Website: Meridian Baptist Church
Meridian explains its history: “Meridian Baptist Church sprang from a Bible study that began in a local home on January 10, 1964 and officially organized several weeks later on January 26. With the help of Rev. Hal Mason of Wichita, the group grew, met in several rented facilities and eventually saw the need to purchase land and build a building. Originally, the plan was to build on Meridian Road adopting the name, “Meridian Road Baptist Church”, but the group ended up purchasing land at the present location on West Broadway. They chose to drop “Road” from their name maintaining “Meridian” because of the significance of it’s meaning (highest point).
The current facility includes two major additions to the original building finished in 1968. A larger sanctuary was built in 1978 and the family center addition was completed in 1994. The congregation has had four Pastors since it took up residence on Broadway. The first Pastor was Rev. Loren Anderson and the second was Rev. Richard Hess. The third Pastor, Rev. Jerroll Martens ministered for 32 years before retiring in 2008, and continues as Pastor Emeritus. During his tenure, Rev. Brian McDonald and Rev. Scott Kliewer served as youth Pastors. Rev. Kliewer became the senior Pastor in April of 2008 after the retirement of Pastor Martens. T.J. Moore joined the staff as youth Pastor and served from 2010-2012. Caleb Wood started serving as assistant Pastor January 2023.”
The teaching of Meridian Baptist Church has remained consistent throughout its history:
Man’s greatest need is deliverance from sin through salvation in Jesus Christ.
A – Admit you are a sinner before a holy God
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
B – Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins and rose again from the dead.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death (hell); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
C – Call upon the name of the Lord to receive His gift of Salvation as your own.
Jesus died on your behalf and wants to deliver you from your sin. You must receive His deliverance by asking Him.
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
We Believe…
- In the inspiration of the Bible, meaning that God has given us the very words of Scripture.
- The creation of man by the direct act of God.
- Man’s lost condition before God as a result of his sinful nature and choice of sin.
- The incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- The substitutionary sacrifice of Christ by the shedding of His blood for man’s sin.
- The literal death and resurrection of our Lord.
- The gift of eternal life by the grace of God and not by the works of man.
- The rapture of the Church prior to the Tribulation.
- The literal Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom on this earth.
