Life of Webster Groves Baptist Church

On August 15, 1944, Dr. Harold Reader closed his work with the church and the Rev. Robert J. White of Marion, Indiana was called as Pastor.  Rev. White began his ministry with the church September, 1944.

During White’s tenure, debts were paid, a parsonage was provided, and significant improvements were made to the church facilities.  White was faithful to the larger Baptist denominations and regularly attended annual meetings across the nation.  White’s time with the church ended with his unhappy dismissal in January, 1956.

Many of you have heard about the boy who was afraid of falling asleep: 

A mother came to us in the Food Pantry and asked if we could come to visit them.  We went in late January to talk with her and the boy, who is 15 years old.  She explained how they had been more than once to the hospital for tests but the doctors didn’t find anything wrong with boy.  Still, he couldn’t sleep; because as soon as he would fall asleep, he would start having bad dreams.  So we prayed that day with him.  As soon as we came home, we sent a letter out to our friends to join us in prayer.

The second time we went to visit the family, we again prayed for the boy, and Sasha read from the Bible and talked with him.  The following Saturday, his mom came to the Food Pantry with a big smile on her face, she was actually a little late that day, but she was happy!  She came to us and said, “Finally I am sleeping so well and my son, too.  He is fine; he is well; he doesn’t have any fear any more.”   When I asked her how she came had the idea to come and ask us for prayer, she answered that she had seen many people came to us and ask for prayer.  

We are thankful for your prayers, because God answered our prayer and the boy is now fine.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers.  God is great!

We had a great response for International Women’s Day on March 11 and a great time together.  Thanks to my dear friends from Kirkwood Baptist who came to help!

On March 25, we went to the park for a picnic with 17 grown-ups and 12 kids!

Harold Phillips, Coordinator of the CBF of Missouri, spoke during the Missions Dinner 21Mr2012.  Sasha and Mira of the Bosnian Ministry were also present and recognized.

Originally from Serbia (Mira) and Austria (Sasha), the Zivanovs minister to refugees from the former Yugoslavia, which includes the countries of Bosnia, Slovenia and Croatia.

The Zivanovs will work in partnership with Kirkwood Baptist Church and other local churches. One of the important outreach ministries to refugees are food pantries. The Zivanovs hope to develop other outreach programs, including English and computer classes and starting a church among refugees.

Ninety-nine years ago: twenty-eight folks gathered on March 18, 1913, to start a Missions Sunday School, which would meet on Sunday afternoons in the rented Suburban School of Music at Newport and Summit Avenues.   WGBC is nearing its century mark and we celebrate our 99^th anniversary with a mini-celebration on Sunday, March 11 following the Morning Worship hour.  The luncheon and mini-program is hosted by our Deacons.  Contact your Deacon if you can participate in this celebration.

We continue to seek pictures and memories from those earlier days of WGBC.  Please share them with us.  We are seeking to preserve our heritage with the memory of these folks who were a significant part of WGBC in those earlier days.

AND eight years ago (on Leap Day, 2004), Dean Stewart was installed as the tenth pastor of our church.  Pastor Stewart stands fourth at WGBC in years of tenure; Dr. Reader (31), Rev. White (12) and Rev. Purvis (15) exceed Stewart in years of ministry at WGBC.