Our History

God gave the vision...

...and at the turn of the century, eleven dedicated individuals organized the First Baptist Church of Ramsey on Feburary 21, 1895. The charter members were: George Syfert, L.E. Syfert, J.D. Bridges, Sarah Bridges, Eddie Suss, Drucilla Little, W. Murkin, Amanda Murkin, Ida Landers and Ella Casey...

God gave the vision...

...and on March 8, 1895, the church appointed a building committee for the purpose of purchasing ground and erecting a building. The church house was built at the corner of Fourth & Madison with the dedication service being held on May 29, 1904...

God gave the vision...

...and Sunday School was started to promote growth and deepen the biblical knowledge on May 12, 1912. More people came and the church grew steadily...

God gave the vision...

...and because of the growth, a second building fund was started in March 1949. A second building committe was formed on April 11, 1951. Building committee members: Rev. George Karr, George Holtcamp, Ed Hoffman, Willie Murphy and Raymond Hoffman brought a recommendation to the June business meeting. On June 20, 1951, the congregation accepted their recommendation and voted to tear the old church down and build a new church on the same site. There were 23 Yes and 8 No votes. The original building was torn down in July 1951. During the interim time, the church held worship services in the Ramsey school gym. On October 19, 1952, a dedication service was held for the new building with a larger auditorium and 14 classrooms...

God gave the vision...

...and attendance quickly grew and the church members saw the need for a new parsonage. They purchased two lots next to the church. In 1958 the congregation voted to build a parsonage and by the end of the year it was completed. The next year C.E. Russel was called to fill the pulpit and the parsonage...

God gave the vision...

...and as more came to study the Word of God, the congregation realized the need for more education space. So they voted to build the education building in 1965. After much hard work and sacrifice the membership dedicated the education building on January 7, 1968...

God gave the vision...

...and the church voted to hire a part-time associate pastor to minister to the needs of the many youth in our church and to lead the music program in August 1998. By November the congregation stepped out on faith and voted to make the position full-time...

God gave the vision...

...and the church purchaged 4.5 acres at the south edge of Ramsey in February 1998. In September 1998, a five member building committee was selected, and in November 1998, the church voted to relocate. On October 15, 2000, we celebrated Victory Sunday as we laid our capital fundraising commitment cards on the altar. In the fall of 2001, we poured the concrete entrance to the new property. On June 23, 2002, we broke ground. After three years of sacrificial giving and hard work, on April 10, 2005, we held our first service in the gymnasium of the new building. On March 26, 2006, the congregation held its first service in the sanctuary and dedicated the new building to the Lord.

God gave the vision...

...and the Sunday School continues to grow, the music ministry continues to blossom, the youth ministry expands, children are learning about Jesus, new families are joining our fellowship, lost souls are finding salvation (80 baptisms in eight years), lives are being changed, hearts are being mended, new ministries are beginning...