History of FSBC Cahokia

July 24, 1949 July 24-Aug. 7th, a Tent Revival was held by Rev. W. J. Richardson, pastor of the Unity Church and Rev. Fred Propst, Missions Superintendent, on a vacant corner lot at Lorraine and Judith Drive. Encouraged by the results of the revival they announced that Sunday School would be conducted in the tent the following Sunday. Mrs. J.J. Kintner became the Superintendent and began her work on the 14th. Day of August, 1949. She had an attendance of 25 in the old tent. After the tent was taken down, the Sunday school was moved to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Sanders, where classes were held for a few weeks. Mr. & Mrs. Pastello then gave permission to hold services in the front room of a new home they were building. Sunday School and preaching services were conducted there until a basement home was offered for sale on Larrain Drive.

Oct. 1949 The Sunday School was moved on the second Sunday of October, to the unfinished home of Mr. & Mrs. C.A. Tassells, at 111, (now 2448) Lorraine Drive. The Sunday School met in the basement. The property was offered for $2,000.00. The Unity Church increased the debt on their Church and the Associational Missions Committee gave them $700.00 and they purchased the property. They held their first service there, Sunday October 9th. They had 77 enrolled in Sunday school. Bro. Richardson, pastor of the Unity Church came each Sunday morning and evening and conducted worship services. Midweek services were held each Tuesday evening. The church was called the Centerville Baptist chapel at this time. Rev Richardson conducted the services.

Nov. 1949 The Centerville Baptist chapel voted to assume all financial responsibilities including the indebtedness assumed by the Unity church on the basement property.

Jan. 1950 A $3,000.00 annual budget was adopted

Feb. 26, 1950 The basement meeting house was named the Centerville Baptist chapel and dedicated to the service of the lord. Mrs. Eugene Schmisseur played the piano prelude and Rev. F. Propst, superintendent of city missions led in the dedicatory prayer. Scripture reading by Rev. W.A. Ward, chairman, city missions. Rev. A.L. Cox, pastor Oak Park brought the dedicatory message. The church was 7 months old.

June 25, 1950 Early in the spring work was begun on the superstructure over the basement building. As soon as the walls and the roof were erected the upstairs space was utilized. It was within the hull of the buidling, with the exposed rafters and with the graveled roofing floor (the roof of the basement) that the church organizational meeting was held. On Sunday afternoon, June 25, 1950 a council assembly called by the superintendent of missions, Rev. Fred Propst, and consisting of ordained ministers and deacons of the East St. Louis Baptist Association officiated in the constitution of the First Baptist Church of Centerville Station. Forty-two members were received into the fellowship of the new church in that service. Rev. Earnest Olds of Union, Tennessee was called a short time later to be the first pastor of the new Church. It was in June of this year that the first VBS was held with 76 enrolled. Mrs. Kintner was Principal, and she was assisted by Mrs. John Raleigh and by summer student missionaries; George Cowsert and Parks McKittrick.

March 1950 A Woman's Missionary Society was organized with the assistance of Mrs. Kintner, Mrs. Tungate and Mrs. A. B. Constantz who was President of the Associational WMU.

Sept 5, 1950 F. Propst introduced the motion of receiving the First Baptist Church of Centerville Station into full Membership in the Association: "That the First Baptist Church of Centerville Station, which was granted affiliation with the Association by the Board of Directors at the Sept. 5, 1950 meeting; be received as a regular member of this Association and that it's Pastor, Board members, and Messengers be seated with full membership authority and power to vote. Rev. & Mrs. Ernest Olds and the members of the church present were introduced to the body and received the hand of fellowship." (24 Annual Session East St. Louis Association, October 19, 1950, Held at First Baptist Church, Dupo Illinois)

Summer 1951 Two lots on Donna Drive were purchased and a basement was dug and a footing was poured for a new church building. But after reconsidering the desirability of that location, this property was sold and a larger lot was obtained at 2456 Donna Drive and Camp Jackson Road (Hwy. 157).

Dec. 1, 1954 Election of first trustees: Eugene Schmisseur & Paul Williams. Adoption of the name; "First Baptist Church, Centereville Station." 1958 New building is needed and bonds were issued in the amount of $25,000.00 through the Broadway Plan and guaranteed by the Illinois Baptist State Convention. Floor plan was made by the Southern Baptist Sunday School Bd. Architecture Dept. A contractor was employed to build a concrete block wall building and to construct the roof. The interior work was donated. Women served mid-day meals and men and boys worked on the building.

Oct. 15, 1959 First Services were held in the new building. Pulpit was given as a memorial to Rev. Recklein, Piano and Organ were purchased. The baptistery was a gift from the Maplewood Park Baptist Church. Air Conditioning was extended to the entire building.

March 1959 First Service in the Church building

Spring 1974 Purchase of property at 2456 Donna Dive as a church annex, at a cost of $5,500.00 (frank Pratt, pastor) This was used to house the pre-school of Sunday school, and church training, as well as the nursery during worship services. Steve Fields church treasurer, C.O. Whitting S.S. Director and William Makriakow Church Training Director. Milbern Miller was chairman of deacons.

Pastors who have served the church from 1950-1992 Mission Church 1949 - W. J. Richardson
1. Rev. Ernest Olds - 1950
2. Rev. M.J. Head - 1951 - 1952
3. Rev. M. L. Putnam - 1953
4. Rev. R.K. Hickling - 1954
5. Rev. Louis F. Simmons - 1955 - 1956
6. Rev. Wesley L. Tucker - 1957 - 1958
7. Rev. Frank T. Pratt - 1959 - 1965
8. 1966 No Pastor
9. Rev. Eugene Meadows - 1967 - 1968
10. Sam Motsinger - 1969 - 1970
11. Rev. David L. Turner - 1971 - 1973
12. Rev. J. D. Cook - 1974 - 1991
13. Rev. M. E. (Gene) Spurgeon - 1992