Unusual Church Names

Some time ago, members of a pastor list I of which am part shared some more unusual church names. I leave it to the reader to draw conclusions and ponder the comments added.

One man used to pastor the “Dividing Creek Baptist Church” in NJ.

A church in Manassas, Virginia is called "Battlefield Baptist Church," as is one in Missouri.

There is a "Little Flock" and a "Little Hope" Baptist church.

One pastor tells of "Boanerges Baptist Church" (Mark 3:17-"Sons of Thunder")

Another was pastor at the “Tomotla Baptist Church.”

There is a “Hanging Dog Baptist Church,” and a “Five Points Baptist Church.” (Five points of geography or Calvin?)

One told of being pastor at the “Katherwood Baptist Church.” The land for the church was donated by a woman named Katherine Parks, who was actually a Methodist. In an attempt to thank her for her generosity, the leaders of the new church took part of her name and put it with "wood" to create the name. The "wood" was meant to identify the church with the community which was mostly undeveloped at the time.

One pastor shared that their name is “Wallers Baptist Church.” It was named after the founding pastor and great Baptist in the 1700's John Waller... or Swearing Jack Waller as he was known before his conversion. Founded in 1769, they were at one time at 1500 people under John Waller's direction. While I think that might have been a combination of three or four churches, that was still unheard of in the 1700's.

Northwest of Fort Worth is “Paradise Baptist Church” (in Paradise,TX).

About an hour east of Dallas is “Blackjack Baptist Church.” (Located in a community called Blackjack,TX).

Also, near the border of Texas and New Mexico is “Muleshoe Baptist” (Muleshoe, TX). If you look at a map, you'll notice that Muleshoe, TX is about 10 miles from Earth, Texas.

Another pastor was from “Mary Elizabeth Baptist.” Two families donated one acre of land each on which to build a church. The mothers of the donator were Mary & Mary Elizabeth so Mary Elizabeth was chosen for the church name. When the church incorporated in the late 1990's it was discovered that there was not another SBC church named Mary Elizabeth.

The "Gum Swamp OFWB Church" was founded in 1758 and got its name from the forest of gum trees surrounding it. They are planning to celebrate their 250th homecoming in September of 2008.