History
HISTORY OF FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH
SECTION 1: 1974-1993
This portion of the history was written by Harold Brown.
On November 3, 1974, a group of approximately 50 people met at Havencroft School to discuss forming either a church or a mission. The group decided to call the KCK Baptist Association for assistance and it was determined on November 17, 1974, to form a church affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The group met in homes and then returned to Havencroft School for the services. Neolin Taylor, a Deacon, and Donald Stith, a licensed preacher, shared pulpit duties.
On February 23, 1975, the church voted to take the name “Fellowship Southern Baptist Church” and the church was incorporated in the Sate of Kansas.
In October of 1975, Reverend Charles Anderson was called as pastor. In January of 1976, the church petitioned the KCK Baptist Association for admission as a member.
With the resignation of Reverend Anderson in July of 1976, the Reverend Larry Duncan was called as pastor. It was on October 16, 1977, that Fellowship Southern Baptist Church was accepted in the KCK Baptist Association.
In May of 1978, Reverend Duncan resigned as pastor and Reverend Dennis Davis was called to that post in October of 1978.
In August of 1979, FBC voted to petition Ridgeview Baptist Church to combine membership and assets to form a new church located East off I-35. In the meantime, the church met in the Deaf Club Building located at 220 S. Chestnut as a temporary meeting place. In March of 1980, the church contracted to purchase the 7 plus acres on Ridgeview for $77,000.00.
In November of 1981, the church moved from the Deaf Club Building on Chestnut to Olathe High School to worship. A serious financial situation occurred in December of 1981, and the church could no longer afford to employ a full-time pastor. The financial crunch was so critical that the church decided to either return the land to Mr. Yost or have another church take over the land note. We decided to wait and pray and see where the Lord would lead us. In December of 1981, Reverend Davis resigned and in January of 1982, Reverend Paul Elledge was called as Interim Pastor.
In April of 1983, the church paid Mr. and Mrs. Yost $20,000 on note principal plus interest. They agreed to still carry the remaining amount of $40,000 on the note.
In May of 1984, Reverend Elledge resigned as Pastor and Reverend Ron Hale was called to serve. In June of 1986 a new building construction started with a volunteer crew from Oklahoma and several members of the church helped. On December 14, 1986, we had our first service in our new building.
In December, 1992, Ron Hale resigned and Dr. Tom Couric was called as pastor in June of 1993. He is the current Senior Pastor.
God continues to bless this great church family. How important it is to realize that in 1981 we almost gave up because of severe financial crisis. But we prayed fervently that God would lead us and help us to make the right decision during this period of legitimate concern. God did bring us through, and today His blessings are still poured out upon us! We give Him all the glory and praise for His faithfulness to us. Truly, we praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
SECTION 2: 1993-2012
Time-Line of Spiritual Markers: The following are significant memories of God’s activities in Fellowship from an elder and staff meeting March 30, 2012.
Fall, 1993 – Pastor Tom began preaching through Acts. The Acts 2 & 4 vision began to take shape (that we would look and act like the church in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35).
We formed a World Missions Team of members desiring to help lead the church to have a global vision for Christ. At least four families have gone into career missions, the Bardins, Beattys, Barbours, and McKelveys. Additionally, several have served in two-year assignments (or longer), the Unruhs, Ramseys, Frank Suddarth and our Thailand Team (noted below).
Spring, 1994 – The construction of the two-story addition of educational space was completed. Indebtedness was consolidated at about $350,000.
Summer, 1994 – 10 members of Fellowship went on mission to Zambia, South Africa. This was the first of many trips under the Global Vision for Christ initiative. Since that time Fellowship has sent out more that 1700 (most multiple times) to 38 nations on 6 continents of the earth. Our motto has been Matthew 24:14.
Fall, 1994 – About half the church went through Experiencing God on Wednesday nights. This had a profound impact on the congregation encouraging us to walk by faith.
1995 – We followed up Experiencing God with Fresh Encounter.
1996 – called our first Missions Pastor, Steve Sullivan. Steve left for Southern Seminary in the Fall of 1999.
1996 through 1999 – City-wide musical outreach, Merry Christmas Olathe, at Olathe South and North High Schools.
1996 – Fasting & Prayer, St. Louis – 30 members of the congregation travelled to St. Louis for the National event. This began a significant emphasis on prayer in the life of Fellowship.
1997 – Don Whitney came from Midwestern Seminary (at that time) and led the church in a seminar on Spiritual Disciplines.
1998 – Began a partnership with City Union Mission and Camp Cumcito. This mission continues today.
1999 – In April, we started 7 LIFE Groups at Fellowship. Our LIFE Groups continue today.
1999 – June, called Jim Moore as Youth Pastor. Jim leaves April 15, 2012, after 13 years on staff.
2000 – In August the church formally called Mike Jones as Missions Pastor, Steve Roe as Pastor of Prayer, Lee Berns as Pastor of Discipleship (Lee resigned around 2002 to focus on his work at the City Union Mission) and Jay Gaumer as Worship Leader (Jay resigned in the Fall of 2010). These were all part time/bi-vocational positions.
2002 – Spring, God poured out a blessing as we raised over $40,000 for a children’s ministry in Thailand in six weeks. We also were over budget during that time.
2002 – Began several years of ministry at Old Settlers Days in Olathe. We started out giving free bottles of cold water with a Scripture on each. The first year we planned for 2000 and gave away 4000. The next year we planned for 4000 and gave away 8000. The third year we planned for 8000 and gave away 16,000. We emptied the local warehouse of Aquafina water and ice! We also gave away thousands of Bibles, booklets and tracts each year.
2002 – Began Kids Prayer on Wednesday nights. This has had a profound effect on a generation of children.
2003 through 2006 – We did a large Carnival outreach event to the community.
2003 – Began participating in Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan’s Purse. This continues annually today.
2003 – Miracle prayer for Joel Moore. Diagnosed with “half a heart”, he is now healthy and normal, playing soccer in Upward Sports for the last two years.
2005 – Established the Prayer Room in response to a 24/7 movement of prayer that happened in Olathe. Six churches agreed to pray 24/7 for six straight months. We were second in that effort with the month of July. This is the time that the Youth Revolution began – a time of revival among our youth. Several were called into ministry and missions during this time.
2006 – began a ministry relationship with Voice of the Martyrs. This continues today.
2006 – LIFE Groups investing in fellow churches; led introduction studies for cell groups at several area congregations including Kansas City and Spring Hill, KS.
2006 – A Thailand Team of six single adults moved to Chiang Rai for a two-year commitment. The primary work was among children whose mothers or parents were imprisoned. This eventually led to Child and Family Prison Ministry that operates boys and girls houses. CFPM is now self-governing and sustaining.
2007 – Began re-write of the Constitution and By-Laws of Fellowship. Completed in December, 2008.
2007 through 2009 – Participated in annual Olathe Serve Day each Spring. Over 5,000 people from dozens of churches served in numerous ministries in the city. It was a tremendous expression of unity and grace in the believing community of Olathe.
2009 – Began financial support for Jews for Jesus.
2010 – The Olathe Food Pantry began to operate out of our facility providing food each week for many families.
2010 – Upward Sports began a Fall soccer league to share the Gospel with children and reach out to families.
2011 – In December we called Tim Hodgson as our worship leader and PAID OFF the church mortgage (we are debt free!!).
2012 – In January we began the only Good News Club for Kids in the Olathe ISD at the Sunnyside Elementary School. It continues with about 15 children each week. We are reaching out to families with children.
2012 – In February we began 40 Days in the Word and Prayer with the body. This was in preparation for a ReFocus Experience conducted April 7-May 5. We are being led through a refocusing and re-visioning time with our State and Associational Baptist leadership at this time.
Upward Soccer 2011