The East Texas Baptist Area encompasses 88 Southern Baptist Churches across five counties, organized into two Associations: the Rusk-Panola Baptist Association and the Shelby-Doches Baptist Association. The area office is located at 300 N. Railroad Ave (Hwy 259), Mt. Enterprise, Texas, and is led by the Director of Missions.
History of the East Texas Baptist Area
Shelby Association
Originally organized as the Pleasant Grove Baptist Association in 1881 in Shelby County, the association held its first annual meeting at Mt. Zion Church in Mt. Enterprise on September 16, 1882. Elder S.C. Johnson served as the first Moderator. In October 1888, the group voted to change its name to the Shelby County Missionary Baptist Association, with the change becoming official in October 1889.
Nacogdoches Association
In October 1887, twenty churches from the Angelina, Mt. Zion, and Central Associations met at Antioch Church in Nacogdoches to establish the Nacogdoches Baptist Association. Elder R.A. Hargis was elected chairman and later served as the first Moderator. Z.T. Fall was elected secretary, and Cyrus Ivy served as Treasurer.
Shelby-Doches Baptist Association
In 1925, the Shelby and Nacogdoches associations merged to form the Shelby-Doches Baptist Association.
Rusk County Baptist Association
Founded on November 22, 1901, the Rusk County Baptist Association elected H.E. Harris as its Missionary. In October 1902, the association raised funds to purchase a colporteur’s wagon, which became a vital tool for the missionary’s work.
Panola Association
Established in 1915, the Panola Association was formed from churches that previously belonged to the Soda Lake, Mt. Zion, and Central Associations.
Rusk-Panola Baptist Association
In 1926, the Rusk and Panola associations joined to create the Rusk-Panola Baptist Association.
Formation of the East Texas Baptist Area
In 1967, the Rusk-Panola and Shelby-Doches associations united to form the East Texas Baptist Area.
Past Association Missionaries
- Henry Harris (1901-1905)
- E.W.H. Parker (1907-1908)
- Leland Malone (1908-1920)
- William Anderson (1912)
- E.H. Garner (1909-1912)
- Fox Henry Hollis (1916)
- William Grammer (1916-1920)
- Lewis Martin Sauls (1917)
- Burus Thornton (1922-1925)
- Edward Morgan (1926)
- Ernest Harris (1926, 1929)
- Marvin Gaddis (1930)
- Marion Rook (1928, 1933-1934)
- Wilfred Parker (1947-1948)
- Jesse Phillips (1949-1958)
- Jared Cartlidge (1967-1972)
- John Heaton (1974-1988)
- Wayne Keller (1989-1999)
- Gerald Edwards (2000–present)
