we are now using. This building was dedicated in November of 1974. In 1975 Rev. Lawrence Stewart was called as pastor. Under his leadership the old building was renovated to give us a fellowship hall and classrooms that we use today. During Rev. Stewart’s service a day care was started but was discontinued after the arrival of Rev. Dewey Cockrell as pastor in the early 1980′s. During Rev. Cockrell’s tenure the Church had reached a very low point just before the arrival of Rev. Cockrell; but through his efforts, some dedicated members, and the Grace of God, we were able to continue to pay off the debts that we had acquired, make improvements to both buildings, and show a steady increase in membership that has continued on until this day. Rev. Jeffrey Bradley came to our Church while he was still in high school to help with the music program. Rev. Bradley was ordained by this Church and became the bi-vocational pastor in 1989. In the year of 1990 bond indebtedness that had been incurred during the renovation of the old building was paid off, and in March of 1996 we had another “Mortgage Burning” – of the mortgage on the new sanctuary. We are now debt-free and growing daily in the Lord.
Pastor Chris Platt, also ordained by this church, came on as associate pastor in 1997, along with this he also served as the youth pastor until 2001 when he was called to be the senior pastor. During his first couple of years of ministry he worked on and received a B.A. in pastoral ministries from Columbia International University. He continues to serve as the senior pastor as well as on the board of EIFC (evangelizing India for Christ), the Lord has blessed his ministry here at Dixiana, and the church has grown steadily reaching families all throughout the community. The Lord has continued to bless Dixiana thru the years, and we will lean on His grace for many more.
