Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church is one of the lesser known churches of Austin, Texas that remains forgotten and unknown. This news article will explain and explore the history behind this church. 
Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church was one of the Baptist churches which was operated in cooperation with Free Will Baptist Church. Religious services and rites were held on a weekly basis on Sundays. Baptisms were held inside of the church building.
Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church shared space with Calvary Baptist Church, Austin Baptist Temple, and Spicewood Springs Baptist Church starting in 1971. They would share space in this church building throughout the 70s. Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church would merge their services with Spicewood Springs Baptist Church.
Wyatt Tisdale was an ordained pastor for that church. Wyatt Tisdale was ordained by Dr. Ralph M. Smith at Hyde Park Baptist Church. (Ref: Austin American, Page 20, Thursday, December 9, 1971)
“Wyatt Tisdale, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, 4320 Spicewood Springs Road, was ordained to the Baptist ministry Sunday at Hyde Park Baptist Church by Dr. Ralph M. Smith and others.”
Revivals were held on Sundays. Sermons were delivered during these revivals. A preacher would be responsible for holding these services. Worship services are at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday Bible classes for all ages were at 10 a.m. Mid-week service is at 7:30 p.m. Their phone numbers were 512-258-4136 and 512-343-0436. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/364152948/)
Unfortunately Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church was a target for burglary and vandalism. Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church was robbed more than 3 times in its history of being a church. Vandalism was a common problem this church faced.
Austin American-Statesman reported on the Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church being robbed and vandalized in 1975. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, CHURCH NO SANCTUARY?, Page 11, Monday, December 22, 1975)
“A church is not immune from burglaries, as the congregation of Spicewood Springs Baptist Church at 4000 Spicewood Springs Road has learned three times now. Police said someone broke into the church Friday, smashed chairs, kicked holes in the walls, and flooded the bathroom. The vandalism is the third such incident at the church, according to a church spokesman.”
The church would be vandalized again in 1976. The shocking news made headlines in the Austin American-Statesman. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, CHURCH VANDALIZED, Page 12, Thursday, April 1, 1976)
“Vandals broke into the Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church this week for the third time this year and punched dozens of holes in the walls, police said." Nothing was reported stolen in from the church at 4102 Spicewood Springs Road.”
Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church would merge their services with Spicewood Springs Baptist Church in 1980. The Austin American-Statesman reported that Spicewood Springs Road Baptist Church merged with Austin Baptist Temple to become Spicewood Springs Baptist Church in 1981. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 74, Saturday, November 12, 1983)
“The Spicewood Springs Road Baptist Church, founded in 1936, and the Austin Baptist Temple, founded in 1981, have merged into one ministry, Spicewood Baptist Church. Plans are in progress to construct new facilities at 4320 Spicewood Springs Road.”
Austin American-Statesman reported again about the merger of the 2 churches in summer of 1983. Plans were in progress for construction of some new facilities. Spicewood Baptist Church was a young and growing church ministry in Northwest Austin by then. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 35, Saturday, November 5, 1983)
“AUSTIN BAPTIST TEMPLE and SPICEWOOD SPRINGS BAPTIST merged into the NEW "SPICEWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH". Plans are now in progress for construction of new facilities. SPICEWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH is an independent church with a Christ-centered, Bible believing, Soul-winning family-oriented ministry. We invite you to join with us in our exciting founding years and experience the joy of reaching out to the spiritual needs of a growing community. "PREACHING THE LIVING CHRIST TO A DYING WORLD"”
Spicewood Baptist Church and Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church were facing more trouble due the to City of Austin acquiring a chunk of property to expand Spicewood Springs Road for right-of-way purposes in 1988. Spicewood Springs needed to be expanded because the lanes were too narrow.
The church wanted to hang up their sign which had been there since 1936 but couldn’t due to the fact they needed a permit. Getting a permit to hang the sign was an obstacle for the church because their sign did not fall under the grandfather clause. Lack of money is what prevented them from putting the sign back up. (Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 40, Sunday, January 3, 1988)
[The Spicewood Baptist Church sign leans against the church building instead of rising above it. Pastor Gary Smith said this sign and a portable one will go back up as soon as money is available. Road work causes identity problem for congregation Spicewood Baptist Church is suffering an identity crisis. Wind, weather, and road widening have downed two outdoor signs in recent months, and a lack of funds prevents repair and replacement.
Spicewood Baptist pastor Gary Smith said the church's main sign was taken down last year when the city purchased some church property for right of way on Spicewood Springs Road. Smith said when he inquired about erecting the sign again, he was told he would need a new permit. "It didn't fall under the grandfather clause," Smith said. "It's been there since 1936, but we've got to get a permit to put it back up a few feet over (from the original location)."
Getting a permit turned out to be easier said than done. Smith said a city staff member told him he was not eligible to receive a sign permit. The church would have to get its permit through a professional licensed by the city.
The final obstacle to erecting the church's sign was and is money. Smith said 30 families leaving his membership in the past two years has affected the church's operating budget. Members now total 150. Smith has even taken a part time "secular job" to generate income. "Our finances have been tight, and (the signs) are just one of the needs we have," he said. "Because of the move-out of people in the area, we have to watch every penny."
In February, the church's most recognizable feature, a portable sign bearing "thought provoking" messages, fell victim to heavy winds. It has been blown over occasionally during the past five years, but "the last time got it good," Smith said. He estimated "tender loving care and $75 to $100" would cover the necessary repairs.
The portable sign, facing Spicewood Springs Road, bore a succession of poignant messages Smith has collected and categorized over the past 15 years. "People can stand adversity better than they can stand prosperity." "While life is not always a cup of tea, it is true that hot water can draw out your true strength." "It is far better to be despised for doing right than to be praised for doing wrong." Smith has bound thousands of similar sayings in notebooks under titles from Abilities and Accomplishments to Trials and Testings.
While the sign was up, Spicewood Springs drivers were avid readers. "It seems everywhere I'd go people had seen it," Smith said. "Several people have said they read our sign going back and forth to work." One message was directly responsible for bringing visitors through the church doors. "The message was, 'If your faith can't even get you to church, how can it get you to heaven,' " Smith said. Both signs will go up as soon as funds are available. When contacted about Spicewood Baptist's situation, city administrative technician Norah Briones said unless there are unusual circumstances the church should be able to apply for its own permit for a sign under 50 square feet. The fees for a non-electrical sign are $30 to erect and $25 to keep it up for a three-year period, Briones said. "I'm not complaining. It's just a need we have," Smith said. "We're getting known as 'the place of the missing sign.’”]
Spicewood Baptist Church requested a zoning change so they sell the property to Walgreens Inc and another business conglomerate in 1984. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/362890928/)
“C 14-84-032 - Spicewood Baptist Church It requesting a zoning change for property at 4320 Spicewood Springs Road from l-A interim tingle family and duplex residential, first Height and Area, to LR local retail, first Height and Area. The Balcones Civic Association and the Northwest Austin Civic Association have been informed of the 10 p.m. hearing.”
Spicewood Springs Baptist Church sold the rest of their property to Walgreens and an apartment complex in 1994. A Walgreens store now sits where Spicewood Springs Baptist Church and Spicewood Springs Road Baptist Church one were extant. No trace of this church remains today.
Spicewood Springs Free Will Baptist Church was located at 4000 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, Texas, US 78759.
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