About Us
Meeting Times
Sunday 8:30am - 12pm
6:45pm - 8pm
Wednesday 6:45pm - 8pm
Office Hours
7am – 8pm Weekdays
9am – 3pm Weekends
Location
306 N Main St
Rising Star Tx 76471
Church Staff
John Ward
Pastor
Letter to the Church
“God is so good all the time! My name is John Ward , Pastor of First Baptist Rising Star. God has blessed me with the backbone of my life Jan(Wife), Lauren Jane Ward(Daughter), Kristi Elizabeth Norwood(Daughter)+Andrew Norwood(Son-in-Law)+Easton James Norwood(Grandson),and Collins Faith Ward(Daughter-Granddaughter). My wife Jan(Honey Bunny) have been married for 28 years and going in the Lord. We are so excited being apart of such a great serving church family. We are not a perfect family, we need Jesus daily and His abundant grace and mercy. God has great things in store for First Baptist Rising Star. We want to invite you to Rising Star First Baptist, our desire is to keep Jesus #1 in every aspect of the church. As a church, we love and want to strive to get closer in our walk with Jesus and help others to grow closer to Jesus. Our desire is to Love God and Love people. We are all under construction daily for Jesus!!!!”
Secretary
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Youth Minister
Christian Barnett
Christian is from Friendswood Texas. He is currently pursuing a degree in Christian Education with an Emphasis in Ministry Leadership at Howard Payne University and is engaged to Bailey Small. He is passionate about teaching people how to follow Jesus to the fullest and living it out. In his free time he enjoys disc golf, spending time with friends, and watching movies.
Music Minister
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Our Core Values
1. We are a family
2. Small Group Bible Study impacts lives.
3. God's process of change is discipleship.
4. God's Word is our source of life change.
5. Every believer is responsible to grow to maturity.
6. The Church is relevant to today's world.
7. The Holy Spirit is our guide in ministry.
8. Excellence honors God and inspires people.
9. People matter to God and therefore matter to us.
10. Every believer is a witness.
Our History
First Baptist Church of Rising Star was founded in 1882. From 1882 - 1890, the services were held in the local school. In 1889 the church purchased an acre of land for $22.50 and started construction on a church building. During the spring of 1890, the church building was completed at a cost of $1,200. The church had a belfry with a towering spire pointing heavenward.
By the year 1917, the church was experiencing great growth, and a new building was needed. The church purchased the Presbyterian Church property for $600. The old church was torn down, and the material was to be used to erect a new church on the Presbyterian property. The building was finished and dedicated in the spring of 1918 at the cost of $3,000.
In 1920 the church built a parsonage. In 1922 the church erected a large tabernacle just back of the church. It stood until 1950 when it was torn down to make room for our new and bigger building.
In 1951 a new church was built, and the old church was moved to the back to serve as the Education Building. A Baptistry was added at this time also. This building burned on October 5th, 1970. Church members were able to save the church organ, the sanctuary piano, the pastor's desk, and about half of the library. Worship services were held in the Higginbotham Funeral Chapel and the school building for other services. In 1965 the Hudler Nursery was added.
In April of 1971, the new church was finished. The building was dedicated on July 11th, 1971. The new church building seats 400 and covers 10,956 square feet.
The present-day parsonage was finished in April of 1978. The parsonage is 2240 square feet under roof at the cost of $35,000. The activity center was finished in 1979.
What We Believe
1. The Bible is God's Holy Word. It is divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself.
2. God is bigger than we can imagine. He reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with each having a distinct personal attributes, but without division of His nature, essence or being.
3. Jesus is God revealing Himself to us.
4.The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God that lives in and through us.
5.Nothing in the Universe "just happened". God spoke it all into existence.
6.Salvation is by GRACE, a gift from God and not by anything we could do to receive it.
7. Faith is the only way we receive salvation. Faith that Jesus died on a cross, was then buried and on the third day He rose from the grave. God's action through Jesus restores the relationship that was broken by sin. Faith is the only way to grow in our relationship with God.
8. God has allowed evil to provide us with a choice. God can bring good out of evil events and He promises victory to those who choose Him.
9. Heaven and Hell are real places. Death is a beginning, not an end for those who know Jesus as their Savior.
10. The church is here to serve people like Jesus served people.