First Baptist Church

Artesia Baptist Church had a very humble beginning in April 1915 under a tent. The church was organized with 25 charter members, most of whom had originally attended the Methodist church, 19 by letter and 6 by baptism, under the pastorship of Brother J. P. Harrington. A budget was adopted subscribing to "pay a pastor for one Sunday each month and $50 for missions".

The Church family moved from the tent, to meeting at the Artesia School House building for a couple of months, and then they were allowed to use the Methodist Church for meetings twice a month. Neither denomination had a full time pastor, so services for each group were held every other Sunday.

Eventually a building was needed and the church erected a simple wooden frame structure. When the building was completed, the Methodist Church suspended their services so all their members could attend the service at the new Baptist Church. The opening service was held by Rev. J. H. Newton. Pastor Newton served as the first pastor of the new building and also served New Hope Baptist Church at the same time.

Later the building was brick veneered. The church continued to experience growing pains; therefore, the present Artesia Baptist Church building began to be built one phase at a time in the 1960's. The first phase was the construction of the present fellowship hall, which was divided into separate rooms for Sunday School and opened up as one large room for the Worship Service.

One of the last marriages performed in the original brick building on Thompson Street was that of Mickey Easley, daughter of M.B. Easley, one of the deacons at that time.

Two of the early marriages in the present building were that of Glenda Crocker, daughter of Mavis and Ed Crocker, and Clare Leinert, daughter of Margie and Wilson Cox. Glenda's wedding was in the late 1960's and held in what is now the fellowship hall. Then, it was the sanctuary. Clare's weddding was held in the present sanctuary in 1972. The church didn't have a pastor at the time, so the Minister at the Methodist church at that time performed Clare's marriage to Thomas Sallee.

In 1970, the second phase, present sanctuary and additional Sunday School rooms were added. As the early 1990's approached, the Church had to enlarge the nursey to accommodate the growing number of infants and toddlers, Praise the Lord!

Pastor Jeff Morgan is the present pastor of Artesia Baptist Church.

Church Building in 1953

Artesia Baptist Church, Artesia, Lowndes County, Mississippi
1997 Membership List

Abrams, George & Beverly, Judd, Neel, Libby & Neely
Bolin, Mark & Carol, Kyle & Dylan
Bolin, Robert & Mildred
Carpenter, Scott & Angela & Megan
Carpenter, Tom & Bertha
Cherry, Linda, Ross & Tanner
Combs, Judson & Gladys
Cox, Wilson & Margie
Cox, Woodrow & Margie
Crocker, Debbie, Kristi & David
Crocker, Mavis
Dawkins, Chuck & Frances
Dawkins, Jeff & Kathy & Blake
Dawkins, Thomas & Linda
Edmonds, Tim & Susan, Jason & Paul
Fikes, Maggie
Fisher, Roy & Brenda
Fisher, Roy & Tina
Fortenberry, Keith & Gayle & Tyler
Fortenberry, Robert & Becky
Freely, Michael & Jo Anna, Cali & Cole
Gibson, James & Debbie & Wesley
Gibson, Sonny & Murline
Gray, Mildred
Heflin, Ruth
Kemp, Carl & Sherry, Olivia & Abigail
Kilpatrick, Jimmy & Jenny