145 Years on South Belt Line Road
First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite has been gathering for worship at 1028 South Belt Line Road for decades, but its roots reach back much further. On March 27, 1881, fifteen charter members organized the congregation, calling as their first pastor the Reverend George Blewett, who had organized what is now the First Presbyterian Church of Richardson eleven years earlier. He traveled to Mesquite twice a month on horseback, spending two nights in town and then riding back to his home in Richardson on Monday. The small flock met in homes and public buildings until 1884, when a one-room wooden frame church was built facing what is now Davis Street. A small room was later added for the children's classroom, and a wooden fence was built around the property to keep the cows out of the church yard.
By the 1950s, plans were under way for a new church at a new location. The present sanctuary was dedicated on March 9, 1958. In 1991 a new building was completed that added classrooms and a larger kitchen and fellowship hall. In 2009 a historical marker was awarded to celebrate the congregation's long-standing service to the community. Today the church on South Belt Line Road belongs to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and to Grace Presbytery, and it continues to mark itself as a fellowship of people who love and care for one another.
Two Sunday Mornings, One Communion Table
The church gathers twice on Sunday mornings for worship. First Worship begins at 8:45 a.m. and Second Worship at 11:00 a.m. Sunday School for all ages meets in between at 9:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on the first Sunday of each month at both services. The pattern is traditional: the chancel choir leads hymns, the congregation reads responsively, the minister preaches, and the people depart carrying bulletins that archive each Sunday's order of worship. Bulletins are kept on file going back to at least 2020 and are available as PDFs.
Worship in the sanctuary follows the rhythms of the Christian year. Holy Week is marked with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, and a Christmas Eve service fills the evening of December 24. Ash Wednesday, World Wide Communion Sunday, All Saints Sunday, Reformation Sunday, and Christ the King Sunday each appear on the calendar. The church observes a Memorial Day service and a Youth Sunday when the youth lead worship from greeting to sermon. A Stewardship Dedication Sunday in late October or early November invites the congregation to commit their pledges for the coming year. The pastor is active in the community of Grace Presbytery, and youth of the church participate in presbytery-wide events including the Fall Worship Celebration, SHYC (Senior High Youth Connection) at Austin College, and GAP (God's Amazing People) at Camp Gilmont.
A Choir, A Bell Choir, and Two Cantatas a Year
The music ministry at First Presbyterian Church exists to use music to focus attention on the Creator and to lead others in worship. Ryoji Shimpo directs and accompanies the chancel choir, a group of singers with many years of combined choral experience. The choir leads the congregation in hymns, performs anthems and other special music on Sundays, and presents two cantatas each year, one at Easter and one at Christmas. After a summer break, the choir returns to the loft in mid-August.
Alongside the chancel choir, the Jubilate Ringers is a handbell choir that has been going strong since the 1980s. Directed by Ryoji Shimpo, the Jubilate Ringers perform about twice a year, including special services at Easter and Christmas. The music ministry welcomes all who wish to take part and make a joyful noise, and the church encourages every member to find a place in the program.
The Youngest Disciples
The Children's Ministry focuses on education, worship, and outreach to the community. The church seeks to support parents as the primary educators of their children and engages the whole congregation in nurturing children through intergenerational activities. Staff and volunteers have been thoroughly screened and trained so that Sunday mornings can be a peaceful experience for parents and children.
The nursery is staffed for infants through age 2 during both worship services and the Sunday School hour. When parents bring a child to the infant or toddler room, they are asked to complete an information sheet so that care can be personalized, and a pager is provided so the nursery can reach a parent at any moment. Only well children are cared for, in order not to expose others to colds or illnesses. The infant room is well-equipped and sterilized after use, and the toddler play area is designed to accommodate children from the time they begin to walk until they are 3 years old, with a housekeeping area and a book and toy area.
Sunday School classes are offered for all ages. The pre-school curriculum uses the Grow, Proclaim, Serve series, which tells Bible stories in a variety of ways so that children develop a common understanding of how to apply the Word of God in daily life. Classes in kindergarten through fifth grade use Feasting on the Word, a lectionary-based Reformed curriculum that covers the Bible over three years and is designed to help children grow stronger in faith and learn to share God's love.
During Children's Church, children from pre-school through first grade enjoy all the parts of the worship service in an age-appropriate setting. Simple songs and Bible verses open the time; Bible stories are told with wooden figures that children can hold and retell for themselves; activities reinforce the concepts; and prayers and blessings share God's love. The lessons rotate through the New Testament, the Parables of Jesus, the Old Testament, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Baptism.
Faith Builders is the children's ministry for grades 2 through 5. Children learn more about God and each other through a variety of venues, including scripture reading, music, dance, games, and other fun activities. The children's ministry also contributes to the opening of Sunday services, leads Praise Fellowship Services, and joins the Wednesday Night Live program.
L.I.F.E. Youth in Grades 6-12
Middle school and high school students meet under the banner of L.I.F.E. Youth. The middle school years can be confusing, as almost everything about life is changing, and the program offers a safe place to fit in and grow in faith. On Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., a Scripture-based curriculum helps students dig into the books of history, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, the gospels, and the letters, and wrestle with the tough questions of faith, the Bible, and God. The group is led by dedicated adult volunteers.
High school students also meet Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. The class goes deep into Scripture and into a small group where students can be themselves and ask the hardest questions about faith. Most Sunday afternoons from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., youth meet for dinner, fun, fellowship, and devotions. During Wednesday Night Live, on the first Wednesdays of the month, they meet for dinner, class, and fellowship. Other activities include youth swim parties, Game Night, Movie Night, Lock-ins, Presbytery Youth events, Progressive Dinners, and various mission opportunities in the community and beyond.
Each year on Youth Sunday the students are responsible for the entire service, including the preaching of the Word. They also usher, read scripture, and assist in other capacities during Sunday worship. The Fall Worship Celebration takes place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, when the youth of Grace Presbytery gather to praise God and give thanks. SHYC is a mid-winter retreat held at Austin College in Sherman for students in grades 9 through 12. GAP (God's Amazing People) is a retreat weekend for grades 6 through 8 at Camp Gilmont. Each July all 9th through 12th graders may attend a synod-wide youth conference held at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Each summer students in grades 6 through 12 gather for one week during Vacation Bible School to work with a different local mission each day, and every other summer the group heads out on a major mission trip, most recently to Bayou La Batre, Alabama, where they served with the Boys and Girls Club, handed out groceries, worked on homes, and worshipped with a local church.
Eight Sunday School Classes for Adults
At 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings, adults have their choice of eight classes. Christian Fellowship is made up of members who have been young at heart for a long time. The class is taught by rotating teachers on an eclectic mix of topics related to the Bible and issues in the Christian life, and it is discussion oriented. Crossroads is a media study and discussion small group welcoming young adults and older adults who consider themselves young at heart; the class is moderated on alternating Sundays by a committee that chooses curriculum from a variety of topics and media. The Discipleship Class is made up of empty nesters who study books of the Bible using The Daily Bible Study Series, with the lesson available each week by email. The Enquiry Class is led by different teachers on a quarterly basis using various resources along with The Present Word as a study guide. Faith and Life is a friendly, welcoming group that studies the Bible together using The Present Word quarterly curriculum, with plenty of time for questions, discussion, and sharing. The Genesis Class is devoted to the study of Scripture and reads a chapter of a book of the Bible each week. Geneva Fellowship studies a quarterly Scripture-based curriculum known as the Uniform Series, with a structured format that appeals to a variety of ages. Today's Faith is a class for young adults and married couples that uses various Bible-based material to apply the teachings of the Bible to daily life.
Wednesday Night Live
From September through April, Wednesday Night Live (WNL) is a mid-week gathering for the entire family. The evening begins with dinner at 5:45 p.m., prepared by Chef Rod Graham, at $5 per person. Adult Bible Study classes and Oil Painting with Pete begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m. Nursery care is available, and pagers are provided to all parents of nursery-age children.
First Wednesdays of the month are set aside as a special night for Children and Youth to experience fun, service, and Scripture. The middle school and high school groups explore, enjoy, and engage with all that God has to teach from His Word, and the younger children use The Story for Little Ones or the Deep Blue Kids curriculum. The Story engages preschoolers with a new storybook Bible, with activity pages that share Bible stories in simple words and colorful pictures so that children ages 3 to 4 grasp the meaning. Deep Blue Kids includes adventure, exciting stories, science experiments, arts and crafts, animated video storytelling, and active games, all combined into a living-faith experience that helps children discover what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today.
Presbyterian Women and the Men's Council
Presbyterian Women is a group that supports the mission of the church worldwide, nurtures faith through prayer and Bible study, works for justice and peace, and builds an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Morning and evening circles meet monthly for Bible study and fellowship for women of all ages. A Women's Retreat is held annually.
The Men's Council meets monthly for breakfast, fellowship, and an informative program. The men support mission projects in the church, host the annual Thanksgiving Dinner on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and prepare meals for the congregation. Roger B. Foltz was named the 2026 Church Man of the Year, having served multiple terms as both Deacon and Elder, served as a substitute Sunday school teacher, chaired the building and grounds committee, and used his skills as an internationally recognized championship chef to prepare meals and donate labor and supplies over more than twenty years of membership. He has also served as a community leader with the City of Mesquite, Boy Scouts of America's Circle Ten Council, Chili Appreciation Society International, and the Dallas Safari Club.
Cans, Blood, and the Wider Community
Mission is one of the four directions the church builds in each year: upward through worship, inward through discipleship and education, across through fellowship and care, and outward through mission and outreach that carry Christ's love to the world. The church has continued to support its planned benevolences at 100% for several years running.
The 100 Can Challenge gathers at least 100 cans of food each month for Sharing Life, a local ministry that helps families with food, housing, and utility assistance and that operates the W.A.R.M. emergency cold weather shelter. In November of one recent year the count reached 191 cans. The youth serve at Sharing Life several times a year, distributing food and warm greetings to clients as they drive through. Presbyterian Women partner with PCHAS (Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services) on the Waxahachie campus, providing small potted plants, decorated plant stakes, and nametags for table décor at a dinner for single moms.
Blood Mobiles come to the church several times a year in partnership with Carter BloodCare. On one Sunday in March, more than twenty people showed up to give the gift of life. The congregation also takes part in Address Mesquite, a community day of service, and supports the Boy Scout units sponsored by the church. Vacation Bible School collects additional canned goods for Sharing Life. The Garage Sale each spring supplements the church's benevolences, and a Fall Festival provides a daytime alternative for families in the community.
The church also maintains a relationship with the East Dallas Partnership with El Norte Synod in Guatemala, supporting that ministry through speakers and displays at fellowship meals.
The Pastor and the Staff
The pastor is the Reverend Dr. E. Jones Doughton. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree, is active in his presbytery, and is also active in community organizations. Prior to coming to First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite in January 2018, he served as Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Georgia, for seventeen years, leading that church through a difficult period of conflict as Head of Staff. Before Columbus he served as Solo Pastor to two small yoked churches in Virginia.
Ryoji Shimpo serves as Director of Music, Accompanist, and Handbell Director, leading both the chancel choir and the Jubilate Ringers. Renee Stormer serves as Administrative Assistant. The Reverend Dr. Thomas G. Wilbanks serves as Pastor Emeritus. The staff is supported by elders and deacons elected by the congregation, who serve as Ruling Elders, Deacons, and Trustees. Ordination and Installation Sundays each January mark the beginning of new terms of service.
Part of Grace Presbytery, Rooted in Mesquite
First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite belongs to Grace Presbytery and through that connection to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The presbytery provides resources for youth events like SHYC and GAP, partners with ministries in Guatemala and elsewhere, and offers continuing support for the church's ministry. The Session, the body of ruling elders, has guided the congregation through recent seasons of challenge, including the multi-year repair of Wilbanks Hall after the sprinkler system broke in February 2021.
The church at 1028 South Belt Line Road invites newcomers to worship at either of the Sunday services, to join a Sunday School class at 9:45 a.m., and to share in Wednesday Night Live during the cooler months. Sermon recordings, bulletins going back to 2020, and a YouTube channel offer ways to follow the congregation when distance keeps someone from the sanctuary. Online giving is available through a secure giving portal. The session and the pastor can be reached through the church office at 972-285-5602.
The church describes itself in simple words: people of the Christian faith, a community, a fellowship that loves and cares for one another. From the fifteen charter members who gathered in 1881 to the families, youth, and children who fill the rooms today, the congregation continues to grow on the foundation it names each year: the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.