The Men's Brotherhood of the First Baptist Church of Trumann posed for a photo in the 1960's. Many leaders of the Trumann community are found in this photo. (Photo provided) [Click to enlarge]

And so it was with the first Baptist who began what was to become First Baptist Church in Trumann. Aided by First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, in 1908 a group of people assembled together to form a church. The earliest minutes we have called the group, "The Missionary Baptist Church of Trumann."

By 1921 they were calling themselves, "The Trumann Baptist Church." The church began calling itself, "First Baptist Church" by January of 1922.

In 1910, the church was formally organized with 25 members by Rev. E.M. Carter, who was engaged in independent evangelism.

According to some oral history from former members, the first groups were meeting in a tent. Many people lived in tents in those early days of Trumann's history

Jules Martin's mother once told her daughter-in-law, Dorothy Martin, that they had lived in a tent when they first came to Trumann. It had a dirt floor that they eventually were able to replace with a wooden one. She told Dorothy that one of the proudest days of her life was when her husband, Bob, was able to put a wainscoting around the tent wall.

W.G. Matthias and "Brother" Calhoun were the first pastors we have any record of. Which one was first is not available. During these early years preaching services were held on the first and fourth Sundays. On the other Sundays, the members would meet, have Sunday School and often conducted church business.

The first recorded minutes we have were dated September 30, 1917. Delegates to the Associational meeting were elected. Other business was conducted, including the opportunity for persons to unite with the church.

J.H. Johnson became pastor in 1917, serving until May of 1918. In 1917, J.H. Johnson offered his resignation. The church refused to accept it even though he continued to insist they do so. It was not until June 2, 1918 that the church finally accepted the resignation which had been offered back in November.

Descendents of J.H. Johnson are still members of our church. Camille Turner and Grant Henley are his great-great-grandchildren.

The pastors early on seem to have been elected one year at a time. The 12 months limitation seemed to have been for the purpose of taking a vote of confidence. This appears to have been the custom through these early years. The pastor was to offer his resignation, either annually or at the end of the original contract, and a vote of confidence would be taken.

It also seems to have been a custom that officers of the church, even the choir director as well as the pastor, resign their positions at the same time. Then the church accepted or rejected the resignation of the individual involved.

The church finally rented a frame dwelling for the exclusive use as a worship center. The first church building was erected on Front Street, known today as Melton Avenue. This church was destroyed by a windstorm in 1917. The church later voted to exchange the lot for a lot on Cairo Street. (We believe this street is Locust Street today.)

Frank Lady, Sr., who was a deacon and treasurer of the church for many years, once stated the real beginning of the church, as he knew it began in 1921. That summer a revival was held, many people were saved and many more joined by letter. The people were filled with joy and enthusiasm and had a mind to work. Frank and Virginia Lady were long time active members of First Baptist. Present member Mary Julia Houston is their daughter.

Following the revival, the church voted to start a new building program. In July of 1921, a construction contract was let for the new church. The lowest bidder, after some negotiations, was awarded the contract for $6,800. The building was completed on October 30 of the same year, leaving the church with a debt of $3,000. The building was remodeled several times and was used by First Baptist until October of 1967, when on October 12, the congregation moved to the present location on Highway 69.

The church struggled financially through those early years. In 1918 the church held a meeting in the home of a member and decided that "Brother Stanfield be sent to Little Rock to confer with the Home Mission Board with reference to having a missionary on the field until such time as the church is able to support a pastor." A letter of petition with signatures of church members was to be sent along with the request.

In 1921, at the end of one month, the church had a balance on hand of $38.70. The Women's Missionary Union was doing better with a balance of $684.42. Ladies of the church would raise money in various ways. In the summer they would make homemade ice cream and take it to the Singer factory and be waiting for the employees to come out for their noon break and would then sell them cups of ice cream.

They would often use a little wagon that belonged to our organist, Jules Martin, who celebrates his 91st birthday this month. The ladies would also raise money by providing meals for the Trumann Lions Club every other Wednesday, alternating with the Methodist ladies.

The church struggles continued through the years. A treasurer's report in a business meeting in October of 1934, showed a balance of $9.66. Bills due at the time were $5 to the pastor, $7.50 to the janitor and a light bill of $3.75. When the church could not pay its bills, the treasurer Bob Martin, would go door to door to church members to raise enough money to meet the church's obligations.

Jules and Stanley Martin are our oldest living members. Bob Martin was their father. Jules is first mentioned in minutes from December 9, 1933. The church voted to pay him $6.00 a month for janitorial services: "to clean church, bring in coal and have stove ready to light for services." A month later the church decided to pay him $1.50 a week, rather than by month. He was also elected assistant pianist. In January 1935 he was elected church pianist. Except for the period during World War II when he served in the armed services, Jules has played organ or piano for the church to this day.

Stanley and Jules Martin were both baptized into the church around 1930. Stanley's wife, Leatrice, told a group of WMU ladies who were discussing tithing that Stanley sure believed in "first fruits" tithing. When they were first married, she said Stanley was the only one working and she planned a budget for his paycheck, then $13 a week.

When she later went over it with him, he informed her she had left out the tithe. She told him they did not have enough for a tithe. She said he told her that he always tithes and the tithe was to come out first. She said it had ever since.

Stanley and Jules remember as boys, with their brother Lloyd, that they were given a ten cent a week allowance. They were expected to give the church a nickel each week, and they could spend the other nickel as they chose. They said it usually went quickly in the local bakery.

First Baptist has always been cooperative with other churches in our area. They often dismissed the evening services to attend the revival at the Methodist Church; as did the Methodists when First Baptist had a revival. They had on occasions loaned the baptistery

to other churches, as well as chairs and other equipment as needed. The minutes of the church reflect a body of believers who are always willing to lend a helping hand when needed.

The membership has had a spirit of missions from the earliest years. In March of 1922, the church made a motion that through its Sunday School Department it would begin a mission Sunday School at the Stephens School House. On March 31, 1938 the church approved the motion of the superintendent of Sunday School to organize a "Men's Bible class to meet at the Grand Theatre each Sunday morning." Brother Silas was to be the teacher.

In the early history of the church, baptisms were held in the summer, when the pond waters were warm. The men of the church would go to the baptismal waters and seine the fish out of the pond. After the people were baptized, there would be a fish fry using the fish.

Later the baptismal services were often conducted in the "log vat" at the Poinsett Lumber and Manufacturing Company plant in Trumann. (Later known as the Singer Company.) These deep vats were used to cure logs and were only partially filled when the special services were held.