COLLEGE STATION BAPTIST CHURCH

BRIEF HISTORY

Bro. Kenneth Griffith was pastor and founder of Chapelwood Missionary Baptist Church in Huntsville, about 50 miles northeast of here. In 1969, he came to Texas A&M University to establish Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship (MBSF). In 1972, he resigned as pastor of Chapelwood, and they sponsored him to come to College Station and establish a mission.

The mission met in All-Faith Chapel on Texas A&M University campus for about a year. In 1973, College Station Baptist Chapel purchased 2 acres of land for $30,000 dollars. To secure a 15-year loan, the bank required 1/3 of the money as a down payment and allowed only 2 months from the original negotiations to produce the down payment. With help from several missionary-minded churches, the deadline was met. With their continued help, the land was completely paid for in 3 years. 

From 1973 to 1978, the church met on this property in a “mobile unit”. This was a mobile home style building that would seat 100 people, with Sunday school rooms, rest rooms, as well as heating and air conditioning. It came from Conroe and went from here to San Angelo.

Bro. Kenneth asked a Texas A&M environmental design class to draw some potential plans from an aesthetically pleasing, energy efficient church building, In 1976, plans for this building were completed and accepted by the City. A loan was secured, and construction began in 1977. As soon as the building was “dried in,” it was used for church services. The sign was donated by Bro. Kenneth’s parents, Byron and Evelyn Griffith of Gary, Texas. 

Bro. Kenneth resigned as pastor in 1986 but remained as director of MBSF. The mission organized as a church in 1987, very early in the pastorate of Bro. Byron Tilton. Pastors have included Kenneth Griffith, Doyle Warnell, Byron Tilton, Jim Heflin, Dave Nash, Brian Jones, and James Williams.