Preface:

Several years before the Eufaula Baptist Church was organized, H. F. Buckner was here as missionary to the Indians. He did not organize a church in town but did organize several Indian Churches in the country.

One thing of interest regarding his work among the Indians is that the Baptist churches of Kentucky sent building materials partly assembled in ox wagons and erected the Buckner home which still stands about three miles east of town. (Is now covered by Lake Eufaula)

A little later the American Home Mission Society sent Miss Eliza J. Quinton here as missionary. She worked with both whites and Indians and to her efforts and those of Brother A. J. Essex, the organization of the Church is due.
 
 

On March 23, 1891 at a preliminary meeting held at the home of Dr. G. R. Buckner the possibility of organizing a Baptist Church was discussed. The following persons attached their names to the minutes of this first meeting signifying that they would obtain letters from their own churches and enter into organization of a Baptist Church of Jesus Christ in Eufaula. Eliza Quinton, Lena Sanger, Annie Grayson, Delphine Marshall, Sogie Rucker, G. R. Rucker. The minutes were signed by A. J. Essex, Chairman.

On April 25, 1891 the Baptist Church of Eufaula was formally organized with the following eleven members: Dr. G. R. Rucker, Mrs. Cogie Rucker, Mrs. Lou Smith, Mrs. Molly Grayson, Mrs. Annie Grayson, Mrs. Kate Grayson, and Miss Eliza Quinton. Ministers present and assisting in organization were; Rev. D. Crosby, Muskogee; Rev. W. H. Herndon, Witcherville, Ark.; President A. C. Bacone, Muskogee; Rev. A. J. Essex, Muskogee; J. S. Murrow, Atoka. The name of Buckner Baptist church of Eufaula was adopted and Dr. Rucker presented the new church clerk, Miss Eliza Quinton, with a Church record book. Dr. Rucker was elected as deacon and Mrs. Annie Grayson as treasurer. The business meeting date was fixed for the Saturday night preceding the fourth Sunday in each month and a committee was appointed to secure preachers.

On the fourth Saturday of May 1891 the newly organized church met at the school house. The time for services was fixed at 11:00 A.M. and 7:30 P.M. on the fourth Lord's Day of each month; Sunday School to be at 2:30 P.M.

On July 25 1891 the church resolved to ask for admission into the Creek-Seminole & Wichita Association. A. J. Essex, General Missionary was elected to represent the Church and the church voted to give $5.00 to Home Missions.

In January 1892 the Baptist Territorial and Educational Convention together with the Baptist Indian University provided a preacher on the second Sunday of each month. He was Professor Brown of the Indian University. Preaching was now held two times a month.

The ensuing years brought various historical highlights. Among these were the purchasing of the Walter Grayson Home for a Parsonage in 1901. The pay of the first electric bill in 1911, grading of the Sunday School for the first time in 1915, adopting of budget system of church finance in 1922, the adding of 62 members to the church in the revival of 1938, observing the 50th Anniversary March 23, 1941, purchasing of the present parsonage in 1951 and of the Tully lot on Foley Avenue in 1952 for the site of the new building and the dedication of the new building in August of 1959.

The church has been a vital force in the community of Eufaula in the years past. Its members have been Christian citizens and Christian witnesses serving faithfully in both the community and the church.

The church has started 3 missions the 1st at Dear's Chapel is now closed, the 2nd at Lindsey Chapel Baptist Mission in 1962 and Oak Ridge Baptist Mission February 1969. Both Churches are full time churches now. The First Baptist sponsored a Cuban family, Dr. and Mrs. Jorge Moran and daughter Maria. They are now in Tennessee. Mission Ice was broken at Lake Eufaula in the summer of 1969. The student summer missionaries carried on most of the work. They were sponsored by the First Baptist Church and Pittsburg Baptist Association.

The First Baptist Church observed their 75th anniversary in 1966.

The Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and the Pittsburg Baptist Association.

The First Baptist Church has Sunday School in Friendly Manor Home and Eufaula Manor each Sunday morning for the Senior Citizens unable to go to church. Prayer Meeting is held at Lakeview Home on Wednesday nights, every 2nd Sunday at 2:30 P.M. devotions are held at 11:00 A.M each Sunday, the Morning Worship Service is broadcast over radio station K.C.E.S. In October of this year the Church is beginning a new outreach program to help the Senior Citizens not only of our Church but for the whole community.