Of all the pastors in the state of Texas, perhaps no one feels a greater responsibility than Kenneth Walton.
“Some people sacrificed life for this church, some people gave above and beyond just for us to be here today,” Walton said. “My job is to prepare us for the next level, the next chapter in history.”
Kenneth, who’s been preaching at First Independent Baptist in Corsicana for seven years, says the best way to prepare for the future is to honor the past.
Founded by a group of former slaves, First Independent Baptist opened its doors just after the Civil War.
At the time, a lot of people still believed they shouldn’t be allowed to build a church simply because they were black.
But the founders were undeterred.
“In the midst of slavery, all of our anxieties, all of our fears, just let us make it to the church where we can praise God,” Walton said.
As the battle changed from slavery to voting rights, all the way up to civil rights, more than a century of congregations sang their praises along the way.
That’s why last Sunday, the oldest registered African American Baptist church in Texas celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Of course, through the decades, the things that once divided us began to change; through it all, this church’s mission was the same.
“Unity shows strength in the body of Christ,” said head of deacons Leonard Dixon.
“When you work together as a team, as a family, anything is possible,” said church member LaDwana Dixon.
Obviously, racial injustice hasn’t gone away. But, First Independent Baptist is proof we can get there when we come together to pursue a higher calling.
“God is not a god of separation. He’s a god of togetherness,” Walton said. “If you get caught up in color, you’ll get caught up. If you get caught up in the love of a person’s heart, that gives you a desire, a burning desire to always be better, to do better.”
So says 150 years of living, breathing proof.