A Very Brief History of Friendship Baptist Church
Friendship Baptist Church began as Lawder Baptist Mission. The Lawder Mission was started as a mission of Mexico First Baptist Church. The stated purpose of the Lawder Mission was to reach the community of Rivers Addition. The “Mis
ion” first met in a small building, formerly Lawder School, that still stands at the end of State Road JJ on US Hwy 54. The Lawder Mission was organized into a church in November 26,1950 and 2 years after the mission started the congregation moved to Friendship Drive and was renamed Friendship Baptist Church. Some challenges included when a huge amount of rain fell during the basement project, members became stuck as a basement was being dug by hand under the building, -. However, it was a grand time as the church grew in number and decided to relocate again in the early 1960's to its present locational at 4500 E. Liberty -US Hwy 54 only 2 blocks from the location of the original “Mission” and only 3 blocks due north of the building in use at the time the mission organized into a church.
Friendship has had several pastors over our history. Our founding pastor, Rev. Bill Gorrell, now retired and lives in St. Louis, Mo. Other notable pastors have served us including Rev. Bob Kennison (now retired), who later became the head of the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home in Bridgeton, Mo. Rev. Les Elam, pastor when the present building was built and the congregation moved to the current Highway 54 location. The late Rev. Marvin Jones was our pastor for 23 years. Marvin was with us when we built the parsonage at the southwest edge of the parking lot. Rev. Gary Thomas left us to pursue missions in Alaska, Rev. John Crowley, (only here a few years) and left us due to physical injuries suffered from an automobile accident, The late Rev. Craig Stevens was with us for 11 years. Our present pastor, Bro. Glenn Forman came to us in January 2005. He served as our interim from January 2005 until becoming our pastor in October 2005.
Through the years we have taken church and youth mission trips to various places including; Old Mexico, Nebraska, Colorado, and Montana.
We are striving to become more effective in fulfilling our Lord's mandate to reach our community, the surrounding area, our state, our nation, and the world with the Gospel.
