First Baptist history

Our history

First Baptist Church was founded by Sarah Gardner Hale in 1836. This group of believers first met in a log cabin, which served as the first house of worship in Hot Springs. The cabin also served as the schoolhouse until it burned in 1860. Built in 1862 near where the Hale Bath House is currently located, the second house of worship had a baptistry in a hot spring under the building. This building burned in 1878.

The congregation met in the City Hall until a third building was built in

1881 at Quapaw and Prospect Avenues at a cost of $1,800. It burned in 1905. A fourth building was completed in 1912 at the corner of Court and Exchange. It didn’t burn. A lawyer’s office now stands there.

The worship center that was completed in 1961 served us well until 2007, when we tore it was torn down in preparation for a new worship center. We moved into the new facility in

2008. In addition to a 1,200-seat worship center, the new building includes a sizable addition to our nursery and preschool area, additional adult Bible study space, and a music rehearsal area.

In September 2014, the members of First Baptist undertook a bold initiative to connect with more of our neighbors in Hot Springs than ever before. By creating two Sunday morning sessions for Connect Groups, small group Bible study and relationship opportunities for all ages, and two different worship service formats, the members of First Baptist doubled our church’s capacity to welcome new friends from our city. An unprecedented season of growth accompanied this forward-thinking strategy.

The church added additional adjacent property to its campus in the summer of 2015. Plans are underway to add much-needed parking and improved entryways to our campus. A two-year capital campaign, All In, will provide the resources for parking improvements as well as retire all existing debt. Once again, the members of First Baptist demonstrate their willingness to give sacrificially to make room for people who need Jesus.

Pastors 1934-Present day

The Rev. Clyde V. Hickerson (1934-1938).

The Rev. Benjamin Harrison Duncan (1939-1947).

Dr. John L. Dodge (1947-1957).

The Rev. James H. Fairchild (1958-1963).

Rev. Lehman F. Webb (19641970). The Rev. William Lloyd Cloud (1971-1978).

Dr. Doug Dickens (1978-1985).

Dr. Roy Buckelew (1986-1986).

Dr. Jerry Mixon (1990-1993).

Dr. John McCallum (1995 to present).