Young people propel First Baptist Lexington toward future as it celebrates bicentennial

Although the First Baptist Church building in Lexington, Mo., is getting older, the congregation itself is getting younger. Lexington is about 50 miles east of Kansas City off Interstate 70.

Young people are filling the pews as the church celebrates its bicentennial. “It’s 200 years old, but it’s getting younger,” Pastor Russell Peirce told “The Pathway.” “Our growth is coming from younger people, so our median age is getting lower.”

John Brittain, mission strategist for the West Central Baptist Association, describes the church as multigenerational, with active Sunday School classes for all ages. “It’s very friendly,” he said. “People make you feel welcome.

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Sunday mornings now see about 130 attending, up from 90 since 2022. New ministries continue to open, and others are strengthened.

Peirce came to the church as an associate pastor in 2022 and became its lead pastor in 2023. He credits the church’s deacons for much of the membership gains. “A lot of the outreach events in particular are usually deacon-started and led,” he said.

The church emphasizes discipleship to create “covenant fellowship,” which engages people in relationships to mentor others. First Lexington has a number of ministries and programs that involve church members and community residents. The church has four LIFE groups of 10 to 20 members each that meet during the week. Although the Sunday School focuses on more-intensive Bible study, Peirce says LIFE groups tend to be more relational for men, women and youth.

James Garner, the church clerk, historian, deacon and board member, said what the church is doing today is typical of its history. He counts seven churches in western Missouri established or sponsored by First Lexington. It has licensed and/or ordained more than a dozen men to gospel service. It helped start the WMU in Missouri and was instrumental in founding William Jewell College in nearby Liberty.

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice