A large part of the early history of Texas and of Texas Baptist took place within the bounds of Colorado Association. When Stephen F. Austin brought the first 300 families to Texas in 1820's, there were 11 Baptist families included. There were 2 Baptist churches established in Texas before 1835. Because, Texas was under Mexico’s rule and her state religion was Catholicism, one of the churches was organized in Illinois by Rev. Daniel Parker in 1833 and came to Texas in the last part of that year or early 1834. Then later moved out of Austin’s colony. The other church was organized to the laws of Mexico in 1834 by Rev. Abner Smith near where Bastrop now stands. Both of these churches were hardshell Baptist. There is record of 20 Baptist preachers in Texas at this early date.

In 1822, Baptist layman, William Kincheloe and others landed near old Matagorda. They left their belongings under guard of 4 men and went up the Colorado River to locate a home site. On returning, they found that Indians had killed the guards and burned all their belongings. William Kincheloe and his family came back up the river to about where Wharton now stands, burned off a cane break, and planted a corn patch with the aid of sticks to push the grain in the ground. The corn yielded a fine crop. The first sermon preached in Austin’s Colony was preached in Kincheloe’s cabin.

Thomas J. Pilgrim came to Texas from New York State, landing at or near Matagorda in December, 1828. Bro. Pilgrim organized a Sunday School at San Felipe in 1829. This same year two other Sunday Schools were organized, one at Matagorda, and the other near present day Wharton.

Rev. Z. N. Morrell came to Texas in 1836. In 1839, he organized Plum Grove Baptist Church on the Colorado River in Fayette County. There, in the Colorado River, he baptized a Mrs. Dancer, the first to be baptized in Texas. Two weeks later he baptized nine others into the fellowship of Plum Grove Church. Much of Bro. Morrell’s work was done in what was soon to be Colorado Association.

The first association to be organized in Texas was Union Association in 1840. The Sabine Association was organized in 1842 but dissolved in 1847 over the Mission question. Colorado Association was organized on November 18, 1847, which was the Thursday before the third Sunday at Rocky Church in Lavaca County. Nine churches, whose membership totaled 119, were represented and took part in the organization. The churches were: from Travis county - Austin Church and Macedonia Church; from Fayette County - Bethany Church, La Grange Church, and Plum Grove Church; from Wharton county - Colorado (which is now FBC, Wharton); from Gonzales county - Gonzales Church; from Matagorda County - Matagorda Church, and from Lavaca County - Rocky Creek Church.

The first Moderator of Colorado Association was Rev. Richard Ellis. Rev. Ellis was a Virginian by birth that had come to Texas in 1837. Colorado Association is the mother of 15 or 16 associations. Everything west of the Colorado River once was in the bounds of Colorado Association.

The records up to 1882 are skimpy, but occur far enough part to give us a general idea of the work that was done - as well as the problems that were faced.

The first money ever given by a Baptist church in Texas for foreign missions, so far as the records show, was given by a church in Colorado Association. On September 8, 1848, the church at Matagorda sent with its messengers to the first Baptist State Convention at Anderson, $22.00 Eleven dollars of this amount was from the white membership for missions in China and eleven dollars from the Negro slaves, who belonged to the Matagorda church, for missions in Africa.

In 1851, Colorado Association had a membership that was listed as 286 white and 145 black. The First Baptist Church, Wharton was listed as having a membership of 24 white and 145 black. Also in this year, Bro. T.J. Pilgrim reported that there were 29 Sunday Schools within the bounds of Colorado Association, 24 of them Union Sunday Schools and 5 of them were Methodist. They were scattered from Point Isabel and Brownsville on the south to Rio Grande City and San Antonio on the west, Georgetown on the north, and Matagorda on the east.

In 1854, a Negro Baptist Church at Matagorda petitioned and was received into the association.

In 1858, there were 46 churches reported with 1,922 members

Colorado Association has always been Missionary in spirit and deed. Little did the group know of the far reaching influence of two offerings they made - space a year apart - to a special mission cause. The first was made in 1860 and amounted to $180; the second was made the following year and was increased to $304.70. The object of these gratuities was a mission in San Antonio which grew into the First Baptist Church of that city.

The next available record carries us to the year 1882. By this time the associational bounds were much smaller and covered an area from Victoria to Palacios to Weimar-Columbus-Eagle Lake. At the convention of that year they employed a Domestic Missionary with a salary of $60 per month. He was instructed to confine his labors to Hallettsville, Columbus, Mixon’s Creek, and Eagle Lake.

In 1884, the Domestic Mission report included the recommendation that mission money may be sent “To aid the State convention in permanently establishing the cause in important places within our boundaries as Victoria, Edna, Columbus, and Cuero which are and will continue to be centers of influence.” Pastors were urged to hold mission revivals in communities round about the churches. The domestic Missionary reported, “a clamorous cry for more preaching.” Only eight churches reported Sunday schools and they had a bare 353 enrolled. Eagle Lake led the group with 119 students. There were now 1,084 members in the 23 churches of the association.

In 1891, there were 30 churches, 1,937 members, 78 received by baptism, 60 by letter, 12 by restoration, and two by statement for a total of 152. However, 111 had been lettered out, 19 taken by death, 9 dropped, and 40 were lost by exclusion. Wharton was the only full time church. Pastors’ salaries averaged $163.31 per year.

By 1893, the missionary is now called the Associational Missionary. He reported that we ought to have missionaries to the Swedes, Germans, and Bohemians. The brethren were up in arms over a heretical movement known as Martinism, which was leading many astray. A special committee brought to the attention of the body a resolution that declared,

Resolved,

1. That the Colorado Baptist Association...speak with no uncertain sound against said doctrine and warn the churches against such men as A.J. Williams and others that may in the future attempt to spread such heretical doctrines.
2. That we advise and urge the churches of the association not to encourage...such preaching.
3. That we endorse the two sermons preached and published by B.H. Carroll, of Waco, on Assurance”... and the curse pursued by the Baptist Standard...in their faithful exposing of Martinism.”

Rev. Joseph P. Rutledge was the Associational Missionary in 1894. He reported that in the past 11 months he had traveled 4,297 miles, preached 203 sermons with 92 other addresses delivered. His report included difficulties and indifference that had been encountered and even hostility. He states “The Baptist of that place (Alleyton) was helping the brethren of Columbus do nothing.” He also states the Pierce’s station will in another year be an important point. It is settling rapidly. El Campo has a population of about 600 or 700. In Caney, they have the Methodists in such an alarming extent that I could not get a place to stay all night.” The territory of the association was 8 counties covering 7,000 square miles, with a population of 66,500. The 1,000 Baptist were contributing about twenty cents per capita.

By 1895, the territory was defined as: to the north, Aransas Pass Railroad; to the east, Colorado River; to the west, Navidad River; to the south, the Gulf. The Christians were fully conscious of the great missionary territory that lay about them. Sunday schools - still sadly neglected among the churches - were being urged upon all; One committee using the following information as a stimulus for the organization of such: (our young people) are being led away from Christian influence by an ever-acting, insidious and determined effort on the foreign element of this section of Texas, to overcome our religious ideas and faith and practices.

A report from a committee on Sabbath observance, read:
“Resolved, that we as a Baptist Association, and as individual Christians, emphatically and unqualifiedly condemn games of baseball, football, and excursions on Sunday, an any way spending the day in mere pleasure as subversive of morals and destructive to Christian influence.”

In 1897, State help was requested to reach this vast destitution of this sadly neglected field of the south and southwest Texas. There were twenty five churches, four were full time.

1898 was a significant year in that the ladies made their debut as a separate organization. It was called the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union. The first meeting was on Sunday, September 25th in Wharton with fourteen charter members.

The feeling of spiritual degeneracy was still keen in 1900 as it was voiced in a report “...no part of Texas is in more destitute condition than is our association.” The minutes of this year but briefly touch upon one of those things that too easily and too often is relegated to the unnoticed realm, but in God’s eternity shall shine with a might
splendor. A sentence or two states, “the associational missionary, while on duty, contracted the disease which ended his life. A soldier had fallen in the thick of the battle, and Colorado Association has had its unsung heroes. The report on Sunday school declared We urge upon every church to organize and maintain a Sunday school, and by all means let it be a Baptist school and a Bible school.” One on temperance stated, “The Baptist who is not a temperate Baptist has not attained to the point of development that his profession demands and ought to be expelled from our churches.

No records are available concerning the founding of Palacios, but in 1907, its ills are expressed to the convention. Its president was Dr. M.M. Wolf. A new organization was mentioned. The Baptist Young People’s Union is no longer on trial. It is established...It is vital to our church work.”

Somewhere between 1908 and 1920 - the minutes are missing - the boundaries of the association as they are today came into being. By 1920, there were twenty two churches listed having 1,864 members.

When the 1925 convention met at Columbus, the dark clouds of evolution were looming in many places. Such danger called for a definite statement and the group was not long in making one. The association went on record “as being opposed to evolution in all its forms and ...as accepting the Genesis account of creation of man, and the Deity of Jesus Christ as set forth in the New Testament.” Conditions on the inside of the church called for examination at the same time. A committee through its report urged the churches to provide a wholesome social life for its membership - young and old - and followed by saying, ”We have let come through the doors of our churches the gambler, the cusser, the card player, crap shooter, dancer, sabbath desecrater, adulterer and donothinger. We suggest a clean up or clean out so as to raise the moral standards in our churches... If a brother walks disorderly withdraw fellowship from him.” A successful venture into Mexican mission work is also noted in the 1925 minutes.

In 1926, the association was urged to give sympathetic attention to a relatively new phase of work called the Cooperative Program. The report was enthusiastically received.

It was in 1932 that the association took cognizance of another addition to the work - the Daily Vacation Bible School. It was recommended to churches for experiment.

In 1939, a report on Civic Righteousness was given by Rev. J.L. Shepherd of Louise. Everybody wanted to speak on the present day evils of whiskey traffic, road houses, gambling, and the dishonoring of the Lord’s Day.

November 27, 1945, the Executive Board voted to hire L.W. Crouch as associational missionary beginning January 1, 1946.

The Centennial of Colorado Baptist Association was held October 7, 1947 at First Baptist Church, Wharton. Rayford Harris of Palacios was Moderator and C.H. Phifer of New Gulf was the clerk. The main address was brought by J. Howard Williams, secretary for Texas General Convention. The association consists of 23 churches with a total membership of 5,085.

In 1948 the churches were urged to have local option elections to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages, as well as a stand against gambling, dancing and all indecent conduct. Three or four churches are now making use of the local radio stations. Bro. M.A. Marshall pointed out that television is just around the corner.

In 1964, L.W. Crouch, who had served as Missionary for 18 years, died. Out of the death of the District Program, State Mission Leadership noted that to get every Association with a Missionary, it would help for two or more associations to form an area and share a man to serve them as missionary. It was suggested that Colorado and Guadalupe be paired together and San Felipe and Gulf Coast work together. Guadalupe and Gulf Coast chose to go alone. So, Colorado and San Felipe worked out an Area arrangement. Representative from both Associations formed a committee and Orville H. Roberts, pastor of First Baptist Church, El Campo, was elected chairman. This was in 1964. This committee worked out the job description, name, and date and interviewed men to serve as Superintendent of Missions.

Bro. C.O. Hardy, pastor of Mims Memorial Baptist Church, Conroe was extended a call in latter part of January of 1965 and he accepted and began work on March 1, 1965. A temporary office was rented at 210 Milam Street, Wharton until permanent office could be purchased at 1730 N. Richmond Road in Wharton in August of 1967.

The 125th Annual Session of Colorado Baptist Association was held October 23, 1972 at First Baptist Church in Wharton. The Annual sermon was preached by Rev. T.C. Hebert of Newgulf. The association consisted of 37 churches with a total membership of 10,320.

C.O. Hardy accepted the call of First Baptist, Sugar Land in April 1973 and resigned effective May 1, 1973. The Area Committee extended a call to Orville H. Roberts, pastor of First Baptist, El Campo to become Area Missionary. He accepted and began work on June 15th, 1973.

The Area Building and site became debt free in 1978. In 1981, a drive to raise funds to remodel the existing building and build a new conference area with kitchen facilities and rest rooms was begun. The churches in each association responded with money and volunteer labor to complete the project.

In 1984, Harold L. Sellers began work as Associate Director of Missions. Bro. Roberts retired in December of 1986 and Bro. Sellers began on January 1, 1987 as the Director of Missions.

In 1996, Coastal Plains Baptist Area purchased a building at 1105 San Jacinto in Rosenberg to serve as the satellite office. On February 15, 1997, the new building was dedicated. The 150th anniversary of Colorado Association was held September 28, 1997 at First Baptist Church in Wharton. Rev. Richard DuBroc, Jr. was the preacher for the annual meeting.

The Wharton office was renovated in 2000 because the street in front of the office was widened. The front entry was relocated and the former front office was made into a small conference room. The open house was held on November 4, 2000.

On November 1, 2005, Dr. Darrell Horn began work as Executive Director along with Harold Sellers. Dr. Horn and his family were missionaries with the International Mission Board in Venezuela and Mexico City. Rev. Sellers retired on December 31, 2004.

June 1, 2006, Coastal Plains Baptist Area was dissolved after working together since 1964. San Felipe Baptist Association, closer to the Houston area needed to be aggressive to start new churches in a fast growing and diverse population area. Dr. Darrell Horn was hired by San Felipe Baptist Association to be their Executive Director/Director of Missions.

Colorado Baptist Association was without some one to lead as a Director of Missions, but they had a good group of men leading the association. Don Hurley, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church Wharton, was the moderator at the time and the Administrative Team composed of Mack Mathis, pastor of First Baptist Wharton, and Duane Mayberry, pastor of First Baptist East Bernard. They did a good job in leading the Executive Committee to select a Transition Team to move toward the new paradigm of associational work. The Executive Committee decided that they might need someone to lead them during the interim time until they would find a permanent Executive Director of Missions. Duane Mayberry, L. V. Harvey, Zach Nicholson, Rick DuBroc, and Ramiro Jaime were selected to find an Interim Director of Missions. On August 14, 2006, they presented Anthony “Casey” DuBose, Jr. to the Executive Board, to be their Interim Director of Missions to help take the Transition Team and the association in the new paradigm of associational work. The Executive Board voted to allow Casey DuBose the opportunity to lead the association through the interim period to at least one year and possibly up to two years.

On August 15, Casey DuBose began to work for Colorado Baptist Association as their Interim Director of Missions. Over the next several months and many meetings, the Interim DOM and the Transition Team began to put together a workable plan for a new paradigm for Colorado Baptist Association. The Transition Team, feeling good about the leadership of the Interim DOM, recommended to the Executive Board in the May, 2007 that the association hire Casey DuBose as their full time Executive Director/Director of Missions starting June 1, 2007.

The Transition Team presented the new paradigm to the Executive Board in their August, 2007 meeting along with changes in the new Constitution and By-Laws that related to the new paradigm. They also presented some changes to the Personnel Policy Manual. The Executive Board voted to send the recommendations of the Transition Team to the Messengers of the Colorado Baptist Association Churches at their 160th Anniversary Annual Reunion of Churches on Sunday, September 23 at First Baptist Church in Wharton.

(Information compiled from the 1st Annual Associational Minutes, The
Texas Baptist Family Album (1885-1985) published by Baptist General
Convention of Texas, an article by W.N. Purcell in the 91st Annual
Associational Minutes - October 12-13, 1938, and an article by S.M. Inman in the 100th Annual Associational Minutes - October 7, 1947 and various associational minutes.)

DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS
COLORADO BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
L.W. Crouch 1946-1964

C.O. Hardy 1965-1973

Orville H. Roberts 1973-1986

Harold L. Sellers 1987-2004

Darrell Horn 2005- 2006

Anthony “Casey” DuBose 2007-