Our History

Osceola First Baptist Church has a long and rich history. Predating the City of Osceola by twenty-five years, Osceola First was organized in 1850, and has the distinction of being the first Baptist church in Mississippi County. The first twenty years Osceola First Baptist met in homes. Around 1870, H.H. Richardson (a missionary from Clear Creek Baptist Association in Illinois) came to Mississippi County and reorganized Osceola Baptist Church. Osceola First Baptist began meeting in the lower floor of the Union Church building on Union Street. Osceola First Baptist and other denominations shared the building, meeting on alternate Sundays. It was also used by the Masonic Lodge as a Community Center. On March 30, 1880, Osceola First Baptist purchased a lot on the corner of Broadway and St. John and built a building and parsonage. The first facility was a simple one-room building. By 1889, Osceola First Baptist had grown to 181 members. As growth continued a larger building was planned in February, 1912. Two lots were purchased on the corner of Lee and Pecan Streets. Construction began in 1915 and was completed in September, 1916. The church met at this location until moving into its present facility on May 16, 1993. Osceola First Baptist has affiliated with three different associations: The Osceola Baptist Association, Mt. Zion Baptist Association, and since 1928, the Mississippi County Baptist Association. Osceola First Baptist has sponsored three missions which have organized as churches in Osceola: Calvary Baptist Church, Eastside Baptist Church, and Pleasant View Baptist Church.

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Osceola First Baptist has had other successful satellite ministries, two of which are a County Jail Bible Study and a Correctional Center Bible Study, both led by men from Osceola First Baptist. In October 2002, Ben Wells (FBC Deacon) started a bible study in his living room with two men. This group outgrew Ben's living room in a year and a half and moved to a building on the corner of Hale and Walnut Streets and was named New Creation Outreach Center. It outgrew that location and moved to the 75 year old Rebel Club which was remodeled and refurbished for their use. God greatly blessed this satellite ministry with many souls being led to Jesus Christ.