Silsbee, Hardin County
FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH JOHN HENRY KIRBY AND NATHANIEL SILSBEE BEGAN DEVELOPING THE TIMBER RESOURCES OF EAST TEXAS AND BUILT A RAILROAD FROM BEAUMONT NORTHWARD. THE FIRST TERMINAL ON THE RAILROAD, NAMED SILSBEE, GREW RAPIDLY ONCE THE SANTA FE RAILROAD BEGAN OPERATING PASSENGER TRAINS THROUGH TOWN DAILY. THE FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF SILSBEE, ORIGINALLY CALLED FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, WAS ORGANIZED AROUND 1900 BY REVEREND J.B. DUNBAR FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. JOHN KIRBY FURNISHED LAND AND MATERIALS FOR THE CHURCH BUILDING. THE BUILDING WAS TO BE USED FOR WORSHIP AS LONG AS THERE WAS A CONGREGATION, BUT IF THE CHURCH CEASED TO BE, THE LAND WOULD REVERT BACK TO KIRBY LUMBER COMPANY. REVEREND F.K. KIRKWOOD, A MISSIONARY FOR THE TRINITY VALLEY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, CAME TO SILSBEE AND REORGANIZED THE CHURCH IN 1922. AT THIS TIME, THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TO ELIMINATE THE CONFUSION WITH THE OTHER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. A NEW SANCTUARY WAS COMPLETED IN 1928. A STORM BLEW THE CHURCH OFF ITS BLOCKS IN 1939 AND WORSHIP SERVICES WERE HELD IN THE MASONIC HALL UNTIL 1940 WHEN THE CHURCH WAS REBUILT. REALIZING THE NEED FOR MORE ACCOMMODATIONS, A NEW CHURCH SANCTUARY WAS COMPLETED IN 1969 THAT INCLUDED THE ORIGINAL BELL. UNDER REV. BOOKER, THE ORIGINAL SITE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE TRUSTEES OF THE LAND, THE TRINITY VALLEY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. THE CHURCH SUPPORTED THE CHRISTIAN CARE CENTER, THE SHELTER, THE YOUTH YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP ALLIANCE FOUNDATION AND LOCAL AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO EXPAND, HONOR THEIR HERITAGE AND ASSIST THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTREACH AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. (2012)