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.