About

What To Expect

Worship services at Community Baptist Church are casual, with many people wearing jeans or "Business Casual."  Though some continue to wear suits and dress up, we are working on them.  We encourage you to arrive about 10 minutes before the service starts so you can meet some new people. Our services start with a combination of traditional and contemporary singing.  Special music is a regular feature of our time together.  And then our pastor teaches/preaches a Bible-based message with practical application to help you live out your faith during the week.

Services are typically a little over an hour, and then you’re welcome to hang out and talk further with people afterwards.

If you have children under the age of 3, we have a team of loving, trained volunteers in our secure nursery area.  For children 3 years old through 5th grade, we have Children’s Church - a fun, up-beat service that includes music, games and a bible lesson taught at their level.  We encourage middle school and high school students, to join their parents in adult service.

Our Story

 

Community Baptist Church was founded in July, 1945, when 10 families felt the call of God to start an Independent Baptist Church in Garden City.  The church's first meetings were spirit-filled prayer meetings, several of which were held in the old City Hall.  Under the leadership of its first pastor, Rev. Rupert Walters, the congregation began holding services in the old Boy Scout recreation building at Dillon and Birchlawn in November 1945.

In 1949, the church extended a call to an exuberant young seminary graduate, Jimmy Allen, to be its first full-time pastor.  Allen, then 20, who had been holding revivals in Belton, Texas, accepted the invitation.  He preached his first sermon on April 3rd and was called to be pastor on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949.  Allen was mission minded and the church began supporting missionaries after one month under his leadership.  

In 1950, Allen met and married June Odor.  She described her husband as "a country boy with a sharp mind."  Allen was likewise taken with her "gentle, loving personality."  Allen combined his new role as husband with the increasing responsibilities of Pastor.

"I had a burning desire to reach people for Christ and get them baptized," Allen once said.  "We brought people in by advertising in the papers, doing lots of house-to-house block work and also followed up on everyone that came."

After increasing their attendance by more than 200 percent in his first 10 months as Pastor, Allen led the effort to build a new building.  In 1953, the church borrowed $75,000.00 from the National Bank of Detroit to help finance the project and used $12,000.00 of its own funds to build a 750 seat, air-conditioned auditorium.  Community Baptist continued to grow and became known as "a friendly church." 

The 1950's were the building years for the church.  By 1955 a parsonage had been built and two years later a new Sunday School building was under construction.

The 1970's brought more change, when Pastor Allen's son, Jon, also a minister, became Assistant Pastor in 1975.  Four years later, the senior Allen suffered a major heart attack and because of his declining health, resigned in 1981 after 32 years of full-time ministry.  Rev. James Allen was then called home to glory on January 11, 1996, and his wife, June, passed away on July 11, 1999. 

The faithful work of Community Baptist Church continued under the able leadership of their son, Rev. Jon Allen.  Pastor Jon and his wife, Nancy, had met at Community Baptist while they were both still teens and were married in 1974.  Many were saved and baptized under Pastor Jon's leadership and in 1983 a much needed remodeling project of the dated facilities was begun.  Jon served the church tirelessly a total of 42 years before the Lord called him home on August 8, 2017.

After 68 years of combined leadership under the Allens, Rev. Robert Bratcher, joined by his wife Sarah, became Community's fourth Pastor in July, 2018.  During his tenure as Pastor, the church continued to manifest spiritual and physical growth.  After a brief ministry, Pastor Bratcher tendered his resignation in August, 2020.

On March 14th, 2021, Community Baptist welcomed Dr. Rick Bloom, as the church's fifth pastor, along with his wife Denise.  Taking the Great Commissions seriously, Pastor Rick has refocused our evangelistic and missionary endeavors and anticipates additional growth in the days ahead.

Our Beliefs

 

Of The Scriptures.

We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.  By “The Holy Bible” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written does not only contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God.  By “inspiration” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
Psalms 19:7-11; 119:89,105,130,160; Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:31; 24:25-27,44-45; John 5:39,45-47; 12:48; 17:17; Acts 1:16; 28:25; Romans 3:4; 15:4; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Revelation 22:19

Of The True God.
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Genesis 17:1; Exodus 20:2-3; 15:11; Psalm 83:18; 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 28:19; Mark 12:30; John 4:24; 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; Romans 11:23; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; 4:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 John 5:7; Revelation 4:11

Of The Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer.
Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 3:11; 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5-6; 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:8-11, 13; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7, 13; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:2

Of The Devil, Or Satan.
We believe that Satan was once holy and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness – destined however to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.
Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Matthew 4:1-3; 13:39; 25:41; Mark 13:21-22; Luke 22:3-4; John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 2:22; 3:8; 4:3; 2 John 7; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-10; 13:13-14; 19:11, 16, 20; 20:1-3,10

Of The Creation.
We believe in the Genesis account of creation and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animal and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”  We believe that children are a heritage from the Lord, and that human life begins at conception and ends in death; that all life should be protected; that the unborn child is a living human being; and that abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia constitute unjustified and unexcused taking of human life.  We believe God created mankind into two distinctly invariable genders, male and female; that the only legitimate marriage is between a man and a woman; that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage; that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography and such like, is a sinful perversion of God’s gift of sex.
Genesis 1:1, 11, 24, 26-27; 2:21-24; Exodus 20:11; 21:22-23; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 127:3; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 10:12; Luke 1:44; John 1:3; Acts 4:24; 17:23-26; Romans 1:20-28; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 10:6

Of The Fall of Man.
We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice, and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.
Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18, 20, 28, 32; 3:10-19; 5:12, 19; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1, 3

Of The Virgin Birth.
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.
Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; Matthews 1:18-25; M ark 1:1; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:47; 1 John 5:20

Of The Atonement for Sin.
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Himself our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all sufficient Savior.
Isaiah 53:4-7, 11-12; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; 10:18; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 20; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 2:7-8; Hebrews 2:14; 7:25; 9:12-15; 12:2; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 4:10

Of The Grace in the New Creation.
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.
Luke 5:27; John 1:12-13; 3:3, 6-7; Acts 2:41; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 19; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:1; 5:9; Colossians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:1

Of The Freeness of Salvation.
We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the Gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.
Isaiah 55:1, 6-7; Matthew 11:28; John 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:40; 6:37; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29-30; 10:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 22:17

Of Justification.
We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness, and adoption by which we become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; that justification is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us.
Isaiah 53:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Zechariah 13:1; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 4:1-8; 5:1, 9; 8:1, 17; Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 10:38

Of Repentance and Faith.
We believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.
Psalm 51:1-4, 7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Mark 1:15; Luke 12:8; 18:13; Acts 2:37-38; 20:21; Romans 10:9-11, 13

Of The Church.
We believe that a Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of the divine and eternal grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures.  We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, and that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership positions (pastors and deacons) in the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible of licensor and ordination for pastor by the church.  We believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: first, to make individual disciples; second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.
Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:22-23; 20:17-28; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3; 11:2; 12:4, 8-11; 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 8:23-24; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:11; 5:23-24, 33; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-13; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Jude 3-4

Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, with the authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; and that by participating in the Lord’s Supper all true believers, by the sacred use of bread and the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Matthew 3:6; 3:16; 28:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28; Colossians 2:12

Of The Perseverance of the Saints.
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.
Psalm 121:3; Matthew 13:19-21; John 8:31-32; 10:28-29; 16:8; Romans 8:28, 35-39; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 1:14; 1 Peter 1:5; 1 John 2:19

Of The Righteous and the Wicked.
We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.
Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 11:31; 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:34, 41; Luke 9:26; 16:25; John 8:21; 12:25; Acts 10:34-35; Romans 1:17; 6:16-18, 23; 7:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Galatians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:18; 1 John 2:29; 5:19

Of Civil Government.
We believe that civil government is of Divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.
Exodus 18:21-22; 2 Samuel 23:3; Psalm 72:11; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; 22:21; 23:10; Acts 4:19-20; 23:5; Romans 13:7; Philippians 2:10-11; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17

Of The Resurrection and Return of Christ and Related Events.
We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily “the third day according to the Scriptures”; that He ascended “to the right hand of the throne of God”; that He alone is our “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God”; “that this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven,” bodily, personally, and visibly; that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”; that the living saints “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” “that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David”; and that “Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet.”  We, therefore, believe in the personal, visible, Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church and the Pre-Millennial Return of Christ to the earth to reign in power and glory for one thousand years.
Psalm 72:8; Isaiah 11:4-5; 32:1; Zechariah 14:4-9; Matthew 24:27, 42; Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6, 19; Luke 1:32; Luke 24:2-7, 39, 51; John 14:3; John 20:27; Acts 1:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 25, 42-44, 51-53; Philippians 4:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9-10; 8:1, 6; 9:28; 12:2; 1 John 2:5; Revelation 3:21; 19:11-20; 20:1-4, 6

Of Missions.
We believe the command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and that this Commission was given to the churches; and that the true mission of the church is not a program of mere social reform, but rather a program of proclaiming the Gospel to every creature, of baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and of organizing them into local churches where they can be taught to observe all things that Christ has commanded.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13-15

Of The Grace of Giving.
We believe that giving is one of the fundamentals of the faith; that we are commanded to bring our tithes and offerings to the common treasury of the church upon the first day of the week; that as good stewards we recognize God’s ownership over all; that the first essential is the giving of one’s self to the Lord; that the area of God’s ownership includes our time, talents and treasures; that though stewardship is not restricted to just giving of money, our giving ought not to be by coercion, compulsion nor manipulation, but willingly, cheerfully and sacrificially.
Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:10; Psalm 31:15; Matthew 23:23; 25:14-30; Acts 4:34-35; 1 Corinthians 12:27; 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:3, 5, 7, 11-12, 19; 9:6-8

We understand that the above articles do not by any means exhaust the content of our creed which is the whole Word of God, but we do believe that in so far as these Articles extend they are a true presentation of the sound doctrine taught in the Scriptures.