LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH
96 years and still planting the seed of the Word
In April of 1925 a group of people who had a desire for a church with the liberty to worship without the dictates of denominationalism met and organized Liberty Church under the leadership of preachers A.W. Goodnight of Earlsboro and L.D. Hobson of Kendrick. The newly formed church first met in a building on Beard Street that had previously been a broom factory, then for a number of years at 107 North Rich Street.
Under the leadership of Brother Gillentine, in the early 1940s the church built a new building and moved to the corner of 11th & Pesotum Streets. Later, under pastor K. G. McKellip additional classrooms were added and a nursery was made available during the worship service.
Brother J. L. Mitchell became pastor in 1956 and as the need arose to seat more people, he and men of the church spent long hours building a new auditorium next to the current one, where services began in 1958. Then the church bought property next door to the south, and the Shawnee High School Carpentry Class built a new two-story educational building. During the pastorate of Brother Mitchell the church became heavily involved in supporting state and foreign missions, sending bibles in both english and spanish, and assisting missions in Mexico and Costa Rica to build churches interest free. In 1965 Brother Mitchell left after the call to become a missionary in Mexico, where later the J. L. Mitchell Seminary was established, and is still adding new preachers to the mission field today.
In 1968 Brother Bill Matthews was called and became the longest serving pastor to date; almost 50 years until he went to be with the Lord in 2015. Under his leadership multiple new ministries and building projects became reality, including purchasing land for a new and much larger church building at our current location at 711 East Federal Street. The first service was held in the new building on December 16, 1972. Later several additional services were added as well as additions to the building in order to meet the growing needs of the church and community. There is more about Brother Bill’s service in the ministry on the menu page entitled Bro. Bill Matthews.
After serving in the Navy, Brother Phil Thompson began attending Liberty in 1973. Since that time he has served in many capacities in the church as well as assisting Brother Bill for almost 40 years. In his own words, Phil says he was not only Bro. Bill’s chauffeur, but also his shadow. Brother Phil accepted the call to become pastor of Liberty in 2015 and is still serving as the current pastor.