August 2025: Celebrating 90 Years of Service

First Baptist Church, Newellton est. 1935

Where lies the beginning of a church? Who gives birth to the idea of its conception? Certain beginnings are traced through records. Preceding these are usually stories of interest shown in such organized bodies, by certain mena nd women of God who have passed through a challenging area, or who are residents of the area and desired a church home. it seems that such was indeed true in the birth of Newellton Baptist Church, later name and still known as First Baptist Church, Newellton, Louisiana.

In the early thirties, Mr. F. J. Katz, Executive Secretary of the Louisiana Baptist Convention was pass through St. Joseph and became interested in establishing work in Tensas Parish. From this first desire to establish a church in North Tensas Parish, First Baptist Church began its ministry in Newellton.

April 14, 1935, Reverend A.C. Holt preached in the Newellton Union Church. "God Made Manifest in Man" was the subject and a great sermon was delivered. Local Baptists were proud of this proclaimer of the Gospel and the Baptist message. They were inspired for the difficult task of establishing work in a new field. In July, 1935, a revival was held at the Newellton Union Church, led by Reverend Holt. Forty-two people expressed a desire for membership in a proposed Baptist Church. Unable to find housing in St. Joseph, Reverend Holt settled in Newellton.

On Sunday, August 25, 1935, Newellton Baptist Church held its first meeting in the auditorium of Newellton High School with Brother Holt leading the service. A church body of 25 was constituted and later charter membership was offered to 16 people who had formerly expressed a desire to become members. Three were baptized that afternoon in the Tensas River at New Light Landing bringing the total charter membership to 44. June 6, 1937, the First Baptist Church, Newellton, Louisiana celebrated the formal opening of its new home. Built with volunteer labor, supervised by Rev. Holt, it was the best-looking church for miles around and members were indeed proud. A large crowd gathered for all-day services and dinner on the grounds. An expression of gratitude from the pastor printed on a program testified to the generosity and good wishes of many Newellton people and others who were neither a member of First Baptist Church nor necessarily Baptist. It read: ... to our many friends in Newellton and in the surrounding community and state, your gifts of money, labor, and prayers have been a blessing to us.

In the Baptist Message, April 14, 1938, there appeared these lines from Rev. Holt's pen: Newellton church is beautifully located on the main highway running through the Town of Newellton. Our building and grounds are valued at $5,000.00. Our present membership is 135 with all departments well organized. From its beginning, the First Baptist Church, Newellton was missionary in spirit, organizing Sunday Schools in surrounding communities and twice extending an arm to nearby church groups.