East Saint Paul Baptist Church on Oak Grove Road West in Fort Worth, Texas, is known for a congregational life centered on caring, committed Christians. Its mission joins fellowship, discipleship, worship and evangelism, while children and young people have a prominent place in its music and youth work.
A Congregation of Caring, Committed Christians
Its mission identifies the church as a Congregation of Caring, Committed Christians, existing by God's grace to deliver the Message of the Master as it grows in four ways:
- Warmer through Fellowship
- Deeper through Discipleship
- Stronger through Worship
- Larger through Evangelism
The church's covenant centers on receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Members enter covenant as one body in Christ and promise to walk in Christian love, advance in knowledge, holiness and comfort, sustain worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines, and contribute to the ministry, the poor and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
The covenant also calls for family and secret devotion, religious education of children, just dealings, faithfulness, and abstinence from intoxicating drinks. Members are asked to avoid gossip and excessive anger, uphold one another in prayer, aid people in sickness and distress, comfort those who mourn, pursue reconciliation, and unite with a like church when leaving. These commitments express the church's beliefs about salvation, baptism, Christian conduct and shared responsibility.
Pastor Darrell Ward's Ministry Journey
Pastor Darrell L. Ward Sr. has led East Saint Paul since January 1, 2021. His military service brought him to Fort Worth in 1991, where he was called into ministry in June 1992. He delivered his first sermon that July in Killeen, served as an assistant minister and choir member through 2001, and was ordained in 1998. At Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary College, he earned an associate degree in 2000, a bachelor's degree in 2002, a master's degree in 2004 and, in 2006, a doctorate degree in theology.
His ministry also included service at Community Missionary Baptist Church, the Original Greater Saint Stephen Missionary Baptist Church and Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, which he organized. From 2013 to 2017, he preached and taught across the country and led evangelism and church leadership workshops. He later served at Harvey Avenue Baptist Church and assisted Pastor Howard McLean at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Hillsboro before coming to East Saint Paul. His experience spans pastoral leadership, preaching, teaching, evangelism, choir work, youth, education and administration.
Sunday at 10:45 and Wednesday at Noon
Online worship takes place Sundays at 10:45 a.m. and Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. The church shares both services through YouTube, and sermons are also available through its Church app. East Saint Paul's address is 5300 Oak Grove Road West, Fort Worth, Texas 76134.
The mission's call to become Stronger through Worship is paired with a strong music emphasis. Youth for Christ, the church's music and youth ministry, gives children and young people a direct role in congregational song.
Youth for Christ: Song, Worship and Discipleship
Youth for Christ meets in the sanctuary on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and continues until 8:00 p.m.; gatherings lead up to every second session. Its stated purpose is to train children and youth to glorify, worship and express their love for Jesus Christ through song and music. Psalm 150 is its guiding text, with verses praising God through trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, dance, strings, organ and cymbals.
Tony Anderson Sr. leads the ministry and also serves as a musician. Rev. Roslyn Woodard is Minister of Music, Angela Jones is organist, and Sonya Hill is Directress. Vacation Bible School is another part of the youth calendar.
A Youth Ministry Built Around Fellowship and Discipleship
The broader youth ministry is directed by Charla Staten. It seeks to share the good news of Christ through Bible teaching, worship services and youth ministries, with the aim of helping young people build a strong relationship with Christ. Opportunities for growth are organized around four themes that also shape the church's wider mission: fellowship, evangelism, worship and discipleship. Young people can take part online or in person.
Deacons Carry the Load; Deaconesses Care for the Community
The deacon ministry's vision is to help carry the load on the journey, while its purpose is to support members and families. Psalm 133:1 accompanies that commitment, and the deacons meet every third Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Deacon Richard Turner serves as chairman, with Deacon Gregory Scott as first vice chairman and Deacon O.C. Smith as second vice chairman.
The deaconess ministry assists the pastor and deacons in ministering to women and girls in the church and community. Its work includes visiting the sick and bereaved and helping prepare and administer the church's ordinances. The team assists with Communion and baptism, maintains contact with congregants, follows up after care with new converts, visits sick and shut-in people, and comforts those in mourning. The deaconesses meet every Tuesday following the first Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Deaconess Tracy Willis is president, Karen Shepard is vice president, Reta Price is second vice president, Candida Payne is secretary and Pamela Jones is assistant secretary.
Five Ways to Join East Saint Paul
East Saint Paul has five paths to membership. A person may unite by confessing the Lord as Savior and being baptized, make a profession of faith, join by letter from a former Baptist church, join by statement as a former Baptist church member, or join by restoration after returning to fellowship. The pastor greets and presents new members to the church, whose members welcome them in the name of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Finding East Saint Paul on Oak Grove Road West
From I-20 West, also identified as Southwest Loop 8-20, drivers take exit 438 to Oak Grove Road, turn right, continue south and turn right again onto Oak Grove Road West. East Saint Paul is then on the right. The church is at 5300 Oak Grove Road West, Fort Worth, Texas 76134. Directions to the church follow that route.
Online Giving and the Church App
Online giving is available through ShelbyGiving, accompanied by the church's motto, We Give because He Gave. The Church app is available through the App Store under the name Church by MinistryOne. It gives congregants access to sermons, online giving and events, along with the ability to follow the church's activities. Online worship remains available through YouTube.
Together, these ministries shape the life of East Saint Paul Baptist Church at its Oak Grove Road West home in Fort Worth: a congregation seeking to grow warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship and larger through evangelism.