The organizational meeting of what would later become Linden Baptist Church was held on June 16, 1895 in Linden, Missouri.  Thirteen who made professions of faith and were baptized were joined by six charter members to make up the nineteen-member church in one short day.

 

As early as September 1896, plans were underway to finance the construction of a church building, with the first collection totaling $90.  In December of 1897, the church made the decision to begin calling itself Linden Baptist Church.

 

It wasn’t until January 1904 that land was purchased from the North Kansas City Land & Improvement Association for the sum of $1.  The original white frame church building was dedicated in May 1904 and occupied the Southeast corner of Holmes and 69^th Street where it remained until it was demolished in 1969.

 

Records for the early church are scarce, as business meetings were not held for months at a time.  It is known, however, that from August 1922 to October 1925 no services were held at the church.  Instead, the building was partitioned into classrooms and used as a public school.

 

A reorganization meeting was held in October 1925.  General Officers were elected and a budget of $650 was approved.  The first Training Union was organized in 1932, with groups for children and young people.  In 1933, the original church building was enlarged to include a vestibule, a rostrum, and a basement dug with a team of tiny mules.

 

Due to the rapidly growing population of the area, a new building was completed in 1957.  The ground breaking ceremony for what is currently the sanctuary was held on September 11, 1960 and dedication on October 1, 1961.

 

On Sunday, August 6, 1989, a re-dedication service was held for the sanctuary which had undergone extensive remodeling and redecoration.  Landscaping was added in the Spring of 1990.

 

In April 1994, Linden voted to approve Phase 1 of the plans for the future expansion of educational facilities and the renovation of the existing educational unit and fellowship hall in preparation for continued growth.  Ground was broken for the construction of the new building on Sunday, June 25, 2000.  The new building, along with the renovated educational space and fellowship hall, was dedicated on Sunday, September 21, 2003.

 

Linden has grown from that initial group of nineteen to a total membership in excess of 800.  The white frame church has been replaced by a modern complex.  The annual budget has increased from $650 in 1925, to $392,028 in 2006, 111 years later.

 

In remembering our past and reaching toward our future, we must never lose sight of the purpose of our being, which is the propagation of the gospel and for it is that purpose that gave God cause to build His church upon this rock.

 

Yes, times will change, methods will change, facilities will change, people will come and go, but the faithfulness of God to those who seek to follow His leadership will forever remain unchanged.

 

God has blessed the efforts of thousands of people whose lives have been a part of Linden’s growth or have been touched by the presence and ministries of Linden in this community.

Linden Baptist Church - Gladstone, MO