We've Come This Far By Faith!

Macedonia Celebrates 97 Years!

Church History

In 1916, Reverend Charles S. Sanders, a member of the Second Baptist Church in Independence, Missouri, answered the call of the Lord to organize a mission at 2104 Harrison Street. This mission later became Macedonia Baptist Church. Rev. Sanders served the congregation as pastor for seven years. Between March and August of 1923, two pastors served: Rev. Jackson Smith from Arkansas and Rev. L.C. Rice.

Reverend Preston Allen, Sr., was installed as pastor on September 23, 1923. Under his leadership, the building on Harrison was purchased for $800 and many improvements were made. In 1933, the congregation burned the mortgage. Macedonia continued at this location for seventeen years.

Macedonia's second building at 2205 Troost was purchased for $1,500 in 1940. While worshipping at this location, the Rev. Ike Richardson, an associate minister answered the call of the Holy Spirit to establish a mission which later became the Welcome Baptist Church.

Still growing, the congregation needed more room to worship. In 1955, a contract was made to purchase Benton Boulevard Baptist Church building at 2455 Benton Blvd. for the sum of $45,000. On Sunday, June 17, 1957, the congregation formed a parade and he church marched from the Troost address to the newly purchased building on Benton Blvd. 

On September 21, 1921, the Rev. Preston Allen, Sr. Retired from the pulpit after 49 years of service. Shortly afterwards, on January 23 1972, Rev Preston Allen, Jr. was appointed to fill the position as pastor. In 1972, the mortgage note on the church was paid in full. 

Under the leadership of Rev. Preston Allen, Jr. Macedonia Baptist Church was placed on the City Records as a Historic Landmark. (Former President Harry S. Truman was baptized in the facility when it was Benton Boulevard Baptist Church.) On December 31, 1996, Rev Preston Allen, Jr. retired as pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, having served as pastor for 25 years and is currently Pastor Emeritus. 

Reverend Leslie Sims, assistant to Pastor Allen, Jr., served as the interim pastor until members of the Macedonia Baptist Church were blessed with a new pastor, 

Pastor John Leslie Brooks.    

Pastor John Leslie Brooks, having previously served as an associate minister of Macedonia Baptist Church, began his pastorate on May 4, 1997. Since Pastor Brooks became the pastor of Macedonia, there were major renovations made to our 2455 Benton Blvd Facility, including a new roof, pews in the balcony, carpet, refurbished restrooms, etc. Several ministries have been established, a church newsletter was started and a church historian was assigned. 

As Macedonia continued to experience numerical growth, a second worship service was added in October 2001. Having designed a preparatory program for new ministers, Pastor Brooks has developed eighteen associate ministers, and two pastors were ordained in 2011. In 2003, a full-time administrative assistant was hired by Macedonia, Tanya Comeaux (note: Sister Goldie Gorman served as Executive Secretary under Preston Allen Sr., Preston Allen Jr., and Pastor Brooks and continues to serve in that position). Also, Dr. Antoine Richardson devoted himself to full-time ministry as our Youth Pastor in July of 2003. In 2007, Macedonia added to its staff an Office Manager and Building & Grounds position. In 2008, a part-time Financial Secretary was added (now full-time). 

Under the leadership of Pastor Brooks, a major building fund campaign was launched in 1999, with the 5-year goal to raise $1 million dollars toward building a new facility. That goal was reached by May 2004. December of 2003, Macedonia Baptist Church acquired land at Linwood and Woodland from the Kansas City Missouri School District for $189,000.00. In 2005, Dubois Consultants was hired to draw architectural plans for our new edifice. On May 18, 2007, a contract was signed with Merit Construction for our $5,150,000.00 Church. On July 15, 2007, Macedonia held out Ground Breaking Ceremony and construction began. 

In 2009, we saw the steeple rise on the new edifice and furniture to include pews and office furniture were placed in our new facility at 1700 E. Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO. 

On October 16, 2010 a parade of Macedonians and fellow well-wishers marched from 2455 Benton to 1700 E. Linwood Blvd. to celebrate the Ribbon Cutting and moving into out 4th facility location. On Sunday, October 17, 2010, Macedonia had its first Sunday School and Worship Service at the new facility. Also, on October 17th at 4pm, Macedonia had a dedication service, where Congressman, Pastor Emmanuel Cleaver II brought a message of hope and evangelism to the Macedonia Baptist Church family and Pastor Vernon Armitage encouraged us to prepare for the "yet to comes". Macedonia welcomed friends, neighbors and the Kansas City community to fellowship with us as we strive to grow in the grace and Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

On Sunday January 30, 2011 Macedonia held its final worship service at 2455 Benton Blvd and on Sunday, February 6, 2011 moved permanently into our current location. 

Macedonia continues to grow numerically. We added a second worship service April 2012. Simultaneously, we launched our Teen Worship Service with Pastor Darrell Bailey leading the service as Teen Pastor. March 28th and 29th, 2012, the Teens hosted their first Revival designed for Teens and held during the week of Macedonia's Annual Revival. 

Our outreach efforts were extended beyond our local community following the devastation of the Joplin, MO tornado. Macedonia sent a delegation of volunteers to help and assist that community as they also shared God's love in a tangible way. The groups made three separate trips to Joplin.  Also we resumed our community clothes-giveaways originally established at our Benton location. As part of our community outreach efforts we participate as a church family each year in June volunteers for Convoy of Hope. We also had members volunteer to go on International Mission trips to Haiti and Slovakia in 2012. We now have an established team of International Missions Trip Volunteers. 

Out current facility Phase II building plan was complete and provided us with our lower level Junior Church area and our completed Nursery area. At our July 2012 Business Meeting our Phase III building plans were announced. Phase III will include the completion of our multipurpose/gym area, walking track, 2nd floor classrooms, and conference room. 

In facing the challenge of keeping our church family members connected to one another, involved together in Kingdom work and growing together spiritually, a Small Group ministry was developed. Additionally, Macedonia partnered with Hillcrest Covenant Presbyterian of Prairie Village to do a Small Group Study using as its resource the book: Omness Enbraced by Tony Evans. 

Year 2013 has brought us the addition of two full time church staff members. Pastor DeLano Sheffield, M. Div., serves as our Pastor of Discipleship and Small Groups. Pastor Darrell Bailey serves as our Teen Pastor. Pastor Dr. Antoine Richardson, while still a part of the Macedonia staff serving as Youth Pastor, has been named as President of Carver Baptist Bible Institute and no longer serves our church family on a full time basis. We have also started our online live web streaming of all worship services and church-wide special events.

2013 marks for us a year of personal commitment, No Turning Back. Each member is asked to commit to Leadership, Labor, Life, and Love, as we continue to strive "...grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior (II Pet. 3:18)".