Anchor Theological Seminary & Bible Institute
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PHARR, TEXAS

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Dr. John Tisdale, Ph.D
Senior Pastor Anchor Bible Baptist Church

Anchor Bible Baptist Church Celebrates Anniversary

A Brief History Of Anchor Bible Baptist Church
nchor Bible Baptist Church organized as a New Testament church on October 7, 2006 with 30 charter members and called Dr. John Tisdale as founding pastor. The first year the church met on Saturday nights at the Full Gospel Tabernacle. Soon thereafter, a store-front building on Park Avenue in Pharr, Texas was rented and completely remodeled. ABBC is affiliated with the Baptist Missionary Association (BMA).
      In 2011 the church purchased the present property and completely remodeled the original block building. Our first service in the “new” building was October 9, 2011.
      In 2012 we started praying for an additional building. We dedicated the new auditorium, classrooms, offices, and parking lot on September 7, 2014. The original building was named the Sue B. Smith Fellowship Building. She was our church organist and donated her house to the church when she passed. The proceeds were used to pay the down payment on the property. Dr. Tisdale donated a $40,000 inheritance he received to help with the purchase. In 2015 Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute made this property their corporate home
     On May 29, 2016 Robert (Bob) Stewart, Maurice Pentico, and Jeff Palmer were ordained as deacons.
      In 2017 the church started a Van Ministry and now has two vans. Scores of kiddos have been brought to church who had never been in a Bible-preaching church. Rosie Garcia is the director of this ministry.
     On July 15, 2018, the church called Erik Gomez, Dwayne Miller, and Art Sustaita as Assistant pastors.  Erik Gomez and Art Sustaita were licensed as Baptist ministers. Pastors Erik Gomez and Dwayne Miller were ordained to the Gospel Ministry on October 21, 2018.
     On June 6, 2019, the church called Roy Duran as an assistant pastor directing the Spanish Ministry. A new metal roof was put on the Sue B. Smith Fellowship Hall with a gift by Silvia Gomez and a large storage building was purchased.
     In 2020 God was blessing each of our ministries.  Ron Herberhotz was installed as a deacon on February 23rd. Due to a “Stay At Home” order because of the Coronavirus pandemic we could not have services for a few weeks. We started live-streaming the preaching through YouTube and Facebook. Alvin and Glenda Eicholz donated funds for  new camera and recording equipment. Our members faithfully supported the church with their prayers and giving. We soon resumed services and the attendance is growing. We remodeled the Sue B. Smith Building so that it would be ready for our 14th church anniversary service.
    The church staff includes Dr. John Tisdale (Senior Pastor), Dr. Erik Gomez (Associate Pastor), Dr. Dwayne Miller (Minister to the Shut-ins), and Rev. Roy Duran (Spanish Ministry Pastor). Active deacons are Deacon Maurice Pentico (Chairman), Deacon Bob Stewart, and Deacon Ron Herberhotz. Inactive deacons are Deacon Jeff Palmer and Deacon Bill Fincher.
     Two years ago, our church mortgage was $250,000.  Because of God’s blessings on our members and friends the balance is now $32,000. Praise the Lord! We support missionary activities through the Baptist Missionary Association and many independent Baptist missionaries. We look forward to God’s continued blessings as we obey the Great Commission to win the lost, baptize converts, and teach them the word of God.

We are dedicated to preserving the historic Baptist doctrines and using the King James Bible in our teaching and preaching… and remaining THE WAY CHURCH USED TO BE!
We are dedicated to preserving the historic Baptist doctrines and using the King James Bible in our teaching and preaching… and remaining THE WAY CHURCH USED TO BE! ​

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Fathers Day at Anchor Bible Church, Pharr, Texas
Dr. John Tisdale with his daughter Bonnie and son Stephen
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NOTE FROM DR. JOHNNY TISDALE
​Friendship Baptist Church near Beeville, TX was the first church I pastored. I was 22 years old...and, in realty, was a novice and should not have pastored. In spite of my youth and inexperience God blessed with salvation decisions and church growth. The church did not have a baptistery, so we baptized in a water feeding hole for cattle near the church. I remember sinking in the soft mud up to my knees when I baptized. I performed my first wedding in this church...and forget
 to let the groom kiss the bride. In spite of it all, the people were kind. I visited the church 10 years ago and some of the members were still there. My pay was $200 per month and they furnished a parsonage but I had to pay the utilities! The picture is the old church...which still looks the same way, and a picture of me 10 years later, about 1984, at Fellowship Baptist Church.

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Darla Lopez
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Paul Sakai
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John David Maddox
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Mike Keats
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Lydia Tisdale
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​Helen Wyatt
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Edward Stanley
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The three pictures above are the 2016 graduating class of the Main Campus in  Pharr, Texas
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          Dr. J.  Fulton & Dr. R. McDonald                                              Eddy Grant                                                     Dr. Tisdale presenting D.D. to
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