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==Call to the ministry==

==Call to the ministry==

In 1834, Baines was baptized by the Salem Baptist Church in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]], Alabama. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1837. He married the former Melissa Ann Butler of North Carolina on October 20, 1840, and thereafter moved to northern [[Arkansas]], where he founded three churches and baptized 150 converts. He was also a [[missionary]] for the Baptist Home Mission Society of [[New York City]]. Baines even served for three months in the Arkansas House of Representatives from November 1843 to February 1844 as the member from Carroll County.​

In 1834, Baines was baptized by the Salem Baptist Church in [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa County]], Alabama. He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1837. He married the former Melissa Ann Butler of North Carolina on October 20, 1840, and thereafter moved to northern [[Arkansas]], where he founded three churches and baptized 150 converts. He was also a [[missionary]] for the Baptist Home Mission Society of [[New York City]]. Baines even served for three months in the Arkansas House of Representatives from November 1843 to February 1844 as the member from Carroll County.​<ref name=handbook/>

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===Church schism in Arkansas===

===Church schism in Arkansas===

===Pastor in Louisiana===

===Pastor in Louisiana===

Baines and his family left Crooked Creek in Arkansas and moved south to Mount Lebanon in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana. He was the Bienville Parish superintendent of schools and also the founding minister on September 7, 1844, of the Saline Baptist Church, later the Old Saline Baptist Church, which maintains a cemetery. Baines pastored at Old Saline until 1848,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~markie/cem4os.htm|title=Old Saline Cemetery|publisher=Virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref> when he relocated to neighboring Webster Parish and served as the first pastor of the Minden Baptist Church, later the First Baptist Church of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], Louisiana. He also helped in the organization of the First Baptist Church of Marshall, Texas. In 1969, Major dePingre, a journalist-turned-businessman and the brother-in-law of Baptist clergyman [[Bill Ichter]], published ''The History of the First Baptist Church of Minden, Louisiana.''<ref name=dict/>​

Baines and his family left Crooked Creek in Arkansas and moved south to Mount Lebanon in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana. He was the Bienville Parish superintendent of schools and also the founding minister on September 7, 1844, of the Saline Baptist Church, later the Old Saline Baptist Church, which maintains a cemetery. Baines pastored at Old Saline until 1848,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~markie/cem4os.htm|title=Old Saline Cemetery|publisher=Virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref> when he relocated to neighboring Webster Parish and served as the first pastor of the Minden Baptist Church, later the First Baptist Church of [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]], Louisiana. He also helped in the organization of the First Baptist Church of Marshall, Texas. In 1969, Major Louis dePingre (1928-2007), a journalist-turned-businessman and the brother-in-law of Baptist clergyman [[Bill Ichter]], published ''The History of the First Baptist Church of Minden, Louisiana.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54133974/major-louis-de_pingre|title=Majour Louis dePingre'|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

Baines was the third minister of the Mount Lebanon Baptist Church and the moderator of the Red River Baptist Association. He assisted in the organization of the North Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1848.​<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-b/|title=Baines, George Washington|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,'' Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

Baines was the third minister of the Mount Lebanon Baptist Church and the moderator of the Red River Baptist Association. He assisted in the organization of the North Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1848.​<ref name=dict>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-b/|title=Baines, George Washington|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,'' Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

===Eight churches in Texas===

===Eight churches in Texas===

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After Mount Lebanon, Baines relocated to Huntsville, Texas, where he was the pastor of still another Baptist Church. Later, in Independence, Texas, Baines met the legendary [[Sam Houston]], who became a lifelong friend. Reverend Baines counseled Houston on the desirability of baptism after making a Christian commitment of faith. Consequently, Sam Houston was baptized in the last decade of his life on November 19, 1854, not by Baines, but by the Reverend Rufus C. Burleson, who had succeeded Baines as the pastor at the Independence Baptist Church.

After Mount Lebanon, Baines relocated to Huntsville, Texas, where he was the pastor of still another Baptist Church. Later, in Independence, Texas, Baines met the legendary [[Sam Houston]], who became a lifelong friend.<ref name=handbook/> Reverend Baines counseled Houston on the desirability of baptism after making a Christian commitment of faith. Consequently, Sam Houston was baptized in the last decade of his life on November 19, 1854, not by Baines, but by the Reverend Rufus C. Burleson, who had succeeded Baines as the pastor at the Independence Baptist Church.

During his ministry in Texas, Baines also pastored in Anderson, Fairfield, Springfield, Butler, Florence, and Salado. He founded the first Baptist newspaper in Texas, ''The Texas Baptist,'' and edited the publication from 1855 until 1860, when it ceased production with the advent of the [[American Civil War]]. He led churches in prayer days, distribution of Bibles, aid to families, and soldier relief work during the war.​

During his ministry in Texas, Baines also pastored in Anderson, Fairfield, Springfield, Butler, Florence, and Salado. He founded the first Baptist newspaper in Texas, ''The Texas Baptist,'' and edited the publication from 1855 until 1860, when it ceased production with the advent of the [[American Civil War]]. He led churches in prayer days, distribution of Bibles, aid to families, and soldier relief work during the war.​<ref name=handbook/>

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