About Us

Esta Memorial Baptist Church was founded in 1952 as Dry Branch Community Church. The name was later changed to Dry Branch Missionary Baptist Church, then Midkiff Missionary Baptist Church, and finally named Esta Memorial Baptist Church in memory of Esta Short — whose funeral was the first held in the church.

John Short, Paul Hoy, and Frank Midkiff — the three original deacons and church builders — had a burden for the community and a desire to worship God and see lost souls come to Christ. John Short donated the property for the first church building, and the church met in a small building called the "Chicken House" until the old church building was completed.

The property where the current church building is located was purchased from Irene Hoy in 1973, and the church held its dedication and first service in the new auditorium in July of 1977, where its members have been serving the Lord faithfully since.