What We Believe
Our motto is “Meeting today’s family needs with eternal Biblical truth.” It is our goal to make everyone welcome regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic status. I like to think we are grandma’s church on steroids. I have found Ebenezer to be an enduring presence of the Kingdom in Callaway County, steeped in rich history and yet progressive to meet 21st century needs and challenges.
Ebenezer Baptist Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). Each of these organizations exists to support the local church.
We are strong believers in the autonomy of the local church, which means that we are a self-governing body operating through a democratic process under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
We believe the Holy Bible to be the inerrant authoritative word of God. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter.
We believe that Jesus is the only begotten son of God, who existed in the form of God from before the foundation of the earth (Philippians 2:6-8). We believe that Jesus was fully man during his 33 years in human flesh and was tempted in every way as we are and yet withstood temptation and was perfectly sinless (Hebrews 4:15). We believe that all have sinned, except Jesus (Romans 3:23), that sin leads to eternal death (Romans 6:23) but Jesus’ sinless life was the perfect, once for all, sacrifice and that salvation and eternal life are found only through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross (John 14:6).
We believe that unless one personally confesses Jesus as Lord and believes in our heart that Jesus was crucified for our sins and was resurrected and currently sits at the right hand of God we cannot receive eternal life (Romans 10:9).
We believe there is only one Sovereign God who created and currently reigns with providential care over his universe. God manifests Himself, and His will to us through three separate and distinct forms, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each form has a distinct function in God’s kingdom and all three together make up the whole of God.
We hold to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000.
I was saved at the age of 9 through the Royal Ambassador program, preached my first sermon (if you want to call it that) at the age of 13 on R.A. Sunday.
At the age of 22, I encountered some life changes and God began calling me into ministry. I attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri from 1977-1981 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology/religious studies. I have been a pastor since 1980.
I have come to understand that my pastorate is not about me, but about God’s divine direction. I have faithfully served in the trenches in this battle for souls, I have been tested by God and tried by Satan, I have been sealed by the Holy Spirit who has led me faithfully, and am confident He will continue to do so.
My wife of 40 years has preceded me to God’s glorious heaven, and I understand grieving, I also understand restoration, as God has so richly blessed me with my beautiful bride Brenda, we have been married since 2018 and share 6 children (3 each) and now 13 wonderful grandchildren.
As Brenda and I continue to serve at Ebenezer our greatest desire is to hear our Savior say “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Bert and Susan Maddox have been married for 28 years. They have 3 lovely daughters. Jane 27, Julie and Jesie 22. The family lives on a cattle farm not far from church. Both Susan and Bert were blessed to grow up in Christian homes. In school, both were involved in music. In church, it was natural for both of them to seek out ways to Worship the Lord through music. At Ebenezer Baptist Church it is a joy for them to share their Love of Worshipping Our Father and to allow everyone the opportunity to draw near into His presence every Sunday.
Karen and her husband Hugh and their family have been members of Ebenezer Baptist Church since 1992. Karen has enjoyed playing instrumental music and singing for the Lord since a very young age, growing up with her father who was a Southern Baptist pastor.
Kathleen and I both love the Lord and feel the need to serve Him. We both love music, and for us it is a calling to be involved with His work in the church,.
So, music is a good fit for that service. After all the only requirement is to be able to “make a joyful noise”. We are blessed to be a part of the Ebenezer family and love serving the same.