Who We Are

We are a conservative evangelical Baptist church with a heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe the Bible to be divinely inspired, infallible, without error, and sufficient. We treasure the Bible because it reveals the one whom we worship, the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the heart of our church is the proclamation of Christ. Why? The answer is simple: because it is at the heart of all God’s activity. God has revealed himself in his Word as the triune God with a specific plan to redeem humanity through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Our History

Reverend Lester Jones, state home missionary began making contacts in January 1957 with those interested in beginning a Free Will Baptist Church in Raytown, Missouri. The first meeting for prospective members was held in Delbert and Greta Carter’s home. All interested began to meet for Sunday School and worship services in their homes.

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Beacon FWB Church was organized on March 28, 1957 in a joint organizational meeting with the Victory FWB Church. Reverend Rolla Smith called for charter members and sixteen people responded. Reverend Lester Jones was elected as pastor of the church. On April 7, 1957 the first service was held in the Boy Scout Hall on Arlington Street in Raytown.

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On January 15, 1958 the church voted to purchase property located at 7920 Northern (later named Harris Street). Plans were made to buy the adjacent lot to the North, and the transaction was completed in 1964. A basement building was completed and the first service was held in November 1958. In 1960, Rev. Woodrow Matthews was elected as the new pastor.

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The church continued to grow and the upstairs was finished and used as a temporary sanctuary. Under the leadership of Rev Matthews, the present building was constructed and the sanctuary was dedicated on October 23, 1966.

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In the years since Beacon’s founding, Raytown and the Kansas City area has changed a lot. New faces have moved into the neighborhood. New families have taken root. But Beacon Free Will Baptist Church has never lost the desire of its founding members – to reach the community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.