When First Baptist Church of Waxahachie recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, former pastor Bill Austin, who served the church as pastor from 1961 to 1965, not only preached the anniversary sermon, but also made a special presentation at the end of the service.
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Former pastor Bill Austin painted this picture to mark First Baptist Church in Waxahachie’s 100th anniversary. At its 150th anniversary, Austin gave the church the painting, which had hung in his home the last half century.
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During his first year in Waxahachie, the church celebrated its 100th anniversary, and Austin painted a picture of the church building, which he and his family kept in their home for five decades.
When he was asked to preach for the church’s 150th anniversary, Austin decided it was time to return the painting to its origins as a permanent home. So, the painting created for the centennial celebration was returned during the sesquicentennial festivities.
Austin has painted throughout his life, using the avocation to help pay his way through college and provide family and friends with personal paintings through the years. This past Christmas, he painted a picture for each of his children, grandchildren and 3-year-old great grandson.
A busy life of ministry, teaching and writing has limited his time at the easel, but now in retirement, he has become more seriously involved in turning out original canvases, some as gifts and some as commissioned pieces.
Before retirement, Austin served as the chaplain of Baylor University, taught at Hardin-Simmons University, and served as pastor of First Baptist churches in Waxahachie, Ver-non, Nacogdoches and Ponca City, Okla., as well as Univer-sity Baptist Church in Abilene and Calvary Baptist and Park Lake Drive Baptist churches in Waco.
He continues to preach as pulpit supply and interim pastor.
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