Meadowside Baptist Church , 1406 S. Rouse, was first known by the name Bethel Baptist Chapel and met in an old store building at 812 N. Broadway.

The first service was held July 9, 1972. Paul Mooney served as the state/interstate missionary pastor.

The congregation worshiped in the old store building a total of one year and four months. The last service was held there Nov. 18, 1973.

On Sept. 13, 1973, the congregation purchased a 6.3-acre plot of ground on South Rouse for $25,000 from Robert C. Bobbitt.

First Baptist Church of Galena, Meadowside's "mother" church, extended an arm along with much prayer, moral and financial support, as did members of our associational 'sister' churches.

The first meeting on the new property was soon afterward and t he congregation worshiped in an old house which was on the north end of the property. Members worked hard knocking out partitions, painting, etc. and then worshiped in an L-shaped auditorium with the pastor's podium standing in the northeast corner of the room.

Groundbreaking was held Oct. 20, 1975. Pastors from sister churches brought their shovels and assisted. Plans for the new church were drawn up by Stephen Hughes, a Pittsburg State University graduate with a degree in building engineering.

The new church was approximately 4,000 square feet, and the approximate cost was $90,000. Biltwell Construction Company built the framework, and many volunteers finished the interior.

First Baptist of Galena donated their small organ and Highland Park Baptist Church donated some folding tables. Ralph and Zelda Mutch donated the new spinet piano and a fire extinguisher. A young member, Mike Livingston, donated two nice offering plates, still in use today. Marj Heckert donated a couple dozen folding chairs, and Dean and JoAnn Goll donated the flags. Jack and Freda Hardister donated the crystal chandelier in the foyer.

The new church building was dedicated on Sept. 18, 1976. On Nov. 20, 1976, the congregation was organized into a New Testament Missionary Baptist Church with the name of Meadowside Baptist Church. Charter members still remain in attendance even today.

The congregation celebrated "Victory Sunday" on Oct. 7, 1979, when they paid off the land and burned the mortgage.

Mooney served the church until Oct. 20, 1985. Other pastors included Gibson Cole, who served from 1986 to 1987, Charles R. Leslie Sr., who served from 1987 to 1996; W. James Southwick, who served as interim pastor from 1996 to 1997, Bryan Browning from 1997 to 2002, and Don Alexander, the current pastor, who came on June 5, 2003.

Today the church is involved in a new building program. You can see the beginning of the new activity center on the southwest corner of the parking lot.