Worth Baptist Church

Led by Rev. Robert Jones Barber, Jr., a small group of people met in a store building on Wichita Street in Fort Worth, Texas, on the first Sunday of March, 1954, to organize a church.

The church was named Worth Baptist Temple and called as its first pastor Rev. R.J. Barber, Jr.

Within a few months a small building was purchased located at 3309 Wilbarger Street in Fort Worth.

Old location at 3309 wilbarger Street

The church hired as the first secretary Mrs. Patricia Roberts, and the first custodians were Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Spraggins.

A red brick sanctuary was built about five years later. However, the Sunday school and activities center remained in the frame building. In addition, a residence house was bought next door for youth activities.

Rev. R.J. Barber, Jr. resigned as pastor in December 1961, to assume the pastorate of his father's church in Danville, Virginia.

On the first Sunday of January 1962, the church called as its second pastor, Rev. Raymond Wesley Barber, who was already on staff serving as associate pastor.

Raymond Wesley Barber 1962

As the membership grew, additional houses were bought to accommodate the expanding Sunday school growth.

The name of the church was changed on July 22, 1964, to Worth Baptist Church.

A 10,000 feet educational building was constructed in 1964. The old frame building was sold and moved from the location.

Due to the growth of the church and deteriorating condition of the Wilbarger location, the church bought fourteen acres of land at 4900 Campus Drive and made plans to construct a new building and move its location.

Groundbreaking for Sunday school Building 1964

The new sanctuary with a seating capacity of more than one thousand was completed in September 1977, at a cost in excess of one million dollars. Included in the building were educational facilities, spacious offices, and adequate nurseries.

The first service in the new location was held Sunday, September 21, 1977.

Construction of a Family Life Center, including a gymnasium, fellowship hall, fully equipped kitchen, and rooms for Sunday school activities, was completed in 1983.

The total indebtedness of the church was liquidated in September 1992, leaving the church completely debt free with property assets in excess of four million dollars.

Noteburning Ceremony, September 1992

Under Pastor Barber's leadership, Worth Baptist Church became a great mission supporting church, contributing millions of dollars to foreign and domestic causes.

Worth Baptist church was built on the strong pulpit ministry of its pastor Dr. Raymond W. Barber. The church gained international prominence through the leadership of its pastor, who upheld the strong doctrines of the faith as taught in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

On April 6, 1997, after thirty-five years as pastor of Worth Baptist Church, Dr. Barber retired from the pastorate of the church and became its Pastor Emeritus.

On April 6, 1997, Dr. Willie W. Weaver became the pastor of Worth Baptist Church succeeding Dr. Raymond W. Barber.

Dr. Weaver has continued to lead Worth Baptist Church in the areas it was founded upon i.e. strong Bible preaching, evangelism, conservative music, and belief in the King James Bible as God's preserved Word for us today in the English language.

Currently, Dr. Weaver is leading Worth Baptist Church in a one and a half million dollar remodeling program that began in November 2005 and should be completed by November 2006.

"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad" Psalm 126:3