Our History

Nall Avenue Baptist Church was established in 1953. Since then NABC has been ministering to the needs of members, the community, and the world. NABC has a rich history and a bright future. Below are some significant events that have taken place in the history of the church.

1953 – The church was organized on September 13^th. Reverend Raymond Collier began ministry at the church on September 27^th. Sunday School and Training Union were organized on October 4^th.

1954 – The W.M.U. was organized on January 7^th. The first Vacation Bible School was held from June 16 through June 26^th. 104 children attended. Reverend William O’Dell began ministry at the church on July 21^st.

1956 – First Educational Unit completed. Church membership was 212. Total receipts $23, 469. A mission was established in Lenexa, Kansas (Now Calvary Baptist Church)

1957 – Reverend Owen C. Dahlor began his ministry on December 15^th.

1958 – First Forward Program of Church Finance – goal $36,944.

1961 – Groundbreaking for the Sanctuary was on November 12^th. Robert Hughes was called as the first Minister of Education. The church library was organized.

1962 – The new Sanctuary was completed. Edward Damer was called as the Minister of Music. Church membership was 516. Receipts were $55,831.

1963 – Edward Gilham was called as Minister of Music. Mission gifts totaled $11,079.

1964 – The first annual Thanksgiving Breakfast was held. J.W.B. Chilton was called as Minister of Music.

1965 – The Boy Scout Troop was formed. The property south of the sanctuary was purchased.

1966 – Carl Yessen was called as Minister of Education. Total receipts were $84,219. Membership was 768. Mission giving was $16,288.

1968 - The Youth Group went to Glorieta. Harry Taylor was called as Minister of Music. Receipts were $114,711. Carolyn Orbin was called as organist.

1969 – Church membership was 1053. Mission gifts were $23,433.

1970 – Education/Activities Building was constructed. Total receipts were $140,038.

1971 – Budget was $176,000. The “Nazarene” was presented by the Sanctuary Choir at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. The Youth Choir took a mission trip to Texas.

1972 – John Burnham was called as Minister of Education. Dale Phillips was called as Activities/Youth director. The Youth Choir took a mission trip to Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. Bill Spencer held an Evangelistic Crusade and recorded 52 decisions made. Total gifts $188,604. Mission established in Olathe (Now the Vista Baptist Church)

1973 – Day Care Ministry established. Blood Bank program began. Westport Baptist Church voted to disband and offered its property to Nall Avenue.

1974 – Lottie Moon goal was $3,000. Church budget was $212,000. Membership was 1310. Bill Reedy was called as Minister of Youth.

1975 - Bill Lewis was called as Minister of Education.

1976 – The Building Committee recommended the building of the Christian Life Center (CLC). The church purchased hand bells. Budget was $236,000. Church Membership was 1436. Bill Anderson was called as the Minister of Youth.

1977 – Bill Ortiz was called to begin a Bi-lingual Ministry at Westport. Ed Otto was called as Minister of Music. Lowell Clark was called as Minister of Education. Budget was $254,000.

1978 – The Christian Life Center (CLC) was built. Budget was $298,000. The 25^th Anniversary of the church was observed.

1980 – Ray Hildebrand was called as Activities/Youth Minister. Bob Clark was called as Minister of Education.

1981 – The church assumed responsibility for the Clear Creek, Kansas Mission (Now the First Baptist Church of Lenexa) Initiated a monthly “Feed the Hungry” offering.

1982 – Owen C. Dahlor was recognized as pastor of Nall Avenue for 25 years. Stewardship Committee was organized.

1983 – The church upgraded its work with the Laotian people to Mission Status and calls Thira Siengsukon as Pastor. A.L. (Pete) Butler was called as the Minister of Music. The church observed its 30^th Anniversary.

1984 – Mike Fetters was called as Minister of Activities/Youth. A mission was started in DeSoto, Kansas. Total receipts $467,629. Church membership was 1534. Twenty percent of all receipts went to missions.

1985 – “Matthew 25” Fellowship started. “Prayer for Spiritual Awakening Conference” was held. The Tape Ministry was begun. “Let’s Show We Care” (Famine relief for Ethiopia) took place. The Youth went to Centrifuge. Peanut Butter, Coat, Toy, Mitten, Sweater, and Fan Sundays were held.

1986 – Summer Recreation Camp began. Single’s Day Out began. The Louisburg, Kansas Mission was established. KNCSB Hand Bell Festival was held at Nall Avenue. The “Together We Can” campaign pledged $800,000+ over a three year period. A Spring Revival was held with Harold Bryson. A Fall Revival was held with Magician Felix Snipes. The first “Hanging of the Green” Christmas service was held.

1987 – Mother’s Day Out was started. A Long Range Planning study group was begun. Stan Jones was called as Minister of Music. A 30^th Anniversary party was held for Pastor Dahlor. Parkway Baptist Chapel was started (Now Parkway Baptist Church)Steve Reed called as Pastor to the Satellite Ministry (Now College Heights Baptist Church)

1988 – Youth mission trip to Turtle Mountain Indian reservation in North Dakota. They established the first Baptist church on the reservation. Neil Brown called as organist. A Note Burning service was held. The church had no debt.

1989 – Youth return to Turtle Mountain. Pony Express Stewardship Campaign pledges 98% of the budget. The Laotian Seminary began. Owen Dahlor retired on November 12^th ending 32 years of ministry at Nall Avenue Baptist Church.

1990 – Third Youth trip to Turtle Mountain. First Laotian Seminary graduation. Called Dr. James E. Reynolds as pastor. Children’s Bible Drill Club began.

1991 – Called dick Dearwester as Minister of Youth/Singles. Revival with Evangelist Roy Buckelew and John Montgomery, music. Called David L. Farris as Minister of Music. Commissioned Thira and Montira Siengsukon to the Mission Service Corp. Licensed three Laotians to preach the gospel. Called Clifford Bennett to pastor the Louisburg Community Church. Began Christian Home Emphasis programs. Held estate and budget planning seminar. Dr. Larry McSwain led the “God’s Plan for the Future” evangelism conference. The second Laotian Seminary Graduation was held. The twenty-seventh annual Thanksgiving Breakfast was held. The budget was $532,103.

1992 – Church family member’s birthday party was held. A Lay Evangelism school was held. Ron and Pat Owens presented “Prayer for Spiritual Awakening”. A Wills and Trusts seminar was held. Youth went to Louisburg on a mission trip. A joint NABC/Laotian potluck dinner was held. 50 youth and sponsors went to Super Summer. A weekly Bible study and fellowship time was begun at the Life Care Center of Overland Park.

1993 – Hurricane Andrew relief and Missouri/Mississippi River Flood relief sent. Christmas in August collected clothing, toys, coats, hats, sweaters, gloves and blankets. The Youth/Singles made a mission trip to Plainville, Kansas. The Youth sponsored a revival led by Terry McIivian, ray Hildebrand, and Paul Land. The Annual Budget was $602,660. 14.5% went to missions weekly. A Fall revival was held with Roy Moody and Terry Brooks. Participated in Viola Webb Day at the Webster Conference Center. 67 youth and sponsors went to Super Sumer. The church celebrated its 40^th anniversary. 30^th Thanksgiving Day Breakfast was held.

1994 – The annual budget was $595,298. An adult choir exchange was held with the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Kansas City, Mo. A Men’s rally was led by Les Reed. Called Mary Jo Throughton as Minister of Missions and began multi-housing ministry. 69 youth and sponsors went to Super Summer. Called Steve Holt as Minister of Music/Senior Adults.

1995 – Ed and Diana Stucky called as Co-ministers of Missions and the multi-housing ministry. The church held four “Festival of Faith” Sundays in lieu of a Spring revival. We had a summer missionary – Mary Lou Allan from Florida. “Working together to improve the picture” campaign raised $53,000 for repairs. The Youth/Singles took a mission trip to Craig, Colorado. Adopted the dual Sunday services beginning October 1^st.

1996 – Presented multiple performances of an Easter drama, distributed tickets throughout the community. Distributed batteries throughout the community with a note about Jesus being the Power of Life.

1997 – Entered into a partnership with the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. Called Grant Mong as associate Minister of Youth/Singles.

1998 – Helped Louisburg congregation build its first building. Began Kids Sunday Night Adventure Zone. The Youth made a mission trip to Lampe, Mo.

1999 – Called Ryan Hitchcock as Minister of Music/Senior Adults. The Youth took a mission trip to Greeley, Colorado.

2000 – Called John Leonard as Minister to Single Adults. 75 members went to Glorieta, New Mexico for Centrifuge and Sunday School week activities.

2001 – Called Bryan Hutchings as Director of youth Ministries. Called Heidi Hildebrand Knappen as director of Childhood Ministries. The Youth mad e a mission trip to Crawford, Nebraska.

2002 – Called Carolyn Barnette as Director of Collegiate/Single Adult Ministries. The youth mission trip was to Denver, Colorado as part of Lifeway’s M-Fuge Program.

2003 – Called Jennifer Abercrombie as Director of Childhood/Youth Ministries. Took 24 people to Green Lake Conference Center for Sunday School week. The Youth, Collegiates, and Single adults made a mission trip to Tyler, Texas. The church celebrated its 50^th Anniversary.

2004 - Adopted the Master Site Building Plan.

2005 – Worked with TLC Ministries to raise funds for building upgrade/additions. (New foyer, new ground level classrooms, new library, remodeling of the Sanctuary, relocation of church offices, remodeling of children’s and youth rooms.) Pledges exceeded $2 million. The Youth took a mission trip to Jamaica.

2006 – Harmon Construction began the remodeling and construction. The Adults made a mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. The church began the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading Ministry.

2007 – Kenny Warren called as the Minister of Music. The adults made a second mission trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. Lori Anderson called as Interim Director of Childhood Ministries. Bob Clark retired as Minister of Education and Administration on July 1^st. He began service as Interim Minister of Education on July 10^th. The Youth made a mission trip to Mexico. Joey Lang called as Minister of Youth.

2008 – Dr. James E. Reynolds retired after 16 years as pastor at Nall Ave. Dr. Bob Mills named as Interim Pastor.

 2009 - On November 15, 2009 Reverend Joe Funderburk was installed as pastor of Nall Avenue Baptist Church by Dr. Bob Mills.  A reception was held for Bob Mills immediately after the installation to thank him for serving, for more than a year, as our interim pastor.