Bible Baptist Church 50th Anniversary Celebration Set For June 16

Bible Baptist Church, Sidney, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Sunday, June 16, at 10:30 a.m. with a special service, followed by a fellowship dinner, and a time of singing and giving of testimonies.

In the spring of 1973, five families met at the home of Bill and Mary Pust with the intent to form a Bible believing, independent, fundamental, separated, soul-winning, and family-oriented Baptist church whose creed was based solely on the Word of God. These five families were: Bill and Mary Pust, Wally and Marlys Binder, Jake and Elsa Wiebe, Frank and Harriet Klempel, and LeRoy and Pat McCarthy, along with their children.

During April 1974, Sunday meetings were held in the Girl Scout cabin in Sidney; Wednesday night meetings were held in homes. The men took turns in bringing a spiritual challenge.

Bible Baptist Church was officially organized May 8, 1974, and the church building was purchased that month. It had originally been the Pella Lutheran Church that was moved from the cemetery to 5th Street and Central Avenue in 1912. Over the years the building has been remodeled as funds permitted.

Pastor Dan Pust often filled the pulpit while the church was searching for a pastor. The following men have served as pastors: Pastor Wilber Beckley (September 1974-February 1975); Pastor Robert Morrison (August 1975-May 1977) – under his direction and that of Ruth Lepel, Liberty Christian School, an integral part of the church, was started in the fall of 1976; Pastor Bob Rundell (September 1977-February 1979); Pastor Joy Paul Schwenke (August 1979-May 1985); Pastor Michael Backhaus (June 1985 – present day; who came to the church in August 1981 to serve as the LCS Supervisor, and also became the Assistant Pastor).

Over the years, God has blessed the church in many ways: Bible Baptist has been the mother church to Westside Baptist, Glendive, MT, and to Bakken Baptist, Williston, ND. (both are now independent); has helped to support many missionaries and ministries around the world (currently over 20); purchased the teacherage next to the parsonage (April 1985); held a church mortgage-burning ceremony (June 1994); constructed a kitchen in the church basement and remodeled the lower level bathrooms, along with replacing the entire floor of the school Learning Center (2000-2001); bought 12 passenger vans; totally remodeled the LCS Learning Center, and broke ground for the new addition on the north side of the church (2011) – the addition houses a nursery-kindergarten room, a handicap bathroom, a new office for the pastor, and a new entryway with a handicap elevator, also allowing room to enlarge the sanctuary, add a church library, and have a classroom downstairs. A modern sound system was installed in the church auditorium the summer of 2023.

Bible Baptist has been blessed over the years by the preaching of many evangelists and missionaries. We have had faithful church officers, committee members, ushers, Sunday School teachers, Jr. Church leaders, LCS staff and volunteers, youth leaders, musicians, givers of hospitality, decorators, bus/van drivers, nursery workers, carpenters/ furniture makers, janitors, publishers, sound system operators, tithers/givers, prayer warriors, members and friends. A number of our young people are serving the Lord in full-time service, and others are faithfully serving in their local churches across the country and around the world. We are thankful for the countless blessings God has poured out upon this church and school ministry. "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." I Samuel 7:12.