Old Community Baptist Church

I learned in church today that the physical and material possessions God grants us are not the blessing, but the result of the blessing.

And so goes my story.

Old Community Missionary Baptist Church is one of the oldest churches in Webster Groves. Founded by former slaves, the site originally was an old one-room schoolhouse for 30 black children. Now back in the 1860’s, 19 members got together and donated $25 each to help erect the building in the place where it stands today. But the members were not the blessing; they were the result of the blessing.

Since the first church was built, Old Community has had many facelifts and renovations, largely due to being subjected to frequent fires. Yes, it has been rebuilt and renovated numerous times over the decades. So you see, the church building was not the blessing; it was a result of the blessing.

Coming forward to the 19th Century, Old Community installed a wheelchair lift on its east side in 1982. A two-fold endeavor this was because (1) there were a large number of elderly congregants and (2) it became necessary to comply with handicap accessibility laws. Here again, this lift was not the blessing; it was the result of the blessing.

The lift has served the church well for some 35 or more years, continuously operating through many service calls, repairs, and inspections. The last time it broke, however, we found it unfixable because we can’t get parts. It’s just too old and outdated. A new lift will cost in the area of $35,000, which doesn't include other unexpected costs, and we are raising funds in order to have it replaced. We need your help, but we’re not asking you to be the blessing; we are asking you to be a result of the blessing.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” For you see, that is the true blessing that we all are a result of.

To be able to replace the lift is essential for our elderly members, as well as our other handicapped attendees, and will keep us compliant with handicap accessibility entry to the church.

We are already thankful for your generosity in our earnest and diligent effort to maintain open doors to our church community.

The Old Community Missionary Baptist Church Family