“Let me introduce you to Midway Baptist Church. A church that has weathered the storms of time and has been referred to as a warm, loving church. Midway reaches out to all people. There is a genuine concern for the well-being of all.”
These were the words Bro. Nay Vickers, pastor of Midway Baptist Church from 1984-1987, penned in the 1984 church directory.
This Sunday, Midway Baptist Church will host their annual homecoming service – but this year’s homecoming is extra special. Members past and current will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Midway Baptist Church, and praise God for His faithfulness from generation to generation.
Though much of its history has been lost or destroyed over the years, a short history has been pieced together from the memories of those who have passed on and what few records are left.
Midway Baptist Church became an organized Baptist church in 1923, but this is not where the story of this congregation begins.
There are two possible beginnings to Midway’s history, one recording the church’s start in 1918 and the other, officially accepted into the church’s history, records its beginning in 1921.
According to the 1918 account, a group of believers decided to set themselves apart as a church body and commit to meeting for worship in Midway, LA.
“Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God, we do on above date (June 8th 1918) consecrate ourselves to gather for the purpose of keeping house for him, this church is to be known as the Regular Missions Baptist of Christ at Midway, La.”
As shown in the handwritten document below, a name for the new church was chosen and the charter members’ names recorded.
However, as stated in the church history, Midway Baptist is said to begin in 1921. Three friends and their families started meeting together to sing songs of worship, when discussions of a new community church began.
The Coleman, Stanley and Floyd families met at Mr. Coleman’s store. They believed that many in the Midway community did not go to the Baptist churches in Jena or Goodpine, so they decided to start a church in Midway.
Though these two origin stories do not completely align, it is interesting to see that the Coleman family can be found in each account.
As the church history continues, the men of these families began building and the women banded together to provide food and refreshments for their “menfolk.”
“The men took their saws and axes and went together out into the neighboring woods and began to cut and collect timbers… The men gave freely of their time and labor.”
Two outside carpenters were hired to assist with the construction of the building. They were Uncle Paul Trichell and Mr. Buck Walker.
The land was donated by Judge F. E. Jones and Mr. J. B. Wright, and the old Good Pine Lumber Company made generous donations of lumber to the project.
Curtains were used to divide up the 40’ by 60’ church building for Sunday School classes, heat in the winter was provided by an old, wood heater and in the summer, the congregation flapped fans donated by various firms for advertising.
By 1923, Midway became an organized Baptist church with some twenty members. The original charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Stanley, Miss Gladys Stanley, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Coleman, Mr. Alex Hayes, Mrs. Callie Smith, Mr. Homer Floyd, Mrs. Luvenia Floyd, Mrs. Ethel Floyd, Mr. W.C. Floyd, Mr. W.B. Floyd, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Hines, Mrs. Nancy Coleman, Mrs. Noba Coleman, Mr. Billie Coleman, Mr. Roscoe Stanley, Miss Irene Stanley and Mr. Floyd Smith.
The first pastor was Rev. Ben Garrett. During the 1920’s, LaSalle, Catahoula and Caldwell parishes were a part of the Ouachita Association and Midway Baptist was a member of that association. Midway was privileged to be a member of the association and attended meetings, some lasting two to three days. Pastors during this time included Rev. Garrett, Rev. R.M. Doughty, Rev. J.J. Albritton and Rev. C.A. McDaniels.
In the early 1930’s, the Baptist Brotherhood, groups of men who were active in moral reform efforts and service to the community, kept the doors of many churches open during the Great Depression. Midway’s own Brotherhood helped those in the community, and with the start of the Junior Brotherhood, men and boys traveled to churches to offer programs for the members.
From 1931 to 1940, pastors included Rev. T.J. Ratcliff, Rev. J.J. Albritton, Rev. Luther B. Hall and Rev. L.C. Coates.
From its start in 1923 to the late 30’s, members of Midway Baptist Church only met once a month, then bi-weekly, and by the early 40’s, started meeting weekly, employing a full-time pastor.
During the 1940’s, additional rooms were added to the building for Sunday School classes and the B.Y.P.U. (Baptist Young People’s Union) meetings. Pastors during this time included Rev. John Gates, Rev. John Galey, Rev. R.M. Doughty, Rev. J.W. Goss and Rev. B.W. Hudson.
In 1950, work on a new and larger church building began, funded by the generosity of the members. The new building would include more Sunday School rooms and a baptistry. The W.M.U. provided the pulpit furniture and pews were purchased by individual members.
With the old building torn down and the new building a work in progress, a brush arbor, like the one pictured below, was erected and services continued there.
The building was complete by the end of that year, with more additions made as time went on. Between 1950 and 1967, several updates and projects were completed. An Educational Building was built next door, seven more Sunday School rooms were added, each divided by sliding doors so that they could all be opened to create a larger Fellowship Hall, and in 1964, air conditioning was added to the auditorium.
The following year, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Floyd donated an adjoining plot of land to the church.
In 1966, the parsonage was repaired and in 1967 work began on the church again, with central air and heat was installed in the Educational Building and the church’s exterior bricked, as shown in the photo below.
A new parsonage was built and paid for by May of 1973 and a piano and organ were purchased that same year.
Pastors during this time of progress included Rev. Jerry F. Poston, Rev. Charles E. Woods, Rev. J.D. Thompson, Rev. E.D. Smith, Rev. Willard Bell and Rev. G.R. Nolan.
Over the years, the congregation was active in benevolence and in the now LaSalle Association. Members gave to the Cooperative Program and state, home and foreign missions. As part of their membership in the association, Midway’s church body was active in efforts such as fighting the sale of liquor, mission conferences, supporting the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and hosting and attending revival services.
From 1976 to 1987, pastors, both full-time and interim, included Rev. Robert Wilbanks, Jr., Rev. Gary Norris, Rev. David Hudnall, Rev. Nay Vickers and Rev. S.B. Spinks.
In 1988, members of Midway Baptist would vote in Dr. Rick Feazell, who would have the longest tenure as pastor, as he would serve the congregation for 19 years.
In the mid-1990’s a new sanctuary was needed and more than $350,000 was raised for the new building before construction even began.
In 1999, members moved into the new sanctuary. By 2003, the $750,000 building was officially paid off. To celebrate, a note burning ceremony was held at the 2003 Homecoming Service.
From 2007 to present day, pastors and interims included Dr. Bill Robertson, Rev. Brad Bunting and Midway’s current pastor since 2017, Bro. Daniel Breithaupt.
Midway Baptist Church has a 100-year history as a staple in the community. As the church celebrates its centennial, may its story be a testimony of God’s faithfulness to a faithful people in the past, present and future.