|
In May 1978,
after graduation from Baptist Bible College, in Springfield,
Missouri, Pastor and Mrs. David H. Lydick moved to Bellevue,
Nebraska, and founded the Midlands Bible Baptist Church. The
first service was held in the Administration Building of
Bellevue College on June 4, 1978, and the total attendance of
10 consisted of three families (the Lydicks, the Bill Risleys,
and the Jackie Parks). The infant church (first named
Metropolitan Baptist Church) began as a mission-work of High
Street Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri, and it
officially organized and chartered as an autonomous assembly
on February 2, 1979, with 39 original charter members.
The first six
and one-half years of its existence (until 1984), MBBC
continued to meet on Sunday mornings and evenings at Bellevue
College. The mid-week services met for a time in the pastor's
home until moving into a classroom at Lilmar Beauty Services,
then later at Wake Robin School, and later still, for a short
time, in a rented storefront building in Old Town Bellevue.
In
mid-September 1984, prayer was answered and negotiations were
finalized permitting the purchase of the former Riverview
Grade School from the Omaha Public School System.
"Opening Day Services" in the present church
facilities were held on Sunday, November 4, 1984, with Dr.
Richard Winchell, then President of Bellevue College, cutting
the ribbon, and Evangelist Bob Baier, of Jerome, Idaho,
preaching the Opening Day message. (The auditorium was later
named in honor of the late Brother Baier.) Dedication Services
for the building were held the following January (1985), with
the dedicatory message delivered by Dr. David A. Cavin, then
pastor of High Street Baptist Church.
In the Fall of
1988, the church folk paid for, and physically constructed the
building's present gable-roof design, replacing the original
flat-roof configuration. Additional and periodic remodeling
and property improvements have been done almost entirely by
the people themselves.
A
sister-congregation in Bellevue, the Heritage Baptist Church,
merged with and became a part of MBBC in 1994, forming one
strong assembly. God has blessed both "flocks" with
tremendous benefits since their union into one church body.
MBBC -- a
separatist, independent Baptist congregation, identified with
the Missouri Valley Concord of Independent Baptists and the
Global Independent Baptist Fellowship -- has "contended
for the faith" since its inception. It has labored to win
souls and disciple believers amid its service as salt and
light to a perverse generation. Over its history, scores of
military and civilian folk have been saved, young people have
surrendered to the ministry, the planting of other churches in
the region has been helped, and thousands of dollars have been
given to support home and foreign missionary projects. Over
sixty such missionary projects are currently supported
financially (Missions is a priority here!!).
As Midlands
Bible Baptist Church holds to the scriptural purpose and focus
of its origins, God's continued blessings are fully expected.
To Him Alone be all the glory and praise! |
