History of Eastern Hills Baptist Church

Eastern Hills Baptist Church began in 1953 with the vision of three families and their desire to organize a ministry in fields, which they believed were already "white unto harvest." Don Floyd, Eddie Certain and Robert Moore are especially remembered for their efforts as pioneers in this important work.

The congregation first met August 9th in a tent at the present site of the church. By September 20th, the church was ready to organize with seventy-two charter members. The members voted to name the church Eastern Hills Baptist Church and to petition for membership in Dallas Baptist Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Southern Baptist Convention. Rev. Don Floyd was called to serve as the first pastor.

A temporary building was erected in October of 1953 to provide space for Sunday School. In February of the following year the congregation voted to purchase a building from the Church of Christ in Garland, move it to the present site, and to sell the temporary building. The first services were held in this new building on Sunday, April 11, 1954.

James Lambert. Jr. and Robert Moore were licensed to the gospel ministry in July of 1954. On September 19th of that year Rev. Floyd preached the first Homecoming Day message. During this first year there were thirty-nine baptisms and eighty-nine other additions. Three members transferred by letter to other churches leaving a total membership of 125.

Rev. Don Floyd resigned as pastor August 29, 1954. In October of that year Rev. Bobby E. Allen was called as the new pastor and the church purchased additional property, which made a total of six acres, which the church owned.

In April of 1958 the congregation voted to build an auditorium and additional education space. The education building, now known as Allen Hall, was completed in December of that year.

The church was debt free in 1961 and began construction of an auditorium, which would seat 750. In September of 1962 the first services were held in the new auditorium which was dedicated on Homecoming Day that year.

During 1962, the pastor, Rev. Bobby Allen, was sent by the congregation to participate in The New Life Movement in the Philippines where he preached revivals in and around Marbel, Cotabato. In August of 1963 Eastern Hills called Rev. Al Jordan to serve as the first full time Minister of Music, Education, and Youth.

Rev. Allen served as pastor of Eastern Hills Baptist Church for eleven years and four months, leaving February 6, 1966 to serve as a missionary to Indonesia in the will of God. During his tenure as pastor the church had a high attendance in Sunday School of 416 on April 14, 1963, and saw the membership of the church grow from 125 to over 700.

Rev. Dee Odom served as interim pastor until Rev. Billy Joe Tate was called as pastor in April of 1966. During this interim period the church voted to purchase the house at 1514 Iroquois Dr. for use as a pastor's home.

Rev. Tate served as pastor of Eastern Hills for four years, leaving in 1970 to Pastor in Baytown, Texas. Rev. Charles Cooper served as interim pastor until October when Rev. Bobby Bryan was called from Rapid City, South Dakota to become the pastor.

During Rev. Bryan's ministry the church voted to build a new education building, which is now called The Roland Building. Rev. Bryan served as pastor of Eastern Hills for seven years before accepting the call to serve as pastor in Emory, Texas.

Rev. Jay Breland was called as interim pastor until Lawrence D. Burks who served for eight years, was called as pastor in July of 1978. During his ministry Eastern Hills paid off all indebtedness on the Roland Building. Rev. Burks was called to pastor in Goodletsville, Tennessee in June of 1986.

Rev. Jim Burk served as interim pastor until the present pastor, Dr. David E. Hall, moved from West Point. Mississippi to become pastor on August 24, 1986. Rev. Jim Burk served as our Associate Pastor from January 1987 until May 2006. Rocky Wheat served as Minister of Music from 1990-1994, and Scott McDuffie served as Minister of Youth from 1990-1994 until accepting the call to Richland Hills Baptist Church. During Dr. Hall's service as pastor we have had continuous growth in all aspects of our church.

On July 12, 1995 Eastern Hills Baptist Church voted to begin the "United We Build" project. Construction began in May 1998. The project included building a new gym, fellowship area, more Sunday School space and new offices for the staff. The new building was completed in April 1999.

On December 13, 1995 Eastern Hills voted to begin the AWANA program for children ages 3 through Junior High.

Mike Claibourn served as our Minister of Music from January 1997 until July 2004. In November 2004 Charles Black came to Eastern Hills to serve as Minister of Music.

Mark Tichenor served as our Minister of Youth from February 1997 until August 2000 at which time he took a position as Dean at Golden Gate Theological Seminary in California. Jared Maier came to Eastern Hills in December of 2000 to be our new Minister of Youth and served in that capacity through August 2005. James Bonfoey became Minister of Youth in May 2006.

The members of Eastern Hills Baptist Church are grateful and praise the Lord for what He is doing in and through this great congregation.