The Beginning of Maranatha Baptist Church
This post and photos are submitted by Bettye Seaton Liberty in January, 2026.
Scroll the photo album using the arrows below the photos.
Maranatha Baptist Church was founded in the mid-1940’s as an Independent Baptist congregation. It remains a vibrant worship center serving multiple communities today.
The First Pastor
Rev. John W. Seaton, Jr., was called to the ministry as a young man and held pastorates in Woodville and Edith before he was called to Maranatha about 1947 to help develop the congregation and build a church. This photo shows Rev. Seaton and his family in the early 1950’s. (Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.)
Outdoor Meetings
Prior to completion of the new church building, the congregation met outdoors. (Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.)
Construction
The congregation broke ground about 1947 for the church and parsonage. The photos below show ground-breaking and construction. (Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.)
Early Members
The founding church members were from the community around Toulon, Gates, Forked Deer, and Woodville. The thumbnails below show members in 1949. (Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.)
Growing Cotton for Income
To raise money for building the church, Maranatha congregants grew and sold cotton on land donated by a member. The thumbnails below show the cotton fields’ being worked by Maranatha members. (Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.)
