LITTLE ROCK – Established in 1824, the congregation of First Baptist Church in Little Rock recently celebrated the church’s 200-year legacy of faith.
The church hosted a celebration service on Sunday, Nov. 17. Pastor Jonathan Curtis shared a portion of Psalm 78,” O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. What we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
“Today, that is what we want to do. We want to spend a moment reflecting upon the great legacy of faith that has happened here at First Baptist,” Curtis said. “Isn’t it incredible thinking about people gathering around Jesus hundreds of years ago, and we have a chance to do the same today.”
Curtis said the day was about reflection as well as inspiration to continue lifting the name of Jesus up to the next generation.
During the celebration service, attendees were shown videos with words of congratulations and encouragement from Don Moore, Jim Lagrone and Bill Elliff. They touted the church’s great history of evangelism and revival. The celebration sermon was delivered by Dr. Mark Howell, who has been in the ministry for roughly 30 years and has served as senior pastor of churches in Florida, Texas, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including at First Baptist Little Rock from 2001 to 2005.
Additionally, Dr. Greg Jones gave an update on what God is doing at the Baptist Preparatory School. The college preparatory school was founded by First Baptist Little Rock in 1981. With 750 students and 120 plus employees, Jones said the school is in a strong place.
Also in attendance was Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Executive Director Dr. Rex Horne. He said the church has been a solid and stable voice for the Lord and Baptists for a long time, through civil war, political strife, depressions, and recessions.
“The reason you have existed all these years is because of the head of this church and that is the Lord Jesus Christ,” Horne said.
“What we want to do is match the fervor of those who started the church so long ago. They were committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. They were committed to the Word of God. They were committed to the future. And we need in this day and time to have a church like this who will stand for the Lord Jesus Christ, love all people, evangelize the Lord, and cooperate … and make a difference in this world. That is what we’re called to do. The time is short, let’s be at it.”
Curtis said one part of “passing on the baton to the next generation” is doing what they can to partner with other churches.
Don Chancellor, associational missionary for the Pulaski Baptist Association, said about 900 southern Baptist churches close their doors every year.
“That’s a lot of churches that close, but 200 years of faithfulness, let me thank you for that,” he told those in attendance at the celebration service.
“When the Pulaski Baptist Association was formed in 1916, there were 16 charter members of our association and First Baptist Little Rock was one of those churches. … Some of those churches are no longer here but First Baptist has been faithful all these years. Not only there in the beginning, but through all the years.”
When Tyler Street Baptist Church closed its doors in 2014, the congregation wanted the legacy of their church and work to continue. Chancellor said as they began to look at how they could replant a church in that community, they saw a reversion clause in the deed. First Baptist Little Rock had given the land where Tyler Street Baptist was built. The clause said that if Tyler Street Church ever ceased to exist the land would go back to First Baptist Little Rock.
Chancellor connected with Curtis and through partnerships they launched the church plant, Connect Church, now established, in 2022 led by Charles Simmons. Simmons called it an incredible privilege to stand at the celebration service and honor and celebrate 200 years of God’s faithfulness to First Baptist Little Rock.
“This is a milestone we stand on today, a testament to unwavering commitment to the Great Commission,” he said. “As we celebrate your legacy, I just want to thank you for being an integral part of Connect Church’s story.”
In the 2 ½ years Connect Church has existed, Simmons said God has allowed them to witness more than 17 baptisms, over 400 salvations and they have grown to a weekly average of 77 people in attendance.
“When I think about numbers, they are not just statistics. They represent lives changed, families restored and a community that has been impacted by the love of Jesus Christ,” Simmons said. “None of this would have been possible had it not been for partnerships.”
Simmons shared Psalm 118:23, “This came from the Lord; it is wonderful in our eyes.”
“As we reflect on this history of First Baptist and our young church, I really see a thread of God’s faithfulness woven throughout from planting seeds 200 years ago to helping Connect Church now be a little over 2 ½ years old,” Simmons said.
“I believe you have shown what it means to be a church. I believe you have displayed the heart of the gospel and a passion for expanding the kingdom of God.”
