Long Creek Baptist Church is at 501 Long Creek Road in Sunnyvale, Texas, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Mesquite, Forney, Terrell and Rockwall. Founded in 1956 and describing itself as an independent Baptist church led by the Holy Spirit, the congregation is known for its motto, "Worship in Spirit and in Truth," its commitment to King James Bible teaching, and its practical outreach through Carmen's Cabinet food pantry.
Worship in Spirit and in Truth
Sunday begins with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., followed by Sunday Morning Worship at 10:45 a.m., and continues with a Sunday evening service at 5:00 p.m. A Wednesday evening service begins at 7:00 p.m. Newcomers are welcome at any of the services, and the church presents itself as a family church, a place where everyone knows your name. Leadership follows the roles described in its statement: the pastor oversees the flock as taught in God's Word, the deacons serve the membership with pride and honor, and staff and members are described as caring and willing to assist as needed.
A Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Long Creek Baptist Church says its ministries are as diverse as its people and that it will provide what glorifies God when it does not already have it. The church calls itself a "hidden treasure" in the midst of the DFW area, a fitting word for a congregation that emphasizes knowing one another by name and caring for the people who come through its doors.
The church can be reached at 501 Long Creek Rd, Sunnyvale, Texas 75182, by phone at (972) 226-1969, or by email at contact@longcreekbaptistchurch.com. A contact form is available for questions or to speak with a staff member, and staff will gladly follow up. Alongside Sunday worship, the congregation maintains a YouTube channel and a Facebook presence.
What Long Creek Baptist Church Believes
The statement of faith begins with the Bible as God's inspired word, without error, and holds that the King James Version is the closest to the original Greek and Hebrew text, citing 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Revelation 22:18-19. The church affirms the Trinity, believing that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one, and identifies Jesus as the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, with references to Genesis 1:1, Revelation 1:8 and Revelation 22:13. It also affirms that God created all things by his word and that all things were made perfectly until the fall of man.
Salvation is described as coming through accepting Jesus and repenting, by faith and not by works, with Ephesians 2:8-10 as the anchor text. At the same time, believers are described as God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. The church holds that all Christians are called to serve, teach and witness for God's glory, that the work of the local church includes spreading the gospel to all nations, and that love reaches people of every nationality and culture.
Other affirmations are stated plainly. Every life is precious and valuable in the sight of God, and abortion is regarded as murder that goes against the Word of God. All people are created equal with a sin nature, while eternal hope is found through Jesus Christ the Lord. The church teaches that God placed the man as leader of the church and the husband as leader of the family, to lead, teach, love, correct and discipline according to Scripture. Every living person has a free will, it says, to accept Jesus and spend eternity with him or to deny him, and there is still hope for the lost until their last breath of life, because Jesus loves the lost and gives them many chances to repent.
- Two ordinances are named. The Lord's Supper symbolizes the broken body and blood of Jesus shed for sins, and baptism by submersion is a public profession of faith that a person has been saved by the blood of Jesus.
- Marriage is described as sacred and biblical, between one man and one woman, and any union outside what God sanctioned is called an abomination.
- Giving in tithes and offerings is part of maintaining the house of worship and advancing the gospel in the community and around the world.
- The church believes Satan knows his time is limited and is working to destroy lives, but that through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, Satan has already lost. Jesus is at the Father's right hand in heaven, and believers will meet him in the air when the trumpet sounds.
- The church places its faith solely in Christ for salvation rather than in government or worldly domain, and says it will abide by the laws of the land unless they are contrary to the Word of God.
Long Creek Baptist Church highlights Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV): "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Carmen's Cabinet Food Pantry
Carmen's Cabinet is the food pantry operated by Long Creek Baptist Church. Brother Frank Moreno handles requests for food through call-in appointments, since the church itself is open only during service hours. The pantry also gives people a way to serve: non-perishable canned goods, jelly, peanut butter, syrup and similar items are welcomed for stocking the shelves and helping people who need food.
Giving and Outreach
Giving is described as a way to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and to support outreach programs and missions, and the church frames it with the words "The Lord loves a cheerful giver." Gifts can be weekly, monthly or one time, and giving is available online.
The Deacon Body
The deacon body consists of Bro. Robert and Sister Nancy Pate, Bro. Frank Moreno, and Bro. Jack and Patti Horton. The church sets out 1 Timothy 3:11-13 (KJV) alongside that list as its description of the office: "Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Interim pastor Bro. David Jackson serves with the deacons, staff and membership, all described as caring and willing to assist as needed. Long Creek Baptist Church's identity in Sunnyvale comes down to its motto, worship in spirit and in truth, built on King James Bible teaching, discipleship, missions and service to people in need.