Listen, closely, in the distance, the sound of the train whistle, the clack of the wheels. It always brings excitement to the town of Deray. A community with one row of houses perched on stilts to stay out of the water, which flooded the swampy land regularly. A boardwalk extended from those houses to the railroad tracks. Three railroads were servicing Deray in 1900, the Cotton Belt, Iron Mountain, and Houck. On March 23, 1900 the whistle has a special sound and is met with eager anticipation. The American Baptist Publication Society has sent a railroad passenger car named “Messenger of Peace”, with two missionaries Rev. and Mrs. Samuel G. Neil. The car was donated by the Iron Mountain Railroad, which later became the Missouri Pacific. The arrival of this car and its message will be even more significant and long lasting than those present will realize. Rev. Neil conducted a revival meeting and on this day four people, members from Baptist Churches in other places resolved themselves into the First Baptist Church of Deray.

On April 1, 1900 the church met by the riverside where Tony McMullen and Al Givens were the first people baptized by the new congregation. The Sunday School was also organized while at the riverside, and it was agreed to have regular prayer services on Wednes­day evenings.  On April 22, 1900 John Foster, Sr., Mrs. L Foster, and J.H. Pool were elected as the first messengers to the Cape Girardeau Baptist Associat­ion,.

From the beginning God blessed the church ab­undantly. A lot for a building site was donated by C. S. Morrison. Two young sisters Linnie Pool and Laura Pool helped raise the $400 for needed materials. The Iron Mountain Railroad and Cotton Belt Railroads each gave $50 toward the new church building. This first financial committee of the “Pool Sisters,” with the building committee of John Foster, Sr. and C. S. Morrison, diligently worked along with volunteers to construct a beautiful one-room building for $598.50. That building is now a residence on Kidd Street.

On July 1, 1900 Rev. N. D. Maddox from Oran was called as pastor. In 1902 Rev. W. A. Davault, a professor at Will Mayfield College of Marble Hill, began his pastorate and served until l908.  Rev. Davault had to resign because the train schedule changed and he could not get back to Marble Hill for classes on Monday. 

The First Baptist Church of Deray was continuing to grow in the work of the Lord and made its first contribution to Foreign Missions of $1.80. Some of the early members of the church were excluded from membership for “disorderly walking”, but later some were reinstated.

In 1915 Deray Baptist is renamed to Delta Baptist Church because the town changed from Deray back to Delta in 1908. At that time the three main industries in the area were the railroads, W.W. Norman Sawmill built in l889 on the Whitewater River and the L. A. Goodwin live poultry business. 

As a result of the Depression Delta Baptist Church for the first and only time in 100 years did not submit an annual report of church activities to the association. In 1934 the church was without a pastor, which was a difficult time. God answered the prayers of the church and in 1935 Rev. and Mrs. O’Neal answered the call and served in 1935 and 1936. While they were here the Woman’s Missionary Society was organized in 1935 with Mrs. Wilson Estes, the first President.  

In 1942, Rev. Orren Smith was called as pastor and for the first time the church began a full time ministry. The first Vacation Bible School was conducted and has been held each year since that time. As the church grew, Rev. Smith encouraged the church to relocate.

The vacant Methodist Church Building was purchased in 1947. After some remodeling the building was dedicated as the meeting place for the First Baptist Church of Delta. Rev. R.N. Hackley was called as Pastor in 1947. A parsonage was purchased and the church grew steadily. Soon more classrooms were added to meet the needs of the growing church. Rev. and Mrs. Hackley started the Youth Organizations, Sunbeams, G.A.’s, YWA girls and R.A.s.

Bro Earl Selby came as pastor in 1952 and our first parsonage is paid in full. Various members of the Baptist Student Union of SEMO University provided youth revivals and music over the years. In 1953 Bro Harry Acre, Jr. came as pastor and additional classrooms were added to the building. 

The Brotherhood was organized In 1956 with Elbert Dirden its first president. Our church library was established in 1957 with Helen Jones serving as librarian.  In the early 60’s plans were made to replace the parsonage with a new one on property purchased from the Summerlin Estate. Rev. Lester Butler and family were the first to live in the new parsonage. Our church continued to grow, and again we added more classrooms to the building.

Rev. Eugene Meadows was called as pastor in May of 1969. During his ministry here the church started a building fund and built a belfry for the bell from the original church building. This bell was later moved to our present building and is still used on each Lord’s Day.

Rev. Edward Gibson was called as pastor in 1971. The first bus ministry was begun on March 18, 1972 with only one bus. Soon two buses were needed. The Hobert Kight property was purchased to be used for a youth building, more classrooms, and more parking space. The need for expansion was great and in 1973, 5 acres was purchased for future building and was paid for in 1974. Dan Hale was called as our first Youth Director in the fall of 1972.  This ministry has continued on to the present.  During the year 1973 we added 38 members through baptism.  The Children’s Church program was implemented in October of 1974 with Martha Dalton as the director.  On May 15, 1975, the church helped to organize a Senior Citizens Club and a Delta Meals Program. 

Rev. Ron Shrum was called as pastor in1975 and led the church through the erection of the new building. Construction began in 1976 at a cost of $187,500 and was completed and dedicated in 1977.  We were debt free by 1985. In 1980 our highest Sunday School attendance was 421. Youth choir tours were started and the New Life Singers (Youth Choir) added which strengthened our ministry in the community.

Rev. David Coppedge was called in 1981 to be our pastor. Our first Mission Trips were started during his pastorate. The “World Hunger” offering was started every Sunday. We were asked to give only “one dollar” each Sunday. This has continued each year and in 1999 we gave a total of $1,265 to World Hunger. Our church sponsored the first Homecoming in August 1984. This has become an annual event and is held the second Sunday in September. Rev. Coppedge and wife Sonya were called to Foreign Missions. They served in Uruguay, South America for many years and are now back in the states serving as missionaries for the North American Mission Board.

Rev. Kenny Martin was serving as pastor in 1985 and the Home Bound ministry was started, (now the Caring and Sharing Ministry). On August 23, 1987, the Church voted to purchase a house for a second staff person.  Delta Baptist Church has been blessed with several members of our church family being called into part-time or full-time service for our Lord. Those now serving include Patrick Tankersley, Kevin & Eric Shrum, and Brad Fowler. 

Our church funded a special offering of $5,000 to help start a church in Uruguay. Rev. Glen Golden was called as pastor in 1991 and served until 1999. We became partners with a Mission Church in Belarus, Russia and Rev. Golden made a mission trip there in 1998. We also hosted pastors from Wyoming during the Wyoming Mission Exchange. 

In the fall of 1998 a committee of church members began discussing the need for refurbishing and repairing of the church facilities. Also, looking ahead to the year 2000 when our church would be celebrating its 100th Anniversary. In the spring of 1999 the church voted to embark upon a refurbishing project to be com­pleted before August 2000 at an estimated cost of $40,000. January 1, 2000, Rev. Eric Hodge and Connie and their two children arrived on this field of service. April 24, 2000, a son was added to their family. Many of the improvements have been accomplished to date on the refurbishing. In April 2000 the church voted to spend an additional $12,000 to complete all needed improvements. Many of the ministries started during these 100 years are still active. The Community Food Bank (maintained in our facility) and our participation in the Community Worship Services at our Delta Community Center have strengthened our fellowship within the community.

We praise God for our rich heritage. From the “Messenger of Peace” rail car to our present building, God has blessed us with loving members, excellent leaders and a host of families that have made up the “church family” during this century. Striving to serve Christ our members have used their spiritual and monetary gifts to glorify His work. We give God all the praise and the glory for the blessings He has bestowed upon First Baptist of Delta during this “Century of Service.” While we glory in the past we must look to the future! “The field is ripe unto harvest” so we must “Go, teach, witness, and baptize.”