At the heart of any church planting ministry is partnership and that partnership is born out of an understanding that we cannot do it all on our own. Different churches reach different cultures, speak different languages, and have different purposes. Pastor Les Williams of New Sunset Baptist Church in Killeen says that "partnership between churches normally consists of The Three Ps: prayer, people, and provision." It has amazed me to see this principle at work all through our history at First Baptist in Killeen.

When I first came to Killeen in the summer of 2011, plans were already underway to plant a church on the south side of town. By the following January, Pastor Mark Hoover had recruited a team of young families to help get things off the ground with The Journey Church and, thus, a new fellowship was born in a new part of town with mission-minded individuals from FBC Killeen.

The group met on weekends in the auditorium at Haynes Elementary before finally relocating to their own land on Bunny Trail in 2014. “When we first started meeting in the school,” Pastor Mark recalls, “I used to climb the hill behind the school early in the morning to pray. When I looked over all the houses being built, I saw a sea of people who desperately needed to know that Jesus saves.” Killeen was expanding south and The Journey Church was there to greet them.

This process of multiplication blew my mind and I had great respect for those individuals that obediently followed God’s call to start this new church. But I was only beginning to learn how many times FBC Killeen had been involved with church planting ministries in central Texas over the past many decades.

All the way back in 1954, the church appointed Rev. Gene Horton on April 21st to serve as the first pastor of their mission church on “the south side of town.” The Southside Mission, as it was called, was located on Avenue J and they reported numerous baptisms later that same year.

Only one month later, on May 30, the missions committee recommended a temporary sponsorship of a group intending to meet in the Sunset Acres area of Killeen. The motion was for necessary materials, to include Sunday School curriculum, for a trial period of three months ... three months! Today, nearly 70 years later, New Sunset Community Church remains a vital ministry partner to First Baptist in north Killeen.

Over the next several years, both the Sunset Acres and Southside Mission locations experienced amazing growth. By 1958, the church had acquired a piece of land at the corner of Trimmier Road and Redondo Drive, reported to the missions committee as a potential permanent home for the Southside Mission. On September 23, 1959, the church voted to borrow the additional resources needed to construct the new mission. The foundation was poured and, in February 1960, Trimmier Road Baptist Mission (now known as Skyline Baptist Church) was born. First Baptist Killeen donated the bell from the old churchhouse to the new ministry as a housewarming present.

The following decade saw more expansion of God’s kingdom in Killeen as the church began hosting classes and services twice daily at Pershing Park Elementary School. Beginning August 7, 1965, the mission would host Sunday School and worship on Sunday mornings as well as training union and a preaching hour on Sunday evenings. Today, Pershing Park Baptist Church plays a vital role in our community of churches in Killeen. I attended an evening worship service at Pershing Park a few years back in which Fred Luter, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was the keynote speaker!

In the 1980s, pastor Ken Andress from First Baptist helped start Westcliff Baptist Church with the help of his son, Vance Andress. A small cadre of members from First Baptist Killeen moved to the new church plant and the two churches enjoyed an umbrella ministry for a season. As all disciples should, Westcliff eventually left the nest and, standing on their own two feet, changed their name to East Lake Bible Church. We celebrate their ministry which continues today on Lake Road.

… which leads us back to the Journey Church and the present decade!

"But wait: there's more!"

Several years back, current senior pastor of First Baptist, Dr. Randy Wallace, began a mentoring relationship with then Baylor student and aspiring pastor Jung Kim. Jung was a dynamically talented musician and was eager to jump into all things ministry at First Baptist Church under Pastor Wallace’s leadership. He led Bible studies, performed baptisms, assisted the worship ministry, and was an active part of our membership.

Years later, having graduated from Baylor, Jung left to plant his own ministry. First Baptist Church and the Bell Baptist Association supported them the entire way and today, after years of meeting at Trinity Baptist Church in Harker Heights, Pastor Jung Kim and Heights Korean Baptist Church are preparing to build on an area of land south of town.

What do we learn from all of this? Well, it is obvious to me that God’s kingdom is larger than any one of our churches. His Church (capital C) is comprised of many smaller congregations, each with an autonomous mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in languages and to cultures that would be difficult for the church down the street. Through the various strengths, abilities, and purposes, we are able to minister more effectively to our members, our city, central Texas, and, indeed, the world.

Pastor Les told me that "New Sunset Community Church has seen FBC do all three of the P's all the way back to 1953. The partnership of FBC with New Sunset over the past two years has allowed us to reach the 41 (Four-One) and for that we are extremely grateful for your partnership in the Gospel."