In February, 1960, the Men's Brotherhood at First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove felt led to start a mission in Copperas Cove. The Brotherhood presented their plan to the church. The First Baptist Church voted to build and support a mission and elected a committee with Delbert Millsap, Chairman, who reported that between two and three acres of land could be purchased for $1,500 on the corner of Robertson Avenue. The church voted to buy the land.
On July 17, 1960, First Baptist Church voted to build a mission for $12,448.70 on the site they had purchased In August 1960, they broke the ground for a new mission church. On October 30, 1960, Elton Lawson was called as pastor and First Baptist Church bought the Mission a parsonage. On November 20, 1960, the first service of the mission was held. Forty-six were enrolled in Sunday School, 49 were present. The dedicatory sermon was brought by R.G. Whitehead, pastor of First Baptist Church, Copperas Cove.
June 25, 1961 was the first Vacation Bible School day. The average attendance for the week was 104.
On April 22, 1962, the second unit of the mission building was completed to serve as the auditorium. In the first year, the Mission had 67 new members and 31 baptisms.
On July 1, 1962, the First Baptist Church Mission was organized into a church to be known and incorporated as Robertson Avenue Baptist Church. The Trustees were C.B. Chandler, Delbert Millsap, Decil Henderson, Floyd Taylor, E.R. Warren and Andrew Davis.
By 1970, the total membership of RABC was 290 with 101 average attendance in Sunday School and 43 average attendance in Training Union. The W.M.U. had an enrollment of 44 and the Brotherhood had 20.
On March 18, 1973, ground breaking was held for the new auditorium. On March 31, 1974, the dedication was made for the new and present auditorium. On May 1, 1977, the 5,000 square foot Educational Building was dedicated. In 1980, all units of the buildings were structurally connected making one unit instead of three separate buildings.
Today we serve in an approximately 12,000 square foot building with separate areas for our youth ministry, children's ministry, nursery ministry as well as a large fellowship hall and we are grateful to have Joshua Morrison as our Senior Pastor!
