About Shepherd Hill

A Short History
by Buddy Byrd, Chairman of Deacons

The year 1979 began without a Southern Baptist church on Highway 63 from Pine Bluff to Warren, Arkansas.

Brother Harold White, Missions Director for Harmony Baptist Association, and Harold West came to visit a couple who had expressed an interest in helping start a new church in this area. In the course of that visit, Cecil and Helen Owen agreed to donate the property that is now the home of Shepherd Hill Baptist Church.

Mrs. Owen was asked to name the future church and decided on Shepherd Hill because she said Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

Three area churches agreed to sponsor the new mission. These churches were Greenlee Memorial Baptist Church, pastored by Jimmy Watson, Centennial Baptist Church, pastored by Ray South, and Watson Chapel Baptist Church, pastored by Ed Hinkson.

Workers completed land surveys and placed a mobile chapel on the property, but the mobile chapel was blown away by a tornado before any services were held. A new chapel was set in place and the first services were held at 2:00 p.m. May 6, 1979.

Reverend Harold White delivered the first sermon. Cecil and Helen Owen, Emma Faye Blackmon, and my wife Paula and I joined the church that day.

The church used pulpit supply until August 1979 when Reverend Bob Bledsoe was called as a full-time pastor.

On June 7, 1981, Shepherd Hill Baptist Mission became a fully-organized, autonomous Southern Baptist church. The charter member roll was closed that day with 86 people listed as charter members.

Groundbreaking for the first permanent structure was May 17, 1981. It was officially dedicated June 6, 1982. The first structure now houses our fellowship hall, adult classrooms, and staff offices. Our second structure, a two-story facility, was begun in March 1983. The first floor houses educational facilities for newborns through 12th graders. The second floor is a community youth center. Both buildings were built by the men of the church.

The first service in our current sanctuary was held on January 16, 1994.

There have been six full time pastors and three interim pastors since Shepherd Hill began. Our current pastor, Harold Chandler, began his ministry here in May, 2006.

The greatest legacy of this church is the many lives that God has changed forever because of her ministries. May there be many more in the future.