Welcome to East to West Baptist Church

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13

There are four things you MUST realize

1. All have sinned…Romans 3:10- “There is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:23- “For all have sinned and come short of theglory of God”
2. There is a penalty for sin…Romans 6:23-“For the wages of sin is death...” Revelation 20:14- “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
3. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins…Romans 5:8- “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
4. Jesus invites you to be saved today….Romans 10:13- “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally and plenary (whole) inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the complete and divine revelation of God to man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their grammatical, historical meaning. The King James Bible is the official and only translation used by the church. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21)

GOD

We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfection. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:10, 26)

THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He may reveal God and redeem sinful mankind. (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 4:4-5; Phil. 2:5-8)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:3-5)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of representative, intercessor, and advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Heb. 9:24, 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)

THE PERSONALITY AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the supernatural agent in the new birth, indwelling believers unto the end of life and to the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 1:13-14; John 3:5)

We believe He is the divine teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures. All saved are filled with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:17-18, 5:18; 1 John 2:20, 27)

We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip believers in the local called-out assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry. (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 28; Eph. 4:7-12)

We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the filling of the Holy Spirit and the ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing. (1 Cor. 1:22, 13:8, 14:21-22)

THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN

We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that in Adam’s sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition. (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 3:22-23, 5:12, 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3, 4:17-19)

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins, and that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord, having been convicted of sins and repentance is present, shall be saved. (John 1:12; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rom. 10:9-10, 13)

THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38-39; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; 1 John 5:13)

We believe that it is a privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Rom. 13:13-14; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

THE LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that the church is local and visible, is the espoused bride of Christ, and is solely made up of born-again, scripturally baptized believers. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27)

We believe that the establishment and continuance of the local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

We believe water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are the scriptural ordinances of obedience for the local churches in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)

We reject the teaching of a universal church concept based upon the lack of scriptural evidence.

SEPARATION

We believe that all saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and the Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God. (Rom. 12:1-2, 14:13; 2 Cor. 6; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 1 Thes. 5:22)

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (RETURN)

We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ, who will rapture His Kingdom prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return, with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom which was promised to the Nation of Israel. (Ps. 89:3-4; Dan. 2:31-45; Zech. 14:4-11; 1 Thes. 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Rev. 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6)

THE ETERNAL STATE

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13)

We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23, 3:21; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:4-6; Eph. 2:6)

We believe that the souls of the unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they shall appear at the Great White Throne of Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire—not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matt. 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thes. 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15)

THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN

We believe that Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

CREATION

We believe that God created the universe in six literal 24-hour periods. We reject evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, the Big Bang Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1–2; Ex. 20:11)

CIVIL GOVERNMENT

We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: the home, the church, and the state. Every person is subject to the authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific biblical responsibilities and balanced those with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph. 5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)

(The United States Constitution does not prohibit the church from participating in or influencing the affairs of the state. The Supreme Court has decreed, and the laws and policies prohibit the church from participating in the affairs of the state. (Example: Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).)

HUMAN SEXUALITY

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity should be engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. (Gen. 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1, 6:9; 1 Thes. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of adultery or fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian service, they may not be considered for offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal. 2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)

ABORTION

We believe that human life begins at conception and that an unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5, 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24, 49:1,5; Jer. 1:5, 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)

MISSIONS AND BENEVOLENCE

We believe that God has given His local church the Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us. We support only missionaries who will establish New Testament Independent Baptist Churches or like faith, beliefs, and practices as East Side Baptist Church. (Matt. 28:19-29; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)

LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS

We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)

GIVING

We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God has established the tithe as a minimum basis for giving and that every Christian should also give other offerings cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct use of the tithe and offering once it has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)

AUTHORITY OF STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and therefore, is binding upon all members.

On August 24th, 1941, three pastors from the Wichita Falls area held a three-week revival under a tent in the 900 block of Wilbarger in Vernon, Texas, in hopes of establishing an Independent Baptist Church here. As a result of this revival, the Bible Baptist Church was formed, which was re-named the East Side Baptist Church in 1952. On October 1941, the church purchased property on the corner of Pease and Pearl Street in Vernon and began construction of the new church where East Side Baptist Church remains today.

We assisted the establishment of East Side Baptist Church in Big Spring, Texas, in 1988, which is still serving the Lord to date.

Additionally, we have sponsored Brother Solomon Saripalli and Brother Rufus Saripalli, Missionaries to India, since 1977. The Saripallis have been responsible for opening many churches in India as well as continued work in the translation of the King James Version of the Bible to their native language in India.

Pastors of East Side Baptist Church include:

Rev. Joe Norris

Rev. D.W. Hamilton

Rev. R.B. Fox

Rev. Curry Edgar

Rev. O.B. Hutson

Rev. J.W. Walker

Rev. Ralph Johnson

Rev. S.B. Erwin

Rev. Charles Thomas

Rev. Bob Eggers

Rev. Doyle Hawkins

Rev. Herb Smith

Rev. Joe D. Wade

Rev. Gilbert Rhine

Rev. E.E. Chappell

Rev. Harold Brown

Rev. Curt Rutledge

Treasurer: Benny Dorland, Thomas Ditmore

Mission Treasurer: Curt and Betha Rutledge email betha.rutledge@yahoo.com

At East Side Baptist Church our prayers are that we reach out into the community and reach lost souls for God.

Through Community service we are able to share our faith in an Almighty God and salvation through his son Jesus who was sent to save the world.

1Ti_1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Luk_19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Childen ages 3 to 9 meet in the fellowship hall after breakfast on Sunday mornings to sing worship and praise songs before going to their classes.

The nursery is a ministry and service in our church. Our nursery workers are prepared to provide the best possible care for your child. We provide a quiet, safe, and caring atmosphere for children up to three years old. Our nursery toys and linens are cleaned after every service.

We ask that you please supply diapers, bottle, and other necessities for your child. Mark personal items, and fill out an information card so we can give your child the best care possible.

We believe that prayer is the single most valuable resource available to every Christian. The PrayerGram Ministry was established over two years ago to pray for those who need constant, fervent prayer. The congregation prays for each individual on the PrayerGram list and signs a postcard for each individual. The postcards are then mailed to the individuals on the PrayerGram list on a monthly basis to let them know they were remembered in prayer.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Here is an example of the card that is sent to our PrayerGram recipients. If you have a burden to place someone on the PrayerGram list, please complete the form on this page. All information provided on the PrayerGram request form will be forwarded to the PrayerGram administrator and will not be seen by anyone else. We must have a valid address in order to send these out.

PrayerGram

We prayed for you this morning personally. We love you in the Lord, and it is our prayer that every need you have will be met in Jesus.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42

…Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

Hello, my name is Curtis Rutledge. I currently serve as Pastor of East Side Baptist Church. I began serving the Lord after surrendering to the ministry in 2002, having served at East Side Baptist Church in various positions. I was appointed as Pastor in 2014. First and foremost, let me say, that I am very humbled that God would use me to lead this wonderful church. My burden is to lead and equip God’s people through the knowledge and understanding of His word.