Clear Lake Baptist Church
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Changed-Lives Changing Lives

Our History

In the Beginning...

In 1968 the union Baptist Foundation purchased 7 acres of land in Clear Lake City with the stipulation that a church building had to be started within 18 months. Dr. D.E. Sloan, the Area Missions Secretary, recommended that Nassau Bay Baptist Church appoint 3 deacons that lived in Clear Lake City to serve as an Establishment Committee for the new church. The three deacons chosen were Bernie Free, J.P. Harris III, and Bill Taylor.
 
Shortly thereafter, a letter was sent to all the residents in Clear Lake City about the new Southern Baptist Church; and on September 8 the interested residents met at the United Methodist Church on El Camino Real to discuss the plans. On October 13, 1968 at 2:30 p.m. a chartering service was held at the Methodist church, and 77 people became Charter Members of Clear Lake Baptist Church! The chartering service concluded on CLBC property at the intersection of Space Center and El Dorado Boulevards.
 
To start off, the Sunday services were held at the Webster intermediate School, and the United Methodist church continued to host the CLBC body on Wednesday nights. Travis Keith, of the Union Baptist Association, provided pastoral leadership for the church. In October of that year, the church authorized Bill Taylor to pursue the purchase of the remaining 3.3 acres of land we now own today. On February 26, 1969, Dr. Hollie L. Briscoe became the first pastor of Clear Lake Baptist Church. That May, the first Lord's Supper was held in the church's new meeting space at Whitcomb Elementary School.

Presiding Pastors: Church Organist Wilma Taylor is a charter member of CLBC!

  • Dr. Hollie Briscoe (February 1969 - March 1973)
  • Harold Reeves (October 1974 - February 1979)
  • George "Sonny" Spurger (July 1979 - March 1984)
  • Dr. Glen R. Willingham (September 1985 - January 1993)
  • Dr. Craig Taylor (June 1994 - February 2007)
  • Dr. Glenn Young (May 2008 - Present)

Interesting to Note...

  • The church and its Sunday School program had more than doubled in size by October of 1969!
  • The first church budget was $40,000 in 1969. In 2008, CLBC members will contribute over $612,000 to the wide variety of ministries pursued by the church.
  • A model of the first church building was placed in the lobby of First State Bank in March 1970. Construction began in September, and the dedication ceremony was held on June 20, 1971. Immediately, on June 12-16, 1971, CLBC hosted its first Vacation Bible School program.
  • Since 1970, the church directory has been a beloved communication tool of CLBC.
  • In July of 1973, 18 youth and four adult sponsors went on mission to Brownsville where they conducted religious training for Mexican children. The youth funded the trip through fertilizer sales! CLBC continues to do what's needed to reach the multitudes for Christ, here in Clear Lake, on the Mexico border, and oversees!
  • In October of 1977, CLBC started a Children's Church program. Today children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade still enjoy a worship experience tailored to them to prepare for "Big Church" later in life!
  • Rose Smith began serving as the first custodial staff member of our church back in 1976. Today, she cares for our children and volunteers in the food ministry. Millie Lymuel cares for the custodial needs of our church today.
  • In September of 1978, CLBC began one of the first Mother's Day Out programs in the Clear Lake area. It remained a top educational program in Clear Lake for preschoolers, becoming a 501c3 organization, open to student 5 days a week. Due to the rising amount of mom's in the workforce and the large number of programs now available in Clear Lake, the program decided to shut it doors in May 2008.
  • CLBC has itself sponsored/hosted other churches: The Choate Road Baptist Chapel (now Calvary Baptist Chapel), a Chinese Mission, and Bay Area Baptist Church. A new Hispanic church may be on the horizon!
  • The Adult Choir performed the musical "Unto Us A Child is Born" in the Sears court at Baybrook Mall during the Christmas of 1980.
  • The Sunday School program expanded into two time slots to meet the educational needs of the church membership; and two years later, on December 11, 1983, the new building was completed. Sunday School returned to the 9 a.m. hour where Bible studies for all ages meet today!
  • During the Gulf War in Iraq, CLBC had 38 members enrolled in active service.
  • The Food Pantry began in 1998 with 6-7 cases of bread products distributed each week. The ministry grew immensely, and in June of 2003, the pantry moved into its new portable building behind the CLBC chapel. The Clear Lake Food Pantry, a 501c3 organization, now feeds thousands weekly!
  • Clear Lake Baptist Church is a member of both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist General Convention of Texas.