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Seminoles and Christianity

Chickee Baptist Church

The Episcopal Church established Glade Cross Mission in the Big Cypress in the 1890's. Another mission of that name was established at Everglade, Florida 1933-1960. Both produced negligable conversions.

In 1907, the first the first Indian missionaries came to the Florida Seminoles living near Indiantown east of Lake Okeechobee. The missionaries were Creek Baptist Indian missionaries from Oklahoma. The northern group of Seminoles were targeted, as like the missionaries, they spoke the Creek or Muscogee language.

One family of Florida Seminoles living at Indiantown (which included a prominent medicine man and bundlecarrier) was baptised in 1920. That family moved to the Dania (now Hollywood) Reservation and formed the nucleous of the small group of Christian Seminoles. Missionary activities continued among the Creek-speaking Seminoles around Indiantown.

The First Seminole Indian Baptist Church was dedicated in 1936 on the Dania Reservation. 1945 saw many conversions at Dania and Big Cypress. By 1946, several Seminole men, Mikasuki-speakers from southern Florida settlements, had enrolled as ministerial students at the Florida Baptist Institute. These converts included a prominent and influential medicine man.

In 1948 a Mission was dedicated on the isolated Big Cypress Reservation. In 1949, mission work was being conducted by a Seminole among the non-reservation Indians along the Tamiami Trail. That same year, a second church, the Mekusukey Independent Church was formed on the Dania Reservation and in 1953, a Mission was organized on the Brighton Reservation.

For more information about the growth of Christianity among the Seminole Tribe please read Betty Mae Jumper's book . . . And With The Wagon Came God's Word, which is available on the Tribe's Marketplace.

Churches on the Seminole Reservations in Florida

Chickee Baptist Church
First Seminole Indian Baptist Church
Mekusukey Independent Church

Big Cypress First Baptist Church
New Testament Baptist Church

First Indian Baptist Church of Brighton
Seminole Bible Baptist Church

Church Name:	Chickee Baptist Church (Started 1984)
Pastor:	Rev. Arlen Payne; Pastor
Worship Leader:	Henry Battiest Jr
Address and Phone Number:	2910 Josie Billie Ave. Hollywood, FL 33024 (954) 894-5651
Location:	On the corner of 64th Ave. and Josie Billie
Schedule of Services:	Sunday Morning Worship and Sunday School - 10:00 AM Evening Worship - 6:00 PM Wednesday Prayer Meeting - 7:00 PM
"In the Heart of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation"

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Church Name:	First Seminole Indian Baptist Church (Started 1936)
Pastor:	Rev. Paul Buster; Pastor
Address and Phone Number:	4701 Stirling Rd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314 (954) 585-0400
Location:	One quarter mile west of 441 on the North side of Stirling Road
Schedule of Services:	Sunday Sunday School - 9:45 AM Morning Worship - 11:00 AM Discipleship Training - 6:00 PM Evening Worship - 7:00 PM Tuesday Bible Study - 7:00 PM Wednesday Prayer Service - 7:00 PM
"Let's Come Together"

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Church Name:	Mekusukey Independent Church (Started 1953)
Pastor:	Brian Courtney; Pastor
Address and Phone Number:	6200 Stirling Rd. Hollywood, FL 33024
Location:	One quarter mile west of 441 on the South side Stirling Road
Schedule of Services:	Sunday Sunday School - 10:00 AM Morning Worship - 11:00 AM Evening Worship - 6:00 PM Wednesday Prayer Meeting - 6:00 PM

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