Russellville First Baptist Church

Russellville First Baptist Church is a Baptist church in downtown Russellville, Arkansas. As per its name, First Baptist Church was the first Baptist church to be established in the town. Through several years of growth, First Baptist Church has gone on to establish several other churches in the area, most notably Second Baptist Church.

FBC Russellville started with 15 members on September 10, 1873, meeting on the corner of El Paso and 2nd Street. A small group of people came together to organize a Baptist Church within the Arkansas River Valley. In 1874, some property was donated in the vicinity of the group's original meeting grounds and serves as the Church’s current location today. In 1918, the addition of a 400-seat auditorium and additional classroom space was completed, entering the First Baptist Church into a new era. Following a city-wide revival in 1924, 143 people came to dedicate their lives to Christ at the church. By 1959, church attendance had nearly doubled, leading to the construction of a new three-story-tall educational complex. In 1962, a 900-seat worship center was built, and still serves as the main auditorium today. In the 1980’s, First Baptist Church preached heavily on Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” With this, the Church began to employ missions and outreach ministries. In the 1990’s, the Church continued its growth both at home and abroad. At home, the Church expanded on their existing campus building a new fellowship hall, events center, and a two-story educational facility. During this time, hundreds of Church members were sent on mission trips around the world. Russellville First Baptist has a noteworthy reputation of missions and youth ministries throughout its history such as the Young Mens Bible Class of First Baptist in 1922.

A notable member of Russellville First Baptist is former Governor Jeff Davis. The son of a devout Baptist Preacher, Davis went to the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville before transferring to Vanderbilt. While there, Davis completed a two-year law program in just under one year, but was unable to graduate because he did not meet residency requirements. Davis returned to Arkansas, took the bar without studying, and passed, becoming the youngest Arkansan to pass the bar at just 19 years old. He did this with the aid of his father’s influence. Upon taking office in 1901, Davis began attending the Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, home to countless notable political figures and prominent members of Arkansas society. Governor Davis hitched onto the wave of political reform going through Arkansas at the time, rally citizens against corporations and often using race-baiting in his speeches. Davis's politics and abrasive style created many enemies, including members of his church, which charged him with “immoral and unchristian acts." After Davis was expelled from Little Rock's Second Baptist Church he was accepted into Russellville’s First Baptist Church, creating a state-wide scandal. He was supported by his father, a Baptist and local judge.

n.b., n.b. “Home.” First Baptist Church, Russellville, AR. n.b., December 1, 2021. https://www.fbcruss.org/.

“Our Story.” First Baptist Church, Russellville, AR. n.b., July 19, 2021. https://www.fbcruss.org/our-story/. 

”notes with interview with FBC, 12-1-21”

Arsenault , Raymond Lo. “Jeff Davis (1862–1913).” Encyclopedia of Arkansas. n.b., July 1, 2021. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/jeff-davis-98/?back=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fclient%3Dsafari%26as_qdr%3Dall%26as_occt%3Dany%26safe%3Dactive%26as_q%3DGovernor%2BJeff%2BDavis%26channel%3Daplab%26source%3Da-app1%26hl%3Den. 

“Jefferson Davis.” National Governors Association. n.b., 2021. https://www.nga.org/governor/jefferson-davis/.