ON MARCH 15, 1896, TWELVE ECTOR COUNTY PIONEERS MET WITH REV. A.L. POWELL TO ESTABLISH ODESSA'S ORIGINAL BAPTIST CONGREGATION. TWO YEARS LATER THEY CONSTRUCTED A WOODEN STRUCTURE AT 5TH AND GRANT. THE FIRST FULL-TIME MISISTER BEGAN IN 1933. THE CONGREGATION MOVED TO 7TH AND LEE IN 1938. FELLOWSHIP AND WORSHIP ATTENDANCE SWELLED DURING THE POST-WWII OILBOOM AND BY 1955 THE PRESENT SANCTUARY WAS ERECTED. NEW EDUCATIONAL ROOMS, NURSERY AND OFFICES WAS ERECTED. NEW EDUCATIONAL ROOMS, NURSERY AND OFFICES FOLLOWED IN 1965. RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATION FACILITIES WERE ADDED IN 1980. MANY OF THE BAPTIST CONGREGATIONS IN ODESSA STARTED AS MISSIONS OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WHICH REMAINS COMMITTED TO WORSHIP OF GOD, AND TELLING OTHERS OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.