AMARILLO
It would be impossible to quantify the impact San Jacinto Baptist Church, which has been known as The Church at Quail Creek since 2004, has had throughout its 100-year history.
But as it prepares to celebrate a century of ministry on Sept. 21-22, it’s clear the church—which began through the vision and heart of a Sunday school class that saw a need to reach the lost in Amarillo—has left its mark on the kingdom of God and on Southern Baptists in Texas.
Stan Coffey, who served as the church’s pastor for more than three decades, faithfully led the church to reach the lost not only in Amarillo but around the world. During his years of service, he helped lead the charge to form the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, serving as its first president from 1998 to 2000.
In 2010, the church’s leadership, along with several other churches, launched the creation of the SBTC’s M3 Camp, which continues to serve churches in reaching students with the gospel of Jesus and commissioning them to live on mission.
After Coffey’s death in 2013, Kyle Clayton was called to serve as the church’s new pastor. Clayton has continued to advance the church’s mission to reach Amarillo through partnerships with local schools and parachurch organizations.
Even in difficult circumstances, the church persevered. It not only survived the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, but thrived, building a new worship facility to house its growing congregation. In June 1960, after losing part of its building to a fire, church members rallied, prayed, and washed the salvageable parts of the facility by hand so they could have a place to worship that Sunday.
Through it all, The Church at Quail Creek has stayed true to its mission of “Loving Jesus and Loving People” by launching countless ministries and seeing thousands come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.