Pictured are (from left) Hayden Wilkes and Mirissa Wilkes (Photo Courtesy Hunter Green)
October 1, 2024 - A historical marker dedication was held September 29, 2024, for Providence Missionary Baptist Church.
Speakers for the event were Hayden Wilkes, Pastor; Bro. Don Moore; and Bro. Charles Williams. The marker was unveiled during the ceremony and it reads as follows:
“In the years following the civil war, residents of this rural area realized the need to organize a church to feed their spiritual lives. The Reverend James Carroll Koonce (1815-1889) established a church in 1884 and served as the first preacher. The church held services on the first Sunday of the month, providing the weather was good for members to travel by foot, wagon or horseback to gather. In 1891, John Hatton Sr. and his wife, A.R. Hatton deeded two acres of land to H.H. Wall and A.F. Hughes, trustees of Providence Baptist Church. The first church building was erected around 1891.
“The original church name was usually styled the Baptist Church of Christ at Providence "missionary" was added in 1905 and "of Christ" was dropped in 1955, making the church’s name, Providence Missionary Baptist Church. In 1943, the church voted to begin meeting twice a month. In 1957, a new church building was erected. The next year, the name Providence Missionary Baptist Church was formalized. By 1969, the church was meeting every Sunday. In October 1972, Wednesday night bible study was added to the services.
“Once a newer sanctuary was built, the 1957 structure was remodeled into a fellowship hall. The church later added classroom space. As with many rural settings, the church provided a center point for the community. Calendar events have included yearly fall festivals with games and hayrides, Christmas program and card exchange, and vacation bible school. An enduring tradition is a Fifth Sunday Service led by the church's youth. For more than a century, Providence Missionary Baptist Church has provided religious instruction and fellowship to the people of this tight-knit rural community.”
Pictured are (from left) Regina Moore and Don Moore (Photo Courtesy Hunter Green)
The church has since submitted a message of appreciation to the community that reads as follows, “Thank you to everyone who came out to the dedication service for our Texas historical marker at Providence Missionary Baptist Church.
“Special thanks to Laura Harris, Teresa Dickerson, Wanita Shofner, Hayden Wilkes, and everyone else who played a crucial role in this dedication service.
Your support and dedication are truly appreciated.
“Proverbs 28:20 - A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. (KJV)
“Let us continue to be faithful stewards of God's grace.”
Pictured are (from left) Charles and Betty Williams Photo Courtesy Hunter Green)
