Our Story

Known as Liberty Baptist Church right at the beginning, the faith family now known as First Baptist Church originally met in a hay shed just west of Steger Lumber Company in Durant. Led by Rev. Moses C. Clark, eight people met for the first time in 1889.

The church later began meeting near the present site at West Evergreen and North Second Street. In 1920, a two-story educational addition was completed to the north of the sanctuary. During this time period, FBC was instrumental in the formation of Calvary Baptist Church. In the 1940s a mission was established which became Fairview Baptist Church. Then in the 1950s another mission was started which later became Sunset View Baptist Church in Durant.

In 1964 the congregation completed and dedicated a new sanctuary for worship. This building still serves as the main meeting place for the congregation today. Additional space was added to the education wing and significant remodeling took place in 1984.

1983 marked the beginning of a television ministry and 1985 saw the establishment of the First Friends pre-school. FBC celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 1989 and promptly sponsored the beginning of the First Hispanic Baptist Mission in 1990. Primera Iglesia Bautista continues its ministry today.

The church then opened the Mark and Ethel Staton Family Life Center in 1992. FBC opened, for the second time, a free medical clinic in 1999 and helped sponsor the opening of The Pregnancy Center of Bryan County on church property in 2000. During that same year, the Hispanic mission moved into its own building at 1124 W. Alabama in Durant. In 2003, FBC dedicated the new Falls Creek cabin which sleeps 210 people on the grounds of Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in the arbuckle mountains near Davis, OK.

The church began a Christ-centered recovery ministry called Celebrate Recovery in 2009 and the Chinese Fellowship began to meet in 2011. Then in August of 2015, the church began using the newly built Student Worship Center for youth and college students to the east of the education wing near 1st Street.

See this video from 2014 that celebrates 125 years of FBC Durant for more information on our history.

For a short time, services would be held in Wilson Opera House across the street until a new building was finished. The following years saw the completion of the church offices, a sanctuary, a baptistery, and the full ownership of the church’s present-day property.

FBC built and dedicated a new cabin at Falls Creek Conference Center that holds a maximum of 210 people. Every year it houses hundreds of people in conjunction with youth camps, collegiate week, men’s and women’s retreats, and numerous other events.

Eight people met for the first time in Durant Indian Territory, known as Liberty Baptist Church. Reverend Moses C. Clark set the pace with an optimistic outlook upon life. Rev. Clark preached in a community building at the intersection of 1st and Arkansas Streets. This group made the small beginning of a great church.

The church did some specific work on South 9th Street and a revival in Southside Park was held. The results of this work led to the organization of Calvary Baptist Church. In later years, more missionary activity took place such as the establishment of Fairview Baptist Church, Lee Heights Baptist Church,  and a Baptist Student Union (known today as Baptist Collegiate Ministry) on the campus of Southeastern State.

The congregation completed and dedicated a new sanctuary for worship that featured a pipe organ, beautiful stain glass, and dark walnut furnishings. On that Sunday morning of May 3rd, Dr. Gaskin went to the pulpit, looked out over his congregation, and gingerly opened his Bible and read, “My house shall be a house of prayer.” He then proceeded to lift a prayer of gratitude.

Following our capital stewardship campaign, the church completed construction of the Student Worship Center building located east of the education wing near 1st Street. The SWC provided a commons and worship space for students and adults to engage in the worship of the one true God.