Our Story
For nearly 180 years, God has faithfully used FBC Gonzales to proclaim the gospel, disciple generations of believers, and serve our community and the world. While much has changed since 1847, one thing has remained the same: God's faithfulness.
Frontier Beginnings
The story of First Baptist Church Gonzales began on the Texas frontier. Pioneer pastor Z. N. Morrell helped establish some of the earliest Baptist churches in Texas and later documented his experiences in Flowers and Fruits in the Wilderness, one of the earliest accounts of frontier missions in the Republic of Texas.
On July 31, 1847, First Baptist Church Gonzales was formally organized. Deacon Thomas J. Pilgrim also established what is considered the first Sunday School in Texas, believing churches could not thrive without teaching children.
From the beginning, our church valued both discipleship and community, even opening our building to other congregations and hosting the annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Texas.
Morrell
Pilgrim
1902 Sanctuary
Thurmond
Ministry Expansion
As Gonzales grew, our church became known for missions, church planting, and sending people into ministry.
Pastor Thurmond left Gonzales to serve as a missionary in San Antonio, and our church later helped support a mission work that eventually became First Baptist Church San Antonio.
Church members faithfully supported their pastors, one another, and the future of the church. In 1902, through sacrificial giving, they built the brick sanctuary that still serves our congregation today.
Building a Legacy
The twentieth century was marked by missions, evangelism, and church planting.
George and Minnie Lacy faithfully served as missionaries in Mexico despite the heartbreaking loss of all five of their children to scarlet fever. Our church also supported missionaries in China and Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe).
Closer to home, members helped plant Eastside Baptist Church and Memorial Heights Baptist Church. God also raised up influential leaders, including Pastor Foy Valentine, and evangelist Billy Graham preached from our pulpit. During this era, the church also dedicated its education building to support future generations.
Eastside
Memorial
Heights
Continued Faithfulness
God continued opening new doors for ministry in the decades that followed.
Under Pastor Randel Everett, the church launched ministries such as Wednesday meals, evangelism programs, and men's breakfasts. During Curt Dodd's pastorate, one hundred people were baptized in a single year. Our church has also helped support Oak Hills Community Church and expanded mission partnerships to places like the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Germany.
Looking Ahead
For nearly two centuries, God has sustained FBC Gonzales through changing seasons and new opportunities for ministry. Today, kids and youth ministries, discipleship, local outreach, prayer, missions, and gospel-centered community continue to define who we are.
We are grateful for our past, but we are even more excited about the future. The same God who was faithful in 1847 remains faithful today, and we believe He is still writing new chapters in the story of First Baptist Church Gonzales.