This congregation was started in Orange, Texas, in 1919, with nine members meeting in the home of the late W.S. Peery on Lake Street. E.M. Borden conducted the first revival in the annex of Anderson School on Park Ave.

In 1925 the lots on the corner of Ninth and Burton Streets were purchased. Services were conducted in an old abandoned store building, located in the rear, facing Burton Streets. In 1930 a building was erected, and has been remodeled from time to time.

The church grew considerably during the 30's and 40's. W.G. Bass, Hugh Boydston, Homer Cox, and J.C. Murphy were the ministers during this period. By 1947, the congregation had outgrown the Ninth & Burton facility so plans for a new location and building were begun; the plans culminated in a move to the present Ninth & Elm location a year and a half later. Some church members, however, stayed at the Ninth & Burton site and later built their own new building on 40th Street in Pinehurst.

Construction of the brick building located on the corner of Ninth and Elm Streets, was started on September 20, 1947, under the leadership of Elders C.E. Clark, J.T. Arledge, and J.G. Biskamp. Lewis Wade and Allen Medley, members of the congregation, have served as foremen.

One outstanding feature of the building program was the fact that about $20,000 was saved by members and friends in donating labor. The structure cost $75,000. The building committee, composed of C.C. Keown, Austin Floyd, Marion Cone, Lewis Wade, and E.G. Usrey, employed Wilbur Kent of Lufkin, Texas, as architect to design the building.

W. G. Bass of Beaumont, Texas, was the first regular minister in 1937. The congregation grew from twenty members to eighty during his ministry.

Hugh Boydston served from 1942 to 1944 during which time the congregation started plans for the new house of worship. The membership grew to one hundred seventy-five members. Homer Cox ministered to the congregation for a few months during 1944.

J.C. Murphy ministered to the congregation from June, 1945, to August, 1950. During his ministry the membership grew to around four hundred. Plans for the new building were completed and the building was constructed.

The congregation is now under the leadership of J.T. Arledge, E.E. Vick, and Austin Floyd, elders. M. Roy Stevens began work here as minister in November, 1950.

Growth continued in the 50's. M. Roy Stevens and T.J. Finley each served five years as the minister of the congregation.

Also, in the 1960's, three missionaries traveled to other countries and were supported by the Ninth & Elm congregation.

Walter Hart and his wife, Elaine, began their ministry in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1960. Then in 1961, the congregation began supporting Adriano Limbawan and his wife, Elvira, in Baguio City in the Philippine Islands. Finally, David Hallett joined the church family in 1962 and began teaching in Shillong, India. All are still associated with the local church.

Facilities steadily expanded in the 1960's and 1970's. New classrooms were added in 1960; more classrooms and a social gathering area, the IHS building, were built in 1970; and in 1980 new classrooms and offices were added.

Ministers from 1960 to the present are Basil Shilling, Ernest Laseter, Harvey Arnold, Robert Rochelle, Jerry Masterson, Bruce Lewis and Darrell Denman and Tommy Gore. The present minister is Jim Blevins. Present Elders are Mickey McNamara, Ed Green. Present Deacons are Keith Brown, Keith Perry, and Charles Block.

Ninth and Elm has done well. With appreciation for the past, thankfulness for the present and optimism for the future, we hope its best years are yet to come.