First Baptist Church, Waco, Texas, which celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2026, is a moderate congregation of diverse social, economic, educational, and religious backgrounds. This book narrates key themes in the rich history of the church, which has been deeply affected by successive cultural contexts, including slavery, wars, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, denominational conflicts, and secularization. Organized in 1851, the church has offered weekly worship in central Texas since that time. Early pastors were significant denominational leaders. B. H. Carroll led Texas Baptists to form a single convention and successfully argued for supporting SBC Sunday School and Mission Boards. J.M. Dawson led the Texas $75 Million Campaign, chaired the SBC Peace Committee, and led Baptists United in the effort to assure religious liberty, a key Baptist principle. The church has been deeply devoted to education, missions, and benevolence. In addition to pioneering Sunday School in Texas it has served as the original home of Live Oak Classical School, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and George W. Truett Seminary. The church has benefitted enormously from its connections with Baylor University. FBC Waco has nurtured scores of missionaries, including Luther and Anne Bagby who planted Baptist work in Brazil. For decades the church has hosted Hispanic, Native American, Chinese, and Korean Baptist congregations. Today missions and benevolence intersect as the church serves immigrants, prisoners, and other disadvantaged people. Despite worries over finances and conflicting opinions in every generation, dedicated members and capable pastors have collaborated to sustain this influential church in maintaining a lasting legacy.