By Keri Mitchell The paradox of the Baptist church in South Dallas called “Cornerstone” is that its original building wasn’t supposed to have a foundation. Cornerstone’s roots grew out of Second Baptist Church, established in 1888 at Ervay and Corinth. Seventy years...
Wilshire on mission: 75 years of showing up
From its earliest days, Wilshire understood missions not simply as charity, but as participation in God’s work of justice, compassion and beloved community. At its founding in 1951, the church committed to giving at least 10 percent of undesignated offerings to...
I Am Wilshire 75th Anniversary Special: Kirk Newsom
What brought you to Wilshire and when? Born in 1950, I was “brought” to Wilshire near its beginning in my mother’s arms, along with my twin, Kent, older brother, David, and father, Asa Newsom, Jr. The church was at times meeting at the Wilshire “Motion Picture”...
I Am Wilshire 75th Anniversary Special: Barbara Floyd
What brought you to Wilshire and when? After graduating from Oklahoma State University, two girlfriends and I came to Dallas to work for the summer. After visiting several churches, we joined Wilshire; it was integrated, just as our college church in Stillwater was....
I Am Wilshire 75th Anniversary Special: Pat Cullum
What brought you to Wilshire and when? I joined with my parents on Nov. 7, 1954. Natalie and Marshal Cook are listed as being members #349 and #350. My name, Patricia Cook, was not listed in the official church roster; I claim age discrimination as I was just two...
I Am Wilshire 75th Anniversary Special: Ann Hill
What brought you to Wilshire and when? I was a member of First Baptist Church in Dallas, but when a date invited me to the Sunday evening service at Wilshire in May 1957, I felt at home and joined that very night. I joined again in 1973 when I returned to Dallas after...
I Am Wilshire 75th Anniversary Special: Steve Terry
What brought you to Wilshire and when? The back seat of my parents’ car. I was 10 in 1961 when we moved to Dallas from San Antonio, where we attended Trinity Baptist. Buckner Fanning, the pastor there, had a preaching style similar to that of Bruce McIver, and the...
Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas to preach June 14
Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas will preach at Wilshire’s 75th-anniversary worship service on Sunday, June 14. Douglas is canon theologian at Washington National Cathedral and is currently a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School. Her academic work has focused on...
