On Sunday, September 25, 2022, Hallmark Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Special guests who attended the celebration service included former pastors and staff. Former associate pastors David Wenger and Robert Singley gave short testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Former pastors Mike Haley and Ed Walls shared stories of how God blessed during their time of ministry at Hallmark. Current pastor Jon Haley challenged the congregation on the importance of remaining outwardly focused as we reach our neighbors and the nations.
The theme for the anniversary service was faithful. As the author of Hebrews states, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
The four hallmarks of Hallmark Baptist Church are to be biblically driven, personally involved, radically generous, and outwardly focused. Alvis Edmonson led Hallmark to start Faith Promise Missions, giving in 1966. Since that time, the church has given $21,163,657.45 to missions.
Hallmark Baptist Church was organized as the Faith Baptist Church with 12 charter members. Jesse L. Cockram began Faith Baptist and pastored from 1947 – 1948. The church was located in the 7th League Civic Building at the corner of New York and Maddox Streets.
Roy N. McInnis was called as pastor in 1949 and pastored until 1956. During this time, the church moved to the corner of Morningside Drive and South Freeway, changing its name to the Morningside Baptist Church.
Alvis Edmonson led the church from 1956 until 1976. Under his leadership, the church relocated in 1964 to 7300 S. Freeway and was renamed Hallmark Baptist Church.
Raymond Dunn was called as pastor in 1976 and led the church to build a family center. Dunn retired from full-time ministry in 1981.
Bob Baird led the church from 1981 until 1986, pastoring the church until he accepted the position as Missions Director for the Baptist Bible Fellowship International in Springfield, Missouri.
Ed Walls pastored Hallmark from 1986 until 1994. He led the church to purchase 12 acres of prime land on Risinger Rd. near Hulen Street in December 1990, with a vision of building and relocating.
In March of 1994, Mike Haley was called as pastor. Haley led Hallmark to relocate and work through several building programs in his 22 years at Hallmark. He retired in June 2016.
In July 2016, Jon Haley was called as pastor of Hallmark. Jon Haley has been in ministry for 27 years and was previously on staff at Hallmark from 1997 to 2010.
Love my church!