Church History

NEW COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH

(Established in 1957 as Pioneer Baptist Church
Name changed to South Mesquite Baptist Church
May 12 1996, the name changed to New Covenant Baptist Church)

BRING THEM IN, BUILD THEM UP, SEND THEM OUT!

On a Sunday morning in September 1957, after much prayer and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Bro. J. E. Clark and Bro. A. G. Heflin held a revival service on a vacant lot at Newsome Road, Camino and Calle Hanby streets. They had invited all of their friends and neighbors to join them for Sunday School and Church services at 9:45 a.m. On Sunday morning eighteen people gathered together for Sunday School. Three more people came for the church service making a total of twenty-one people. The revival services continued to two weeks with the Lord blessing each service. At the end of two weeks, the Lord had blessed in such a way that the people felt led to rent a house owned by Sam Rutherford on Mesquite Valley Road.

After moving into the house on Mesquite Valley Road, the people realized they needed some assistance. Some Christian friends came to their aid sponsoring them, and they became a mission of Northridge Baptist Church. The church provided the mission with chairs and hymn books. The mission used Northridge Church’s name in receiving members in the fellowship, and used the baptistery to baptize new converts. As the Lord continued to pour out His blessings on His people, they outgrew the house on Mesquite Valley Road. Then the Lord gave the people still another blessing. Through the friends of Lakeside Baptist Church on Garland Road, the grounds and a frame building on the present site were donated to the mission.

On April 27, 1958, Pioneer Baptist Church was organized including Sunday School, Morning Worship Service, Training Union, Evening Worship Service, Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting and WMU.

The church continued to grow, and the Lord added greatly to His church. During the next five years many people contributed their time, money and talent to the work of the Lord in helping the church to grow. Some of them have gone on to be with the Lord, some were members of other churches who donated their time to help out in this great work for our Lord.
With the help of the Lord and the faithful work of many people, a building program was started in 1961 to build a new sanctuary. According to the Texas Mesquiter paper the church dedication was held September 14, 1961.

A Jubilee Revival was held on March 15-22, 1964. Ronnie Boswell preached the Revival services. By a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit hearts were touched and lives were changed. Twenty-four people were baptized in 1964. In January 1964, a building fund was started. The present indebtedness would be paid and a new loan would be made to erect a new educational building.

The fast growth of the Sunday School Department led to a need for an additional building. The church made a bid on a frame building that had been used by Agnew Junior High School. The bid was accepted and the building was moved to the church grounds in July 1965. The frame building was attached to the present sanctuary by a hallway.

The church was again outgrowing their Sunday School building. In September of 1966 a building committee was formed to submit plans for the new education building. The building was completed in 1968.

On April 14, 1969, the name of the church was changed to South Mesquite Baptist Church. The reason given was that when visiting people in the neighborhood to invite them to visit Pioneer Baptist Church, they discovered they were getting the name confused with another Baptist church on Pioneer Road.

On April 5, 1970, the church met in special conference to vote to become a mission of First Baptist Church in Dallas.

RESOLUTION TO BE VOTED ON:

Forming of Pioneer Baptist Church (more recently known as South Mesquite Baptist Church) into a Mission

WHEREAS, The Pioneer Baptist Church has developed financial difficulties and

WHEREAS, The financial difficulties have led to spiritual depression and

WHEREAS, This church needs help in becoming a soul-winning church and

WHEREAS, This church needs strength in its leadership now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the membership of Pioneer Baptist Church Charter No. 169675 (more recently known as South Mesquite Baptist Church) go on record favoring the formation of said church into a mission church of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas and that by doing so, the First Baptist Church will assume the indebtedness along with titles to all property located at 400 Agnew, Mesquite, Texas and will place into this mission a maximum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per week for an unspecified time toward meeting the budget, that all money received by this mission will go for its work and toward mission causes.

It is our solemn prayer that under this “partnership agreement” we pledge to commit ourselves individually collectively to do our best along with what God will do to provide resources, personnel, and programs with the First Baptist Church of Dallas to reach our community for Christ.

A building and Grounds Committee was selected, six people served on the committee.  Their duties were care of the church grounds and any needed repairs on the interior of the building.

A committee was formed to project the future growth of the church and construction work began on the second story of the education building on approximately July 24, 1972.  The Lord continued to bless His faithful people by increasing the number of the congregation.

In the business meeting on February 11, 1981, a plan to liquidate the debt on the church property was discussed.  The debt on the said property as of January 1, 1981, was $35,914.98 and if the payoff is made by July 1982, the church would save $8,106.60 making payoff $27, 022.00.  After explanation was made by Br. Potter, a motion was made by William Currin that we enter into an abbreviated version of the “Together We Build” program whereby to liquidate said debt.  Motion was seconded and carried.

On October 21, 1982, the Dallas Baptist Association would meet.  The Credentials Committee of the Association will recommend that South Mesquite Baptist Church revert back to an autonomous church.  The church debt was paid off in November 1982.

On Wednesday, July 24, 1985, South Mesquite Baptist Church was called into a special business meeting.  Denneth Stovall made the recommendation from the deacons that the church agrees to go ahead and pursue the purchase of the land adjoining the church property.  Motion was seconded and so carried.  Bro Jim gave details concerning the land owned by Mr. Canada.  He would give us five (5) acres if we would purchase five (5) acres for $150,000.  We would make a $50,000 down payment and Mr. Canada would finance the remainder over a period of eleven (11) years.  However, the deacon body decided we should not go into debt to purchase the land.  We will sacrifice to raise the $50,000 down payment.  Motion carried.

August 28, 1985, motion was made and carried that we pay $500 attorney fees for handling the contract to purchase the Lewis tract of land.  Motion was made and carried that we pay $1,000.00 earnest money toward the purchase of the Lewis tract of land.

In the September 8, 1985 business meeting Bro. Jim gave the details of the contract drawn up for our signature the purchase the Lewis tract of land.  It is a simultaneous contract between three parties, Mr. Canada, the church, and Larry Graves and Jerry Bullard, land developers.  The total cost of the ten (10) acres is $150,000.  Mr. Canada is selling us five (5) for the $150.00 and donating the other five (5).  At closing $50,000 will be paid by the developers and immediately two (2) acres will go them and two (2) acres will go to the church.  These two (2) acres will be the churches free and clear no matter what.  The first $50,000 is due December 1, 1985.  At that time, we will receive another three (3) acres of land.  February 1, 1986, we have another option to purchase the remaining three (3) acres for $50,000.  Bro. Jim encouraged the church to give sacrificially toward reaching the goal of $50,000.  Members sold jewelry, old cars, and anything of value to reach our goal.  (Personal note:  I remember we did not quite reach the $50,000 and went to the closing with much prayer that Mr. Canada would accept our payment.  Reluctantly he did.

At the May 12, 1996 business meeting it was voted to change the name of the church to New Covenant Baptist Church.  Until a new church location could be obtained, the Mesquite School District allowed us to meet at the Mary Moss Elementary School on New Market.

At the July 14, 1996, business meeting it was recommended that we purchase Meadow Creek Baptist Church building.  Motion was made and carried.  Motion made and carried to seek a loan from Dallas Baptist Association to add to our current funds to purchase the building.

At the December 8, 1996 business meeting Tom McCann made a motion that we sell the parsonage.  This would allow us to apply the money to our loan for the new church building.

On February 16, 1997 the church unanimously voted to accept Tom McCann as pastor.  He was ordained by the church 3/30/1997.

The sale of the parsonage for $45,098.75 was announced at the August 24, 2997 business meeting.  $40,387.06 was put towards the loan, and the balance is now $85,176.99.

It was voted to go to quarterly business meetings 9/13/1998.

The loan on our church was paid off in 2001.

New sound equipment was purchased 1/2001.

October 2000, the church began supporting Bro. Wilson Joseph who is spreading the gospel in India (Calvary Ashram).  Bro. Joseph is dependent on churches in the United States to support his mission.  He started a school and was in a great need for building funds.  On August 16, 2002, the church voted to give Bro. Joseph $7,000 to help in the building of a new school to teach children which includes the preaching of the gospel.  Thousands of children have received an education because of Bro. Joseph’s ministry and thousands of those children and their families have been witnessed to and received salvation.  Bro. Joseph also teaches the people a craft so they can earn a living.  His ministry has been difficult and often dangerous for him, his family and those he ministers to because of the government in India.

Yearly business meetings began 2/2006 to be on the second Sunday in February.