First Baptist Church of Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Traill County, North Dakota 58045
Hillsboro, Traill County, North Dakota 58045
First Baptist Church of Hillsboro
In July of 1978, the birth of a new Chapel came - the Hillsboro Baptist Chapel. It started from a series of Bible studies directed under the teachings of layman Leonard Storey from Texas and pastor Chuck Wilkerson of the Temple Baptist Church in Fargo. As a sponsor of the Bible studies, the Temple Baptist Church in Fargo steadily gave the hope of having a Baptist Church someday in Hillsboro.
To serve as pastor of this chapel, Ron Renfro with his wife Debbi, moved from Texas on September 1, 1978. Although the attendance during the first several months was that of six, Pastor Renfro knew that numbers didn't matter, but that the Christian Spirit of the people did. This thought gave him the determination to go on with his work in Hillsboro. During this time, the Chapel services were being held in the Hillsboro Fire Hall.
After several public decisions, new members and stronger commitments toward the Baptist Chapel, meetings were held that soon led to the purchase of a church building which was formerly the St. Rose Catholic Church. This eight-thousand-dollar purchase opened many doors on June 20, 1979. The attendance of then rose from six to a rejoicing fifteen members.
Officers were soon chosen from the pool of charter members including Pastor - Ron Renfro; Treasurer/Clerk - Sue Semmens; and Women's Missionary Union Director - Debbi Renfro. Other charter members were Karen Meir - pianist, Terry and Kathy Mclnteer, David and Mary Knudson, Bob and Elsie Thompson, Michelle Thompson, Sherry Thompson, Larry Semmens, Wyatt and Joyce Tisdale, and Aaron Tisdale.
Info from – Hillsboro, North Dakota: The First Hundred Years (page 125 & 126)
In July of 1978, the birth of a new Chapel came - the Hillsboro Baptist Chapel. It started from a series of Bible studies directed under the teachings of layman Leonard Storey from Texas and pastor Chuck Wilkerson of the Temple Baptist Church in Fargo. As a sponsor of the Bible studies, the Temple Baptist Church in Fargo steadily gave the hope of having a Baptist Church someday in Hillsboro.
To serve as pastor of this chapel, Ron Renfro with his wife Debbi, moved from Texas on September 1, 1978. Although the attendance during the first several months was that of six, Pastor Renfro knew that numbers didn't matter, but that the Christian Spirit of the people did. This thought gave him the determination to go on with his work in Hillsboro. During this time, the Chapel services were being held in the Hillsboro Fire Hall.
After several public decisions, new members and stronger commitments toward the Baptist Chapel, meetings were held that soon led to the purchase of a church building which was formerly the St. Rose Catholic Church. This eight-thousand-dollar purchase opened many doors on June 20, 1979. The attendance of then rose from six to a rejoicing fifteen members.
Officers were soon chosen from the pool of charter members including Pastor - Ron Renfro; Treasurer/Clerk - Sue Semmens; and Women's Missionary Union Director - Debbi Renfro. Other charter members were Karen Meir - pianist, Terry and Kathy Mclnteer, David and Mary Knudson, Bob and Elsie Thompson, Michelle Thompson, Sherry Thompson, Larry Semmens, Wyatt and Joyce Tisdale, and Aaron Tisdale.
Info from – Hillsboro, North Dakota: The First Hundred Years (page 125 & 126)