Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

A Faithful Witness Of Christ
Thomas M. Deas, M. D.

In the early days, the days of Yore,
Long, long before
Even our parents were alive,
The Year was eighteen hundred forty-five,
A few Christian Men and Women met together.

You see, they were "birds of a Feather."
All were of Baptist belief and call.
They wanted to organize a Church for them all.
And today, after one hundred fifty years,
This church still hears

The beautiful Good News of God's Only Son
Who gave His Life for any and everyone
Who desires to be saved by God's Great Grace,
Through their unswerving Faith
In Jesus Christ as Lord.

Then they receive the great Reward
Of Life Eternal, forever,
The fear of Death? Never!
For they are in Christ's grasp
And He is in the Father's Clasp.

Nothing can remove them from that protected place;
They are surrounded by God's Great Grace!!!
The body began to meet in John Murrell's Store,
The Post Office part, heretofore;

Ebenezer Baptist Church was the name they chose.
The Body of Believers grows
So that, in eighteen hundred forty-nine,
On a sloping hillside covered with pine,
A one-room cabin of logs was erected near Tanyard Creek Stream,
Which was often used as a Baptistry, it seems.

At that time the name was changed to Homer Baptist Church;
And they continued their search
For those unsaved souls of Children, Women and Men,
Preaching the Gospel and Salvation from Sin.

Growth abounded in the Congregation.
This set up the obvious situation
Of need for a larger meeting place,
Which was the case

For building in eighteen fifty-seven, on a Central site,
In order to correct this Plight!
It was a larger building and a bell tower to call to meeting.
The many pews were organized for a special seating
Of men in the left and ladies in the right side pews.

The membership grew with the spread of the Good News.
An even larger building was needed by nineteen-o-four
Because the Congregation spilled out the door.
Thus a new building was built just a little east
With the thought it would last fifty years, at least.

There was space here for Sunday School
And a pipe organ that worked, as a rule.
The next twenty years saw a spurt in the membership roll
From one hundred twenty four to five hundred in the fold.

Mission offerings were very high
And the Homer Oil Field Boom hit the sky!
Much more space was needed than in nineteen-0-four,
Yes, more space was needed, much, much more.

In nineteen twenty-four a big new building was built on East
Main and South Third
With great certainty that it would gird
The membership-now-with room to grow....

And that's what happened, you know!
There was a new Pilcher Organ and Sunday School growing
Because of the Good News of Christ it was sowing.

An Educational Building was built in nineteen fifty-five,
And, as they hadn't arrived
To their potential, they also used an old White Building of Frame
To spread the Gospel in His Name.

In nineteen hundred sixty-one
They redid the organ and building of nineteen hundred twenty-four,
Because more and more came through the door.

During those days there were classes from Nursery One
Through every age group and Church could "run"
Plus Home Bound Ministry and Cradle Roll,
To everyone the Good News was told.

The Church Membership reached twelve hundred, about,
Until the Birth Rate dropped and the youngsters moved out
Into the world to find work and families grow-
That is when the numbers became low.

Yet, the Church Mission remained very clear,
To teach Christ to all who would hear.
So, they built again, a Family Life Center,
And so far, it looks like a winner

To help "First Baptist Church" (name given in nineteen fifty-one)
In the ministry it had begun,
To be God's lighthouse LIGHT,
Shining bright in Sin's Dark Night.

BUT, LET IT BE UNDERSTOOD,
A church is NOT a building or a steeple.
A church is group of Christian People,
The Organized Working Parts of the Body of Christ, Our Lord,
Who are pointing the UNSAVED toward

Our God and savior above
To lives filled with Agape Love
When Salvation through faith in Him,
And the Holy Spirit is received by them.

This Church was born in eighteen hundred forty-five,
And has been part of the lives
Of the resident children, women and men
For one hundred fifty years, since then.

Ebenezer Baptist Church was the first name they chose-
And in eighteen forty-nine, the name Homer Baptist Church arose,
But in nineteen fifty-one there was a change,
So that First Baptist Church of Homer is its present name.

The Mission of the Body has always been
To spread the Gospel and combat sin,
To witness its beliefs in the area around,
Especially to the unsaved who could be found,
That THEY might be a part of Christ's Body, too,
And live a New Life, His Will to do.

This witness has been faithful and staunch,
Ever Willing New Programs to launch,
To better spread God's Great Love
Through His Directions from above...

How many souls have been saved from sin?
An untold number, since then.
How many hearts have been comforted and relieved?
How many blessings have been received?
How much love has been given away,
With as much, and more, to give today?

How much counsel has brought families back together,
To calm a marriage in stormy weather?
What beautiful music and hymns have been raised,
And through the choir and the Congregation they've praised
From the Organ and their singing.

Surely, the Bells of Heaven are ringing!!
How many of their children have left this town
To found lives and families on a doctrine sound?
How many soldiers have they had "over there"
Comforted that God and their Church do care?

And, if they are lost in the strife,
Know that death doesn't conquer, IN CHRIST THERE IS LIFE!!
How many prayers have been raised?
And how many people are amazed
At the results of answered prayer?
God and His People do really care!

How many lonely people have learned that God is around,
And, if looked for, can certainly be found?
How many saved have walked the aisle
That wasn't very long, but seemed a mile?

How many baptisms have been performed
On those bodies whose Spirits are reborn?
How many Missionaries have gone to other lands
And have been Christ's voice, heart, feet, and hands?

How many preachers and ministers have been spawned,
And to other cities and states have gone?

OH, YES!! IT WASN'T THE BUILDING OR STEEPLE!
THIS CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF PEOPLE,
WHO, FOR ONE HUNDRED FIFTY YEARS, HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL AND TRUE,
LOOKING TOWARD THE NEXT ONE HUNDRED FIFTY YEARS,
OF WITNESS TO DO...!

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish | AHGP

Source: Author's Notice: I hereby give permission for the free dissemination of any and all material included within the book and permit any non profit use of that material. Should any agency wish to use the material in a profit context, permission must be secured from the church body of First Baptist Church, Homer, LA 71040.  By Barbara Smith, Homer, Louisiana.