June 11, 2006, the First Baptist Church of Benbrook celebrated the retiring of the debt with a “Burning of the Note” ceremony during the morning worship service.

On June 10, 1979, FBC Benbrook voted to work towards the ambitious goal of building a new worship center. That decision was not only accompanied by years of working together with architects and contractors to build the facility but also with the commitment of its members to financially contribute to the building fund above and beyond their contributions to the existing ministries of the church. All of those sacrifices bore fruit with the dedication of the new worship center on November 30, 1980.

The 53 residents of Benbrook which formed the First Baptist Church of Benbrook in 1954 has grown to a resident membership of over 700. Located in the heart of Benbrook, the church has stood on its current location on the corner of Bryant and McKinley for over 52 years. Due to its growth through this period, this is the third worship center the church has constructed.

After 25 years, the debt on this new worship center was finally retired this month. The church celebrated this important accomplishment with a “Burning of Note” celebration during the morning worship service of June 11, 2006. Participating in the ceremony were two members of the building committee (Betty Cason and Jeaneta Wallace), two trustees who signed the loan (Lloyd Howton and Marvin McMullen), Mayor Jerry Dittrich who was a deacon at FBC during the building campaign, the current Stewardship Chairman (Ross Meadors), Jimmy Peterson, Taylor Welch (the church’s newest member), and Todd Pylant, pastor.

With the debt retired, the church looks to its future. The church is in the process of planning for a new 10,000 square foot Preschool/Children’s Building. Construction should begin next summer, and the facility will be ready for use in August 2008.