We are grateful for our heritage

There is little room for doubt that God has truly blessed San Felipe Baptist Association throughout its existence. SFBA has a great heritage. SFBA was organized on October 21, 1948 at the Katy Baptist Church. The organization of a new Association was a step of vision and faith. God was at work among His people. The churches that made up the newly formed association at that time were: Katy Baptist Church, Prairie Home Baptist Church of Brookshire, Beasley Baptist Church, Wallis Baptist Church, Orchard Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Rosenberg, First Baptist Church of Sugar Land, Missouri City Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Sealy, Bellville Baptist Church, Harris Creek Baptist Church of Brookshire, Stafford Mission, and Addicks Mission. There were 39 messengers and pastors, from the churches listed above, who constituted the body that organized SFBA at the first Annual Meeting.

The name of our Association has considerable significance. We took our name from the colony Stephen F. Austin established in 1824 called San Felipe de Austin. It became the social, economic, and political center in the colony. The geographical area was located on the west bank of the Brazos, near the present town of Sealy. The community San Felipe still exists to this day. One of the earliest newspapers in Texas began publication in 1829; the Texas Gazette was published by Goodwin B. Cotton. Telegraph and Texas Register, the unofficial journal of the revolution, was first printed in San Felipe de Austin in 1835. It is reported that Thomas J. Pilgrim started the first Sunday School in Texas. The first Baptist preacher on record was Joseph Bays, who began preaching in 1823. He was arrested by the Mexican authorities for preaching the Gospel message of salvation. He later escaped and was never recaptured. The name San Felipe de Austin has a rich historical and spiritual significance.

Through the years, SFBA has made a tremendous impact on the lives of people in this region of the state. SFBA churches and their members have played an important part in the development of the cities, towns, and local neighborhoods in our region. We are a vital part of the fabric of life. SFBA churches have a strong sense of cooperation and commitment to Christ's work in this area as well as in all parts of the world.

Currently, SFBA is composed of churches located in Beasley, Bellville, Brenham, Brookshire, Fresno, Fulshear, SW Houston, Industry, Katy, Missouri City, Monaville, Needville, Orchard, Pattison, Pleak, Richmond, Rosenberg, San Felipe, Sealy, Stafford, Sugar Land, and Wallis.

The current churches of SFBA are grateful to God for the wonderful pioneers of faith who blazed a spiritual trail for us to follow. Those godly pioneers built churches and faithfully tithed and sacrificially gave of their time to carry out the ministries of their churches. They raised families, established schools, businesses, and communities. Our current identity as a Baptist Association is derived from the example of those who have gone before us. For this we are grateful!