History

In 1938 the community of River Road did not have a church or church building of any denomination. Some children, even those nearing teen-age years, had never attended church or Sunday School. A desire for a place of worship had been planted in the hearts of some of God's people.

Mrs. Eddie Mann, who at that time resided in River Road on Bluebonnet Drive, talked with Reverend Howard Williams, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo about the need for a place of worship in River Road. Reverend Williams talked with the deacons and other members of the First Baptist Church about sponsoring a mission in River Road. A mission committee was appointed, and thus was begun the groundwork which six years later culminated in the building of the church.

Mr. Eddie Mann, a member of the River Road School Board, presented a request from the First Baptist Church for permission to meet in the River Road School. The request was granted.

The next step was visitation by phone, by letters and even by placing posters in the local grocery store, snack bar and filling station. People of all denominations were invited to worship God and study His word on Sunday and on Wednesday of each week. Minutes from First Baptist Church for April 1938 showed attendance for the four previous Sundays of the River Road Mission was 110 and 87, 112, and 113.

Reference: Minutes from First Baptist Church, November 8, 1939:

"Mr. R.H. Lumpkin, Chairman of the Mission Committee, made the following report. The committee met with Mr. Mann, who is acting as superintendent, and Mr. Harvey Wolfe, who is taking the place of Travis Gibson. He is doing a fine work. Mr. Lumpkin stated that he believed that by the end of the year, the River Road Mission Sunday School will report more conversions than many small established churches, because the people in the River Road community are willing to work, and the love Brother Wolfe."

"The River Road Mission has organized a choir and are having both morning and evening services, and are to organize a Training Union. Mr. Josey promised to supply Mr. Wolfe with sheet music for his choir. The Board of Deacons voted unanimously to recommend that we employ Mr. Wolfe at $30.00 per month effective November 1, 1939. Reverend Travis Gibson was the first pastor of the mission, and he served until September of 1939. Mr. Eddie Mann was the first Sunday School superintendent. Some of the first Sunday School teachers were: Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Prescott, Mr. Goodman, Mrs. Goodman, Mrs. Eustace, Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Morrow, and Mrs. Pavillard.

A building fund was started f or a new church soon after the mission's second year, for the people looked forward to a sanctuary where they could worship God and study His word. But before the church could be built, land had to be bought. So the present site, on the west side of River Drive and Cactus was acquired, plans for a building were drawn, and the people rejoiced.

Other plans developed rapidly. The Second Baptist Church, at the time called Pierce Street Baptist Church, donated to River Road a building, which they had out grown. It was moved to the River Road location in June 1944. The following month, July, the church, though still far from a finished sanctuary, was opened f or worship. That same day the members met after lunch to organize the church. Dr. A.D. Foreman, who was then pastor of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo, delivered an inspiring message along with Rev. Dewey Horton from Pierce Street Baptist Church. The pastor of River Road Mission was Reverend Coley Arender, and he presided at the meeting.

The pastors who have served in River Road Baptist Church since it's organization are as follows:

1944                  Coley Arender

1945                  Jack Merritt

1945-1949          J.E. Anderson

1950-1952          A.B. Moseley

1953-1954          D.M. Newton

1954-1956          Hank Scott

1954-1956          Stonecipher

1957-1963          G.F. Riggs

1963-1967          James Bryant

1967-1969          Dorian Blasingame

1969-1974          Gerald Swagerty

1975-1991          Carl Neal

1991-1996          Mitch Wilson