About Us

The First Baptist Church was organized with eleven charter members on December 10, 1890, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Robins. Covenant meetings, conducted by Rev. Davis of La Junta, were held monthly in the Robins' home, as were morning worship services on the first Sunday of each month. Occasionally, visiting preachers served the group.

The church quickly grew, and by 1894, halls and other church buildings had to be used. On April 14, 1895, the First Baptist Sunday School was organized in a small schoolhouse with C.W. Fenlason as Superintendent. Rev. Samuel J. Greear was received as the first resident pastor in June of that year. A baptistery was dug in the schoolyard and lined and covered with pine boards to accommodate the baptismal needs.

The erection of a new church building began in July 1895, during which time the congregation met in the Odd Fellow's Hall. The Redbrick building was completed on May 9, 1897, and dedicated, free of debt, on June 6, 1897. The parsonage, still in use, was begun in 1899 and was first occupied in July 1900.

Within twenty years, the congregation had outgrown its first church building, which was demolished, and the new building, still used today, was completed in 1916. The first services were held on September 3, and the new building was dedicated on January 21, 1917. By 1920, the church was free of debt.

The sanctuary was updated and remodeled in 2009, including new carpeting, realignment of the pews, and alterations to the platform area. The heating system was also updated, air conditioning was installed, and the electronic audio/visual technology we have today was added that same year.

Today, three of our former pastors still live in Rocky Ford. Pastor Floyd Austin served us from 1976 to 1984, Pastor Charles Shipman served us from 1984 to 1997, and Pastor Aaron Lockhart became our interim pastor in 2015 and accepted our call in 2017, serving us until December of 2023.

First Baptist Church, 966 Maple Ave., Rocky Ford, CO 81067
Office 719-254-6766
Email: firstbaptistchurchrf@gmail.com