ABOUT NORTH ROCK BAPTIST TEMPLE
May 2000—May 2020 and counting
OUR EARLY DAYS
What started out as sessions of spiritual counseling from an Emporia man to his brother-in-law in rural Meriden, turned into much more for a group of Meriden area residents. Pastor Chester Furman, who was the senior director at Westside Baptist in Emporia, began driving from Emporia to Meriden in March of 2000. These regular sessions would soon become Thursday night Bible studies. Those Bible studies turned into church services which began on May 28, 2000 with a group of 10 people that were meeting in the home of Jack & Patricia Thompson.
That original group quickly grew from 10 to a high of 36 within just a few months, and during the last 15 years has seen a recorded high attendance of 122. In the beginning, some members were driving to Meriden from Manhattan and Kansas City. One couple, Harold and Linda Allen moved from Humboldt to be near the church. As the congregation continued to meet in the Thompson residence, a Sunday school and youth programs were started, and the group began looking for a building.
Before the church would move into the building located at the corner of Chester and Laurent, in Oakland, two of the charter members were called home to be with the Lord. Hank Kahle and his wife Jackie were saved in their home. Hank, never had the opportunity to be baptized, but after his passing, his wife Jackie was baptized and continues to serve in the church today. The other charter member to be called home, was Arville Brandon. Arville died of a heart attack during a mid-week service and “The Arville D. Brandon Memorial Auditorium” bears his name.
NORTH ROCK BAPTIST TEMPLE TODAY
We remain a small, family oriented, traditional congregation. Teaching strictly from the King James Bible, and holding to the music of traditional hymns with an old time southern gospel style. North Rock Baptist Temple is a missionary church, currently helping to support 17 missionaries around the world. We offer Sunday school classes for all ages. We also offer a bus ministry that covers a large portion of Topeka, “Call us we will come pick you up.”
If you are seeking a church to call home, a church to become part of, a church to grow with, a church that preaches the Word of God, a church were it does make a difference what you believe, come join us. “We will treat you so many different ways, you are bound to like at least one.”
OUR PASTOR
Pastor Bobby Johnston was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. His childhood was split between living in North Carolina and Illinois.
He came to a saving knowledge and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ on September 11, 2007, and began full-time ministry in 2012 as a Circuit-Riding Evangelist assisting church planters, struggling churches without a Pastor, Revival-Meetings, and training other young preachers for the ministry.
Often, he spent weeks and months at a time ministering in one area doing evangelist work.
He spent four years living in Nebraska serving in a local church, while also being available for pulpit supply in the surrounding states.
Pastor Bobby received his training from Pastors of local churches teaching him “hands-on.” He has taught Sunday School classes, Bible Institutes, and lead youth events as a Church member. As a Pastor, he has served one church in eastern Colorado for four years before the Lord brought him to North Rock.
Pastor Bobby’s passions include Expositional Preaching, Baptist History, History of the Hymns, and stringed instruments.
Pastor Bobby became Pastor of North Rock Baptist Temple on August 13, 2023.
Pastor Bobby and his wife, Sarah, were married in June of 2017. Their son, Leland, was born in June of 2020. Their daughter, Liberty, was born in December of 2021.