An enduring legacy

FBC Spring Branch presents $1 million to Truett Seminary

Members of the former First Baptist Church Spring Branch of Houston presented Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary with a generous gift of $1 million on Aug. 26, honoring the church's history through the establishment of the First Baptist Church Spring Branch of Houston, Texas, George W. Truett Theological Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Though the church closed its doors in 2012, members of the former congregation diligently began donating funds from the sale of the church building to deserving organizations throughout the Baptist denomination, including Baylor.

"This gift from First Baptist Church Spring Branch, designated to help train those called to ministry, will bear incredible fruit in perpetuity," said Dr. David Garland, dean of Truett Seminary. "Their doors may be shut, but their partnership in the Gospel will live on in the ministries of the many who will receive this scholarship as they touch untold numbers of lives all over the world."

First Baptist Church Spring Branch was founded in 1949 and served the Spring Branch community for 63 years. Through the establishment of the endowed scholarship fund, the church ensures that their passion for ministry will live on.

"First Baptist Church Spring Branch was a family," said Lavern Graham, chair of the church's special finance committee. "In choosing Truett Seminary and establishing a scholarship, we felt like we would be leaving a legacy that would honor everyone at the church who was so committed to ministry. That was utmost in our mind, and we are so confident in Truett's ability to train future ministers and missionaries."

For members of the church, the gift was also a way to keep the church's name alive.

"That means so much to us," Graham said. "Those of us who attended deeply loved First Baptist Church Spring Branch. There were many friendships with so many dear people, and that will never change. We may not have the joy of meeting inside a building any more, but we have the joy of knowing that the church will live on through the deserving students that will receive this scholarship."