History
During the early part of the 20th Century the oil boom in Wichita County led to the birth of small oil field towns throughout the area. It was around one such oil well, the Burk-Waggoner, that a small town came into existence called Newtown. The town burned in 1922 as a result of lightning during a thunderstorm. It rebuilt and was instituted as Thrift.
As a result of opportunities for ministry in the wake of tragedy, Central Baptist Church was birthed as Thrift Baptist Church. The church was organized on August 24, 1924 at Bradley’s Corner Community Center and had 14 charter members. It petitioned the Wichita County Baptist Association for membership on September 16, 1924.
Rev. J. L. Walters was called as the first pastor. In 1952 the church moved to Burkburnett and located at 814 Tidal Street. The name was changed to Thrift Memorial Baptist Church. In 1957 plans were made for a new educational building. This was completed in 1959. In the winter of 1960, ground breaking for a new auditorium was held. The name was changed from Thrift Memorial Baptist Church to Central Baptist Church on July 16, 1961.
On July 30, 1961 the new auditorium was dedicated. New educational space was added 1973. In 1981 a new kitchen was added in the educational facilities. During the past several years the church has moved forward with the paving of the parking lot, new stained glass windows, chandeliers, enlargement of the auditorium, steeple, enclosure of the atrium area and many other improvements. Our church built a Family Life Center in 2000 to provide further opportunities for fellowship and recreation. In 2009 we remodeled our worship center and added a media center using the new technology available.
What We Believe
Our beliefs and teaching can be summarized as follows:
- The Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God. It is inerrant in its original autographs, and the church’s absolute authority.
- God eternally exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Mankind, in his natural state, is spiritually dead in transgressions and sins, separated from God, and in need of salvation.
- Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was born of a virgin, became a man, and without ceasing to be God, accomplished our redemption through His sacrificial death on the cross.
- God, the Holy Spirit, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment; and He indwells every believer.
- Satan, a fallen angel, is active today as the enemy of God.
- Salvation is a gift of God received only through personal faith in Christ, and all who trust Christ as Savior are kept secure in Him forever.
- The local church, as a part of the universal body of Christ, is an assembly of believers united for godly worship and fellowship.
- The Lord has given to the church the ordinance of believer’s baptism. Individuals who have put their trust in Christ as Savior are to be baptized by immersion in water. Baptism is a picture of the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and it is a picture of sins being washed away. Baptism is also the believers’ identification with Christ. Also, believers submit to baptism in compliance to the Lord’s command. He instructs the church to baptize disciples, and those believers obey His word by submitting to the waters of baptism, from which they are raised to walk in newness of life.
- The Lord will return to receive the Church and ultimately establish His kingdom.
- Every individual person will be resurrected; the saved to eternal life, and the lost to judgment and eternal death.
Meeting Jesus
Roman 3:23
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 10:9
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:13
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If the spirit of God has spoken to your heart, you can receive Christ now through prayer.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose again on the third day. Right now, I ask You to forgive me of my sins and save me. I put my trust in You.”
If you said this prayer from your heart, we believe you are now a new creation in Christ according to 2 Corinthians 5:17. We would love for you to reach out to us by calling the church office at 940-569-1518 or sending us a message on our Contact Us page to let us know of your decision so we can help you grow in your new life in Christ.