DECATUR, Ill.—Baptist Bible Church celebrated its 50th anniversary in a gala event Oct. 25. In preparing for the event, Pastor Ray Clark invited former pastor James Johnson, who now ministers at Allentown Baptist Church, Fort Washington, Md. The church also invited Dr. John McNeal, pastor of Atlanta Bible Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., and his wife, Earlene.
Baptist Bible Church began as a Bible study in the 1950s led by Ethel Spitzer, a Child Evangelism Fellowship missionary who was a member of Riverside Baptist Church in Decatur. Forty children met in Lillian Boone’s basement. Soon after, other Bible classes were hosted by Pearlie Stewart, Mary Etta Mann, Lovenia Knight, Pinky Cook, and Lula Broadnax.
Robert Hunter, a former pastor of the church, recalled that Ethel Spitzer had children in her class “who were members of churches but did not know anything about salvation. After visiting their homes it was determined that the parents were also members of churches but could not give a Scriptural reason for their salvation.” This was the motivation for starting a new church.
In 1957, Ethel Spitzer planned a Vacation Bible School, and about 100 children enrolled. Guest speaker for the week was missionary Leonard Meznar, who suggested that Baptist Seminary of the Bible in Cleveland, Ohio, could help plant a church. As a result, the president of the seminary, Walter Banks, came to Decatur to lead a Bible conference and discuss formal organization as a church. The seminary also arranged for Robert Hunter to move to Decatur and work as a church planting pastor.
Bible Baptist Church formally organized in January 1959. Robert Ketcham chaired the recognition council, which representatives of several Regular Baptist churches in the area attended. The church affiliated with the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association when it organized in 1962, and joined the GARBC in 1985.
Over the years, Riverside Baptist has continued to partner with Bible Baptist Church. Volunteers from Riverside worked with members of Baptist Bible to construct a new building at 550 S. Jackson Street in 1994, a project that was assisted with support from Baptist Builders Club.
Mable Houston, 80, a charter member who was quoted in a Herald-Review report on the anniversary, taught Sunday School and played the piano for countless services through the years.
“I don’t think I would want to hear the Word of God anywhere else,” she said.
- Read “Bible Baptist Church to Mark 50-Year Milestone” in the Decatur Herald-Review.
- Read more about the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association.
- Read more about Baptist Builders Club.
