Welcome to First Baptist Church Online!
We’re so glad you’ve found your way to our church family’s home on the web. Whether you are searching for a place to grow in faith, seeking encouragement, or simply exploring who Jesus is, you are welcome here.
At First Baptist, we are a warm and friendly community where God’s love is shared, lives are changed, and hearts are uplifted. We believe church is more than a Sunday service—it’s about belonging, connecting, and walking together in faith every day.
Here on our site, you can:
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Learn more about our worship services and ministries
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Connect with upcoming events and opportunities
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Discover ways to grow in your spiritual journey
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Find resources to encourage and inspire you
If you’re new, we invite you to visit us in person or join us online for worship. We’d love to get to know you and help you feel right at home.
Welcome to First Baptist Church—where faith, family, and fellowship meet. We’re excited to share this journey with you!
Thank you for visiting our new website.
Please visit regularly to see new pages and features.
Here you will find information concerning our church and its ministries. We hope you find your time spent here a blessing. Our church is a warm and loving church, and we want you to feel comfortable and at liberty to call on us for anything you need. Feel free to browse through the various areas of our website and learn about our fellowship.
If you are considering a new place of worship or a relocation to our area, we would love to have you be our guest.
When you visit our church, you will find:
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A caring congregation that will gladly welcome you
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Preaching/teaching that is centered on the Word of God
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Ministries to meet the spiritual needs of every age
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Mission Statement
First Baptist Church exists in the Greater Kansas City community: Carry out the mission of the Church, from the Baptist perspective, as given in the Great Commission; and to: Play a vital role in the lives of people in this community through religious teachings and Practices, leadership and continuous challenges to the social, political and economic systems in order to make our community a wholesome place to live.
Church History
In 1859, here in Wyandotte County , prior to Kansas becoming a state, First Baptist Church along with First A.M.E. Church came into existence. In the beginning, several families and two ministers–a Baptist, Rev. Joe Strater, and a Methodist, Rev. Buchanan–began worshiping together in the homes of these families. The ministers took turns conducting the worship services. When the “door of the Church” was opened for new members, both ministers extended the invitation, giving each person full opportunity to join the group of his or her choice. When the group became too large to worship in homes, the Wyandotte Indians, who founded Wyandotte Town , allowed the group to worship in the Indian Council House at Fourth Street and State Avenue. By 1864, after the Emancipation Proclamation and the exodus from the South, the two denominations had increased in number and were ready for separate existences.
The Baptists moved to a storefront at Fifth Street and Washington Boulevard; it was the first Baptist church of any kind in the community. They erected a small frame building in the 600 block of Nebraska where they worshiped for fifteen years. Around 1879, the present site was purchased, and one of the first brick buildings in the city was erected. The Methodist constructed a church building and eventually became known as the First African Methodist Episcopal church–First AME–now located at Ninth Street and Nebraska Avenue . First Baptist Church built the current building in 1921, and the Education and Activities building was erected in 1963.
Over these one hundred, fifty–plus years, seventeen ministers have served in the pastorate position. The succession of pastors led the church in building its ministries, and in its impact in the local community and among the national Baptist bodies. Two pastors, Rev. W. A. Bowren, and Dr. Edward A. Freeman served a total of 77 years–twenty–seven, and fifty, respectively. Through their leadership efforts, First Baptist Church became a significant human and civil rights institution in the local community, and a center for nurturing growth in Christian leadership in the national Baptist community. Under the leadership of our current pastor since 2009, Rev. Cedric Rowan, the church is energized by his efforts to create a variety of ministries to serve the diverse needs of those who live in the center city. He believes that men should serve as a Christian role model within their own families and has started a men's fellowship to support the men on their journey to becoming a “Kingdom Man ".
What to expect
We recognize that many people who visit a church for the first time will have questions on what to expect when they visit, but we hope that you feel welcomed and comfortable when you visit us at First Baptist Church. Here is a little Q and A that we hope will ease some of your fears.
What happens at a typical worship service?
Our church service is broken into three sections.
You’ll receive a bulletin (program) prior to the service which will outline the plan for that Sunday’s worship.
Starting at 9:00 we have a meditation period, where a speaker will come with a mediative thought to help get you ready for main message.
Then at 9:15 we have our Sunday School lesson. We have one class in the sanctuary which is also livestreamed.
Then at 10 am our main service starts
Most of the time this includes a mix of prayer, song, scripture readings, a sermon and opportunity for those gathered to share prayer requests with the congregation. Additionally, we offer holy communion the first Sunday each month
How long is a typical worship service?
Most worship services last about two hours. Many folks like to visit with others in the congregation before and after worship, so feel free to arrive early or stay late if you’re so inclined!
What should I wear?
Wear what makes you comfortable and dress as who you are. Members of our congregation come from all walks of life and you can see it in the way we dress. We believe that God cares more about the state of our hearts than the state of our attire, and encourage you to dress the way that feels most appropriate to you.
Do you offer support for those with disabilities?
Our church has a accessibility ramp and an elevator to aid those who are in need.
Do you offer childcare or Sunday School?
We do not, currently, have childcare, but we do have a Children and Youth ministry for children 5 years and older. They are release for our church service around the alter prayer time and they go to a classroom and have there own studies.
