History :

Although as of this writing (October, 2001) Central Baptist Church has a history nearly 80 years, it is primarily the history of two of its pastors who together pastored the church for more than 59 years. It is to these two pastors that the church is indebted, for they built the church into what it is today. It would be impossible to speak of the church’s history without the history of these two men, M. L. Moser, Sr. and his son, M. L. Moser, Jr.

Central Baptist Church can trace its history back to1824. Arkansas’ and Little Rock’s first Baptist church was organized on Saturday, July 24, 1824 with Silas T. Toncray as pastor. In 1873, two Little Rock churches were merged, the Union Baptist Church and First Baptist Church into the Central Baptist Church. On January 6,1874 they voted to change the name from Central to First Baptist Church.