Mission Statement

Our Vision at First Baptist Church of Waterloo is to grow in Christ-like maturity-to be so overcome with Christ-likeness that the world cannot help but notice there is something different about us!

Our Mission

Our History

In the summer of 1954, missionary Fred Propst of the East St. Louis Baptist Association and Pastor W.W. Dishough of the First Baptist Church of Dupo led 42 workers in taking a census of Waterloo. In the third week of August 1954, a tent revival was held on a vacant lot on the south end of Waterloo-this was the beginning of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Waterloo.

In September 1954, a council consisting of pastors and deacons associated with the Associational Missionaries examined the mission as to doctrines and beliefs. The council voted to declare the mission a duly constituted church, and Rev. Harold Covington was called to be its pastor.

At a business meeting in January 1955, a motion was made to buy a lot on the corner of Park and Stiening streets. A loan was obtained from the Home Mission Board in Atlanta, and groundbreaking services were held in May 1955. With the first unit of the original plan finished by September 1955, the congregation was able to conduct all services in the basement of the new church building. A business meeting in February 1957 discussed the volunteers helped, including many traveling to Waterloo from out of town. Those many hands had completed possibility of completing the auditorium. A member of the congregation suggested that the church start an interest-free member loan pool to raise funds to finish the auditorium. This was successful, and the work on God’s house resumed.

Herman Lacy, a “young” 80-year-old man and experienced carpenter and builder, put forth an effort of nail driving, and the men of the congregation began the work of building the new auditorium, causing sore muscles and sweaty brows for the devoted members of God, there by making happy hearts for all.

By uniting, laboring together, and praying for guidance and strength, the congregation was able to hold dedication services in the newly completed auditorium on the last Sunday of September 1957. Church furniture was needed, so envelopes were passed out to congregation members, with a request that the envelopes be returned every three months. (The envelopes always came back filled.) It took about 18 months to complete Sunday School rooms and departments in the basement, which had been used as an auditorium.

Like all growing congregations, it became necessary to remodel, enlarge, or find a site for a larger church. In 19974, the church purchased 16+ acres of property northeast of Waterloo. The street accessing the property needed a name so the Congregation voted to it “Covington Drive” (after their first pastor, Rev. Harold Covington).

The project for the summer of 1997 was the construction of new church and more than 700 volunteers helped, including many traveling to Waterloo from out of town. Those many hands had completed the project in time for dedication services in December, making it a Merry Christmas for all.