FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – It is a church that has been around for more than 100 years, and although its membership has dwindled in recent times, they are looking to touch a growing number of souls with a bold plan for the future.
We are talking about Wilderness Branch Baptist Church, which sits on FM 359, just north of Richmond in Fort Bend County.
Wilderness Branch was founded in 1902.
In that time, they have had thousands of members led by eight different pastors.
Despite a cancer diagnosis and mistreatment from several dishonest contractors, their current pastor has put his faith in a brand new church for his congregation.
KPRC2′s Keith Garvin joined them on Sunday morning as they worshipped in their 121st year of existence.
But, for the past six years, they have been a church without a home.
In that time, they’ve been hosting worship at a nearby congregation, that has graciously allowed them to hold one service each Sunday morning at 8:30.
They have a new, partially-built facility on 359.
Down the road -- just a few miles away at the Old Foster Community Museum -- sits the original building. It was constructed 117 years ago and when you see it you can tell time took its toll. The old church is in the same condition as when they moved it from the church property in 2017.
For years, the Wilderness Branch congregation had worshipped in a structure that leaned, had a bad foundation, and a leaky roof. Generations of families grew up here and called this church “home” until it became unsafe to hold services.
“It’s been a long journey, but God answers prayers,” said Pastor Bobby Lockridge, who has led the church for nearly the past 10 years.
Lockridge spearheaded a fundraising effort to build a brand new place of worship to help reach more souls in this part of fast-growing Fort Bend County.
“Our thoughts are this... If we get this place up and running, it will draw some lookie-lous,” said Lockridge. “Somebody is gonna come just to see what it looks like, and prayerfully, the word of God will touch hearts and hold them here as members.”
Since 2017, Pastor Lockridge says his small congregation has raised $350,000. It has been a combination of bake sales, donations, and other means.
“They’ve done all kinds of sacrificial giving and fundraisers, and meeting in other locations while they’re trying to get this new building up and running,” said Scott Aulds, who lives near the church and helped raise money to repair the old church’s roof several years ago. “So, they’ve sacrificed a lot.”
The congregation’s goal is to grow and give the next generation a debt-free church.
“So that when we pass on, the next group that inherits this church will inherit a paid-for church,” Lockridge said. “They just have to get in and start working and serving.”
Unfortunately, their plans for financial freedom have hit a road bump. Pastor Lockridge says they’ve lost close to $50,000 to contractors who never finished the job or took the money and ran. One situation includes an architect whom they paid upfront.
“In good faith, we paid her $12,000 and she has yet to produce a blueprint,” said Lockridge. “So, we lost $11,000 on that.”
A lot of work has been completed. The church has invested a total of $500,000 in construction to come this far. But to complete the project, they need another $300,000.
“We just need cash to move this plan forward,” Lockridge said.
No one may be more ready to move forward than church secretary and historian Mittie Cobbin.
Cobbin became the church’s third secretary in 122 years when she took over for her late mother more than 40 years ago. She is thankful for the progress they’ve made, but envisioning the day they can complete construction and hold their first service is almost overwhelming.
“I don’t know if anybody will even understand anything we’ll be saying. We’ll be so excited,” Cobbin said through tears. “I don’t know if they’ll even understand the words that are coming out of my mouth.”
Time and health are also factors. Pastor Lockridge was cancer-free for six years, but it returned this year at stage 4. Doctors have told him it’s incurable.
“Although I have it, that’s not on my mind,” he said. “This church is on my mind, and getting my people back together, and fellowshipping together in our own place.”
In the meantime, he said he will keep searching for funds to finish the new church. And like this past Sunday, he will also keep preaching the word to all who find their way to Wilderness Branch.
“Whatever someone does for us, we will be forever grateful to them whatever it is,” Cobbin said.
With their building, Pastor Lockridge and the congregation are also hoping to re-establish their Sunday school curriculum and outreach services to be a bigger part of the community in Fort Bend County, which remains one of the fastest-growing counties in the country.
If you would like to help Wilderness Branch Baptist Church reach its goal of completing its building, you can send them a donation directly or to their mobile payment service:
Wilderness Branch Baptist Church
6207 FM 359
Richmond, TX 77406
Cash App -- $WBBC1902
