Our Story

On April 14, 1860, a small group of believers gathered to form what was then called Big Cedar Church. With the blessing of Greenwood Baptist Church, their “mother congregation,” they met in the Tight Corn Methodist Church building to officially constitute themselves as a new Baptist church in eastern Jackson County.

It wasn’t an easy time to begin. The Civil War was just months away, and border skirmishes between Kansas and Missouri would soon disrupt the life of the young congregation. In fact, for much of the war, church activity came to a standstill. But the spark of faith that lit that April day never went out.

The early order of service from that founding meeting included the reading of letters of recommendation, the adoption of Articles of Faith and a Church Covenant, prayers of recognition, and a charge to the new church. What started with a handful of faithful men and women soon grew into a witness that would endure through trial, scarcity, and seasons of rebuilding.

For its first eight decades, the church wrestled with financial hardship and the challenge of stability. Yet, God’s people persevered. After World War II, a new season of growth began. Through the sacrificial giving of its members, First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit expanded its ministries, built new facilities, and called leaders who challenged the church to reach beyond its walls.

By the time of its 150th anniversary in 2010, the church had become a vibrant, multi-generational family of faith, impacting not only Lee’s Summit but also communities across the nation and around the world through missions and service.

Today, we carry forward the same calling that inspired those first believers in 1860: to love God, love people, and make disciples. As we remember the past, we look with anticipation toward the future — trusting the God who has been faithful in every generation to continue writing His story through us.