From the Original Baptist Observer, October 2015 Issue

The following was the result of many efforts of different individuals spending diligent hours and miles of traveling to find the hidden historical documents that confirm we can “rattle the chain” in church lineage. Matthew 16:18 is all we need to trust by faith that the Lord’s churches are still present today. However, many “false prophets and ministers of darkness transformed into ministers of light” have scoffed at the need for church lineage because of inadequate historical documentation. The documentation is not inadequate when you are willing to put forth the effort to find it. Besides, man’s historical documents do not override God’s Word which demands church succession through church to church lineage.

Lineage of the First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Springfield, Oregon

The First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Springfield, Oregon, was organized on January 9th, 1960, by the authority that came through the Duke Street Missionary Baptist Church, Portland, Oregon.

The Duke Street Missionary Baptist Church later changed its name to the Hillcrest Missionary Baptist Church. In 1962, they moved to Oregon City, Oregon. The Duke Street Missionary Baptist Church was organized on May 30th, 1958, by the authority that came through the Lobster Valley Missionary Baptist Church. Bro. Elmore Harty was the missionary for all three of these works.

The Lobster Valley Missionary Baptist Church of Lobster Valley, Oregon, was organized by the authority that came through the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Sacramento, California, in 1957. Bro. Guy S. Martin was the missionary.

The Sacramento Landmark Missionary Baptist Church was organized by the authority that came through the Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church of Woodbridge, California, in 1952.

The Woodbridge Missionary Baptist Church was organized by the authority that came through the Riverbank Missionary Baptist Church of Riverbank, California, on July 27th, 1950.

The Riverbank Missionary Baptist Church was organized by the authority that came through the First Missionary Baptist Church of Salinas, California, on May 19th, 1940.

The First Missionary Baptist Church of Salinas, California, was organized as the Hebron Heights Missionary Baptist Church by the authority that came through the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Caldwell, Idaho, on August 11th, 1935. Bro. R. Y. Blalock was the missionary.

The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Caldwell, Idaho, was organized by the authority that came through the Meridian Baptist Church of Meridian, Idaho, on January 30th, 1927.

The Meridian Baptist Church was organized in the spring of 1924 by the authority that came through the Cloverdale Baptist Church in Cloverdale, Oregon. The Cloverdale Baptist Church endorsed Bro. Blalock to Idaho upon him leaving in November of 1923. Letters were granted from the Cloverdale Church for the Meridian Church after its organization. Bro. Blalock continues his correspondence with the Cloverdale Church throughout the 1930’s showing his endorsement for missionary work done through the Cloverdale Church.

The Cloverdale Baptist Church was organized as the First Nestucca Bay Baptist Church of Christ on April 10th, 1897, by the authority that came through the Mt. Hebo Baptist Church of Hebo, Oregon.

The Mt. Hebo Baptist Church was organized by the authority that came through the Fairview Baptist Church of Fairview, Oregon, in the spring of 1893. Bro. William Bailey, then pastor of Fairview, led in the organization of Mt. Hebo.

In February, 1891, the First Dallas Baptist Church dismissed several members for the purpose of organizing the church at Fairview.

The First Dallas Baptist Church was organized in 1856 by the authority that came through the La Creole Baptist Church.

The La Creole Baptist Church was organized on July 18th, 1846, by the authority that came through the West Union Baptist Church. In 1845, the West Union Church voted to authorize her pastor, Bro. Vincent Snelling, to baptize and organize churches by the authority coming through that church.

The West Union Baptist Church was organized on May 25th, 1844, with the Missionary Baptists that had traveled on the Oregon Trail. Bro. and Sis. Lenox received letters from the Todd’s Creek Baptist Church showing that they had authority to come out to Oregon in order to establish a New Testament church. The Beagles and Henry Sewell also joined in the organization of the church. All these letters were received just a few months after they organized. The Lenox’s daughter was saved sometime early in their coming to Oregon. However, she was not baptized and did not join the church until after Bro. Vincent Snelling came to pastor the church almost a year later. Authority of Christ through the church and the Biblical order of Christ’s doctrines were very important to Bro. Lenox when you examine his life choices. In fact, on the wagon train coming west, he insisted that the wagon train stop every Sunday for a time in God’s Word and rest. Others did not like this idea, but the wagon master told them they needed God’s help on this trip and that they would be stopping as Bro. Lenox requested.

The Todd’s Creek Baptist Church in Missouri was started in 1837 with authority coming through the Mt. Zion Church in Missouri.

Mt. Zion Church in Missouri was organized by the authority that came through the Providence Church in Warren County, Kentucky. This church was in the Warren Association of Baptist Churches in Kentucky.

The churches of the Warren Association of Baptist Churches came out of the churches of the Philadelphia Association of Churches.

The Philadelphia Association of churches began in 1707. The churches that began fellowshipping together in this association came directly from Wales. Some churches came across as a body, having voted as a church to move to the new land.

Elder H. Roller came directly from Hill Cliffe Baptist Church, Wales, England, to the Philadelphia Association of Churches. There is a founding stone in the cemetery at Hill Cliffe, that the cemetery was founded in 1357. Notice that this well pre-dates the Protestants, once again showing that Baptists are not, nor have they ever been Protestant.

The Hill Cliffe Church was organized by Aaron Arlington, 987. The Lima Piedmont Church ordained Aaron Arlington in 940 and sent him out.

Lima Piedmont was organized b Balcolao, in 812. Balcolao came from the church at Timto, Asia Minor.

Timto Church was organized by Archer Flavin in 738.

Archer Flavin came from the Darethea Church, organized by Andromicus in 671, in Asia Minor.

Andomicus came from the Piotifossi Church, at the foot of the Alps in France. Pontifossi Church was organized by Tellestman from Turan, Italy in 398.

Turan Church was organized by Tertullian from Bing Joy, Africa in 237.

Tertullian was a member of the Partus Church at the foot of the Tiber, that was organized by Polycarp in 150.

Polycarp was baptized by John the Beloved on the 25th of December in 95.

John was called out by Jesus on the seashores of Galilee and ordained as Apostle. He worked under the authority of Jesus Christ that came through the Jerusalem Church after they were scattered abroad. (Matthew 4:19-25; Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:14-18)

The Jerusalem Church, Jesus’ first church!