How it all started...
PARAGOULD CAMPUS BEGINNINGS
AUGUST 12, 2018
The mission of Central Baptist Church Jonesboro continued with the launch of the Paragould Campus. God called our Central Campus college pastor Blake Ligon as the Lead Teaching Pastor in Paragould. The first Sunday more than 1,000 people showed up for worship and in a few short weeks Paragould grew to 2 morning services on Sunday and initially met at Greene County Tech High School and moved to the Greene County Fairgrounds after the pandemic shutdown. On August 11, 2024, the Paragould Campus celebrated 6 years as a campus and held their first Sunday in their new building on Highway 49 South with over 2000 in worship and preschool/kids attendance! The Paragould Campus was birthed from Central Baptist Jonesboro where a move of God began back in 1931.
AUGUST 12, 2018
The mission of Central Baptist Church Jonesboro continued with the launch of the Paragould Campus. God called our Central Campus college pastor Blake Ligon as the Lead Teaching Pastor in Paragould. The first Sunday more than 1,000 people showed up for worship and in a few short weeks Paragould grew to 2 morning services on Sunday and initially met at Greene County Tech High School and moved to the Greene County Fairgrounds after the pandemic shutdown. On August 11, 2024, the Paragould Campus celebrated 6 years as a campus and held their first Sunday in their new building on Highway 49 South with over 2000 in worship and preschool/kids attendance! The Paragould Campus was birthed from Central Baptist Jonesboro where a move of God began back in 1931.
CENTRAL BAPTIST BEGINNINGS
OCTOBER 4, 1931
A small group of people met for the purpose of organizing a church. After prayer for guidance in the establishment of their church, they discussed the biblical principles and Christian experiences that would bind them together. They elected Joe Jeffers to be their pastor and named the church the Jonesboro Baptist Church. Property was purchased on the corner of Matthews and Citizen Streets, and a large wooden tabernacle was constructed. The floors were dirt; the benches had three planks across the seat and three across the back. The building was heated in the winter with several gas heaters and cooled in the summer with open windows and large fans – sometimes blowing across large cakes of
ice placed in tubs. In 1932, Jeffers left for an extended period and recommended Dale Crowley to take his place. The church became the largest in Jonesboro as people from all walks of life and backgrounds became members.
In spite of many hardships and controversy, Brother Crowley continued to serve as pastor until 1936. The name changed to Tabernacle Baptist Church, and continued to grow and
serve the community. Rev. L.L. Shoptaw came to serve as pastor in 1936. During his service, the church bought the Markle Home at 1010 South Main. A basement was dug by the men of the church, where services were held, with the Sunday School classes held in the upstairs rooms. The name was then changed to Central Baptist Church. God did many great and mighty works at 1010 South Main Street, but it became evident we needed more room for growth. In 1993, God opened the way to begin this journey to our present location. The relocation plan from downtown took more than ten years to come to fruition.
NOVEMBER 2004
In November 2004, Central relocated to its present facility. Dr. Archie Mason was called to be Central’s Senior Pastor in January of 2005. Central has grown to over 6,000 resident and non-resident members, and tripled in average worship attendance. Central launched the Journey Campus in January of 2010, launched the Word Campus in January of 2013,
launched the Refuge Service in August of 2013, launched the Newport Campus in January of 2015, and launched the Paragould Campus in August 2018. Word Campus later launched as a church plant, Word Baptist Church, in January of 2017. Journey Campus later launched as a church plant, Journey Church, in January 2018. Newport Campus launched as a church plant, Village Creek Baptist Church, in January 2019. We are one church meeting in many locations.
OCTOBER 4, 1931
A small group of people met for the purpose of organizing a church. After prayer for guidance in the establishment of their church, they discussed the biblical principles and Christian experiences that would bind them together. They elected Joe Jeffers to be their pastor and named the church the Jonesboro Baptist Church. Property was purchased on the corner of Matthews and Citizen Streets, and a large wooden tabernacle was constructed. The floors were dirt; the benches had three planks across the seat and three across the back. The building was heated in the winter with several gas heaters and cooled in the summer with open windows and large fans – sometimes blowing across large cakes of
ice placed in tubs. In 1932, Jeffers left for an extended period and recommended Dale Crowley to take his place. The church became the largest in Jonesboro as people from all walks of life and backgrounds became members.
In spite of many hardships and controversy, Brother Crowley continued to serve as pastor until 1936. The name changed to Tabernacle Baptist Church, and continued to grow and
serve the community. Rev. L.L. Shoptaw came to serve as pastor in 1936. During his service, the church bought the Markle Home at 1010 South Main. A basement was dug by the men of the church, where services were held, with the Sunday School classes held in the upstairs rooms. The name was then changed to Central Baptist Church. God did many great and mighty works at 1010 South Main Street, but it became evident we needed more room for growth. In 1993, God opened the way to begin this journey to our present location. The relocation plan from downtown took more than ten years to come to fruition.
NOVEMBER 2004
In November 2004, Central relocated to its present facility. Dr. Archie Mason was called to be Central’s Senior Pastor in January of 2005. Central has grown to over 6,000 resident and non-resident members, and tripled in average worship attendance. Central launched the Journey Campus in January of 2010, launched the Word Campus in January of 2013,
launched the Refuge Service in August of 2013, launched the Newport Campus in January of 2015, and launched the Paragould Campus in August 2018. Word Campus later launched as a church plant, Word Baptist Church, in January of 2017. Journey Campus later launched as a church plant, Journey Church, in January 2018. Newport Campus launched as a church plant, Village Creek Baptist Church, in January 2019. We are one church meeting in many locations.
Sunday Service Times
Paragould Campus
6205 Hwy 49 South
Paragould, Arkansas 72450
8, 9:30 & 11am
All services are broadcast "live" on
Facebook, Roku, & AppleTV
We invite you to become a part of our Central story
as we take the Gospel of Jesus to our community and our world.