Sunday School: 9:30AM
Morning Worship: 10:40AM
Evening Worship: 6:00PM
Wednesday Night: 6:30PM

Loving You Because
He First Loved Us

Welcome!

Meet Pastor Ean Hendrix

Pastor Ean lives a short drive west of church where he resides with his wife Liz, two sons Avery and Hunter, and daughter Sierra. He is currently pursuing a degree in ministry from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO and has served our church as Pastor since October 2015.

Our Beliefs

Glendale Baptist Church Doctrinal Statement

Our History

Our first building project took place at its present location in 1965.

Helping Poor

Grand Oak Mission Center is a ministry of Greene County Baptist Association. Food and clothing given to those who qualify.

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Our Community

Glenda Baptist Church has been serving the Springfield, Missouri community area since 1966.

Upcoming Events


Learn more about what’s going on in and around GBC!

My Beliefs


Just the other day I was talking to my 13 yr old daughter who had no desire to hear what I had to say. She annoyingly said to me “I already know what you’re going to say”. Like so many teens, she believed she had it all figured out. Turns out, she was wrong. Believe it or not, she can still learn something, even from her dad.

It is important to me that people know what I believe. As a pastor, I believe I have some very important and beneficial things to share. In fact, it is so important to me that I not only want you to know what I believe, I also want you to know why I believe it. I believe if others are willing to take the time to examine the facts, seek answers to their questions and be persistent in seeking truth, they will also come to a saving faith in Jesus. Because it’s important to me for others to understand why I believe what I believe, it’s also important for me to know why others believe what they believe.

After this last presidential election, we have had no lack of people telling others not only what they believe but also what everyone else should believe. I find so many people are so sure about what they believe but can’t give an intelligent reason why they hold to that belief. If you tell me something is a fact and I should believe it, but you can’t tell me how you know this fact or why it’s true, I will probably not have much faith in anything you say. On the other hand, if you are able to give a good defense for what you believe and are ready and willing to answer my questions, I will be more likely to trust what you say the next time you have something to say.

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In my christian walk, I have heard many preachers say many things I didn’t agree with. Over time, I began to respect some of those preachers to the point I knew if they were making the statement; it was well thought out and worth my time to consider. I have even had a few times I found out I was wrong and changed what I believed. Actually, it was more than a few times. The more I learn, the more I understand how much I have to learn.

Now, I know what I believe, and why I believe it. I am even ready to defend what I believe in many topics and find at times people will even agree with me. I have witnessed lives changed, marriages saved, and people placing their faith in Jesus. This truth I now know is powerful, and I want to share it. It’s not because it’s my truth, it’s because it’s God’s truth. I’m even at the point that if it’s said in the Bible, I know it’s true, even if I don’t fully understand it yet.

Jesus challenged the beliefs of the experts of the day. What they believed about the Sabbath Day, about the kingdom, about the Father and especially about the Messiah was constantly challenged. Over time, those who took the time to consider His words were so sure of Him that they were willing to walk away from the religion they had followed their whole lives and trust in His truth. When it’s a matter of your eternal soul, you better be sure in what you believe.
Jesus was very concerned with what men believe. He said to Martha “whoever lives and believes in me will never die”. He then asked her an important question, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26) John the baptist devoted his life to making sure people knew what to believe, John 1:7 He (John) came as a witness to testify concerning that light(Jesus), so that through him all might believe. And God will welcome you into Heaven based on what you believe, John 3:16.
The other day I was challenged by a brother in Christ on something I believe. He had heard a persuasive preacher say something contrary to what I said from the pulpit. While he was trying to convince me of his new found truth he asked “doesn’t the Bible say” to which I was quick to respond “no, it doesn’t”. I said, “if you can find that in the Bible, I’ll agree with you, but that is something you will never find in the Bible.” Even with the only completely reliable source readily at his disposal, he was not willing to take the time to verify it before he tried to change my mind. Even with all the study Bibles, concordances, commentaries and online resources, he was ready to convince me of a lie he could never be sure about.

In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter tells us to “always be ready to give an answer” or in other translations “give a defense”. In the Greek, the word for defense is apologia, which, as you likely know, is where we get the word apologetics. Giving a defense is very important, but Peter is not saying you should give a defense, but rather that you should always be ready. I don’t want to hear your defense unless you are ready to give it. Peter also explains to do it with “meekness and fear”.

My well-meaning friend was giving a defense he was not ready to give and had no meekness or fear in attempting to change what I believe. He was, however, full of passion and willingness to share his newfound belief. Being passionate about something is not an excuse to skip doing the work. The important part is to be ready with an attitude of meekness and fear. I want to know what you believe, but I’m more concerned with why you believe it and what your attitude about it is.

In the end, we can’t all be right about everything we say, but we can be sure about the important things. I’m sure about Christ and I’m ready to give a defense. I’m sure about the Bible and I’m also ready to defend that belief. I’m also sure where I will be for eternity. I’m not only sure about it, but I’m ready to share why I know what I know. Be ready christian brothers and sisters. It’s important you are ready when you share your faith.
We are talking about a soul matter here. If I’m wrong about my facts on a candidate, a job choice or even a health decision, it can be very costly. It’s worth taking the time, seeking counsel and making sure I have the facts. In soul matters, it’s never more important you have the facts. Are you ready?

1 Peter 3:15

Our Beliefs


At its founding, the Glendale Baptist Church acknowledged the Baptist Faith and Message, supported by most Southern Baptist churches, as a general statement of beliefs on a number of doctrines. More particularly, the Glendale Baptist Church believes:

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The Holy Bible:

We believe the Holy Bible is a special revelation from the Creator of the universe that explains the origin and purpose of all the matter, energy, space and time we experience in this universe. In particular the Bible is a revelation regarding the direct creation of mankind and the earth, the reign of God over this earth, and His special revelation of Grace. With God’s creation of the Church He chose to exhibit His characteristic of grace by redeeming men and women from a fallen condition by coming to earth Himself. In the person of the Son of God, Jesus Christ chose to rescue those among us who would believe God’s testimony regarding Jesus found in the Bible and based upon what Jesus accomplished in coming to earth.

As a book from God Himself, we would expect to find perfection in all that the Bible reveals about history, archaeology, cosmology, and in all that the Bible claims to be true in the spiritual realm as well as the physical. To expect to work around errors and un-trues in the transmission of this book is to accept forms of imperfection in God Himself, a claim this church denies wholeheartedly.

Nature:

With regard to the sciences that study the laws and realities of nature, we believe when properly understood we should expect to find complete harmony between the claims of Scripture and the observable laws and history of the natural world. Since God created the cosmos we expect to find, without error, any statements made with regard to how nature works. Nature serves as what is termed natural revelation. Natural revelation from God is powerful enough that man will be held accountable for suppressing this revelation, if we indeed do so.

Eternal Salvation:

The Bible teaches that we humans are born spiritually separated from God that is caused by the possession of a sin nature. Because of this fallen estate people are born without the life of God (eternal life). It is because we are without eternal life that the Old Testament predicted a Messiah, or deliverer would come into the world. The identity of this deliverer was stated to be Jesus of Nazareth and He came into this world offering eternal life to “whosoever believeth in Him” for eternal life (John 3:16).

According to Revelation 20:15 we humans have the problem of being without life. Jesus came into the world to offer that life to anyone who would simply trust in Him for it (John 6:47). The life that Jesus offers each of us is His to give (John 11:25), but to make us acceptable to the Father required a righteous offering or sacrifice whereby God could declare fallen individuals to be justified or acceptably righteous in His sight. This required the sacrifice of a perfect human, of which there were none, until God himself came physically into our world being born of a virgin, without a human father that would taint His perfection, then allow Himself to be ridiculed and crucified by His own people. In this terrible act of human history God was at work placing the guilt of all mankind on His own sinless/holy Son, and required Jesus life (blood) as a substitution for the guilt of mankind. Because Jesus was qualified as a human sin-bearer, was crucified, then raised from the dead, He came forth from the grave qualified to offer eternal life to anyone who would simply believe His testimony (John 4:26).

The Bible teaches that eternal salvation is made available to any and everyone on the basis of grace and that it is received by believing a message, not due to any kind of works or goodness we produce, but is a gift that once received is a current possession (John 5:24) and lasts forever (John 4:14).

This teaching is referred to as a free grace perspective on eternal salvation and is proudly proclaimed by the Glendale Baptist Church.

Baptism:

Water baptism is recommended as one of the first acts of a new believer in Jesus Christ. Baptism serves as a public profession of our faith in Jesus Christ for the free gift of eternal life and serves in Southern Baptist churches as the means of qualifying for local church membership. Baptism should be performed by immersion and in the presence of a church or congregation that practices baptism for like reasons to be obedient to Jesus command (Matt 28:19, Acts 10:47-48). Baptism is an act of obedience on the part of each believer in Jesus Christ and is effective as a first step in being a disciple of Jesus Christ, but is in no way effective in procuring eternal life.

The Lord’s Supper:

Glendale Baptist Church observes the Lord’s Supper on at least a quarterly basis. As with water baptism, the Lord’s Supper is celebrated as a memorial, not a sacrament, and practices what is called close communion. We invite all believers present of like faith and baptism to participate in observing the Lord’s Supper with us, but refuse no one who desires to participate.

Eschatology:

Since a large portion of the Bible was predictive in nature when written, we believe that an emphasis on the study of last things is only expected in any New Testament church. God has revealed His plan for the future of the nations of the world, for the nation of Israel, and for the Church. In proclaiming the teachings of the Bible, we subscribe to predictive prophecy relating primarily to these three programs revealed in Scripture.

As a special section of eschatology, the Glendale Baptist church, throughout its history has been a continual voice proclaiming the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Rapture of the Church. The Second Coming relating to God’s programs for Israel and the Nations, and the Rapture of the church related exclusively to believers in this church age in which we are currently living. The next prophetical event is this Rapture that will take place and remove the Church from the earthly scene before the judgments begin to fall as God begins to conclude predictive prophecy relating to Israel and the Nations.

Liturgy:

As most Southern Baptist Churches operate, the hierarchy of human authority in Glendale Baptist Church flows at the top from the congregation, who has final say on all matters within the church, to the deacons and committees who advise the congregation and Pastor, and finally to the Pastor, who seeks to serve the Lord by serving our congregation and others.

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Our History


On March 7, 1965, 420 people, who were largely members of the Victory Baptist Church of Springfield, MO, met in the Chapel of the Ozarks, Springfield, seeking unity of thought, oneness of spirit and the leading of the Lord. These met in response to a request by many for the founding of a new church. The request was made and published in the Springfield newspaper on March 6, 1965.

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The Drury Chapel of Drury College was used as a meeting place on Sunday, beginning March 14, and the Wednesday night services were held in the Chapel of the Ozarks.

On March 21, 1965 Rev. Fred Lynn was called as the pastor and a motion was made to seek application to the Southern Baptist Convention and to participate whole-heartedly in the mission program of the Greene County Baptist Association and the denomination including participation in the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for North American missions, the Annie Armstrong offering for foreign missionaries and continuous support for the Grand Oak Mission Center operated by the Greene County Baptist Association.

Eight acres of ground were purchased on the present site on Ingram Mill Road and on March 28, the same time that the ground was purchased, the church was named “Glendale Baptist Church.”

Ground was broken on a new educational building and temporary auditorium on July 11, 1965. Construction began immediately and the building was occupied in January 1966.

Glendale Baptist Church was received into the Greene County Baptist Association in September 1965 at the annual meeting of the association. Also, at about this time the Glendale Baptist Church would begin a 30-minute weekly radio broadcast called “Sunday Sing” that would air in Springfield for some 22 years.

Reverend Fred Lynn resigned as pastor in November 1966 after serving 20 months.

In January 1967 Reverend Thomas M. McClain, a native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was called as the second pastor of Glendale. He came from the First Baptist Church, Rosenburg, TX.

In October 1969, another building was added that housed the nursery, kitchen, dining hall and the adult department facilities. Then in November 1975 the church occupied an 800-seat auditorium.

During Brother Tom’s ministry and in addition to the weekly radio broadcast Glendale Baptist Church would launch a weekly television broadcast called “Let’s Get Aquainted” where members of Glendale would be introduced to the city of Springfield in addition to music specials and a weekly message from Brother Tom.

Some twenty years were also spent in a ministry called “Monthly All-Night Prayer” where Glendale deacons led in a ministry once every month and prayed with the help of volunteers from 6:00 PM on a Saturday night until 6:00 AM on Sunday morning.

Six months after Brother Tom’s retirement, in December 1992 the Church called Brother Frank William Ross as its third pastor since its inception some 27 years earlier. Under Brother Frank’s leadership Glendale set out to “Rebuild the House of God” and during the 90’s would remodel the 800 seat auditorium by adding the wall housing the sound booth and increasing the stage and pulpit area to its current size. These renovations took the seating capacity from approximately 800 to its current level of around 400.

In December, 2004 Glendale Baptist extended a call to Reverend Mark Baker as the fourth pastor of Glendale Baptist, who would serve until his resignation in October 2010.

After one full year Glendale would extend a call to its fifth Pastor, Reverend Mitchell Wright. Brother Mitch agreed to serve on a short-term basis and officially began duties on October 2, 2011 and served this church until December 31, 2014.

In October 2015, our church extended a call to its current Pastor, Reverend Ean Hendrix. Pastor Ean is currently attending Baptist Bible College seeking a degree in church ministry.

Our hope is that Glendale Baptist Church will be true to Christ by carrying His message to our community and building Christians in their faith until Jesus comes again.