Established in 1945
For many years there existed a need for a Baptist church on the South Side of Hannibal. The Late Reverand W.M. Wigger, the Bethel Baptist Associational missionary, recognized the need and prayerfully sought an answer. Reverend Wigger was led to a young ministerial student of Hannibal-LaGrange University by the name of Harold Renfrow. Reverend Wigger suggested to Harold that he make contact with a South Side resident by the name of John Ward of 618 Fulton Avenue about the possibility of starting a Baptist mission. By 1942, Harold Renfrow and John Ward were able to rally support behind starting the South Side Baptist Mission. They started this mission in a humble store front building on the South Side.
The mission grew and by 1945, South Side Baptist Church was organized with 20 Charter Members. Shortly after becoming an organized church, the site of the present church building was purchased, and by faith, the Educational building was completed. The educational building also included a small sanctuary on the first floor complete with a baptismal tank.
In the fall of 1965, construction began on a new Sanctuary and in 1966 it was completed in time for Easter Sunday which was the first service to be held in the Sanctuary. Since 1966 the SSBC experienced growth in membership and ministry under the leadership of several fine pastor’s. Unfortunately during 80’s and 90’s there was a downturn in attendance for various reasons and the congregation had some very difficult times. Several pastors have served the church over the last 73 years. The providence of God showed favor upon South Side Baptist Church and kept the church body alive and the doors open to those who would gather faithfully every Sunday and Wednesday.
Towards the end of the summer of 2011 the Interim Pastor Reverend Bill Horstmeyer had to step down because of health reason after faithfully serving SSBC in the absence of a pastor. Reverend Horstmeyer eventually passed away Sunday, April 29, 2012. By the fall of 2011 the average Sunday morning attendance had fallen to around 25-30 people. Sunday School attendance was even worse. After Reverend Horstmeyer resigned as interim pastor, the chairman of the deacons Mr. Eric Pahlman had the responsibility of securing pulpit supply. One of the first people he called to fill pulpit was the head wrestling coach at Hannibal-LaGrange University who was also a licensed minister. Coach Scott Hawes had helped several churches in WI, IL, and MO in the absence of a pastor. He also had been an interim pastor for two other churches. After Coach Hawes preached the first Sunday. Mr. Pahlman asked if he would return in two weeks to fill pulpit again. During the second week of filling pulpit Mr. Pahlman asked Coach Hawes if he would consider being the interim pastor of South Side. At the time Mr. Pahlman didn’t know that the Lord was leading Coach Hawes to have his family settle down in one church rather than continuing to do interim pastor work. At the same time the Lord was working in Coach Hawes’ life, the finance and pulpit committees determined that there was not enough funds to hire a full time pastor. As Coach Hawes explained to Mr. Pahlman that he believed God was leading him to consider a bi-vocational pastor position, Mr. Pahlman explained to Coach Hawes that the church was no longer looking for a full-time pastor, but a bi-vocational pastor. Although the decision for Coach Hawes to become the pastor of South Side Baptist Church was not made that day, it was evident to Coach Hawes, Mr. Pahlman and the pulpit committee that the Lord had brought Coach Hawes to South Side Baptist Church at this opportune time. In October of 2011 the church unanimously extended a call to Pastor Scott Hawes to become the pastor of SSBC.
On August 25, 2012 South Side Baptist Church ordained Reverend Scott Hawes for the Gospel ministry. Since 2011 there have been some challenging times financially and spiritually. However, God’s people led by God’s servant prayed and asked God to strengthen the ministry of South Side Baptist Church for His glory. Regrowth and rebirth can be a slow and laborious process. With dedication and prayer, South Side Baptist has been experiencing a revival. South Side Baptist has no desire to dwell on the past, but to learn from it and look ahead to how God will use His ministry in the future. As South Side Baptist Church has been blessed to see tremendous growth spiritually, financially and numerically in recent years, they do not want to lose sight of why they have received these blessings. South Side Baptist Church’s desire is to be obedient to God’s Word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as He directs the church to accomplish His will.
The mission grew and by 1945, South Side Baptist Church was organized with 20 Charter Members. Shortly after becoming an organized church, the site of the present church building was purchased, and by faith, the Educational building was completed. The educational building also included a small sanctuary on the first floor complete with a baptismal tank.
In the fall of 1965, construction began on a new Sanctuary and in 1966 it was completed in time for Easter Sunday which was the first service to be held in the Sanctuary. Since 1966 the SSBC experienced growth in membership and ministry under the leadership of several fine pastor’s. Unfortunately during 80’s and 90’s there was a downturn in attendance for various reasons and the congregation had some very difficult times. Several pastors have served the church over the last 73 years. The providence of God showed favor upon South Side Baptist Church and kept the church body alive and the doors open to those who would gather faithfully every Sunday and Wednesday.
Towards the end of the summer of 2011 the Interim Pastor Reverend Bill Horstmeyer had to step down because of health reason after faithfully serving SSBC in the absence of a pastor. Reverend Horstmeyer eventually passed away Sunday, April 29, 2012. By the fall of 2011 the average Sunday morning attendance had fallen to around 25-30 people. Sunday School attendance was even worse. After Reverend Horstmeyer resigned as interim pastor, the chairman of the deacons Mr. Eric Pahlman had the responsibility of securing pulpit supply. One of the first people he called to fill pulpit was the head wrestling coach at Hannibal-LaGrange University who was also a licensed minister. Coach Scott Hawes had helped several churches in WI, IL, and MO in the absence of a pastor. He also had been an interim pastor for two other churches. After Coach Hawes preached the first Sunday. Mr. Pahlman asked if he would return in two weeks to fill pulpit again. During the second week of filling pulpit Mr. Pahlman asked Coach Hawes if he would consider being the interim pastor of South Side. At the time Mr. Pahlman didn’t know that the Lord was leading Coach Hawes to have his family settle down in one church rather than continuing to do interim pastor work. At the same time the Lord was working in Coach Hawes’ life, the finance and pulpit committees determined that there was not enough funds to hire a full time pastor. As Coach Hawes explained to Mr. Pahlman that he believed God was leading him to consider a bi-vocational pastor position, Mr. Pahlman explained to Coach Hawes that the church was no longer looking for a full-time pastor, but a bi-vocational pastor. Although the decision for Coach Hawes to become the pastor of South Side Baptist Church was not made that day, it was evident to Coach Hawes, Mr. Pahlman and the pulpit committee that the Lord had brought Coach Hawes to South Side Baptist Church at this opportune time. In October of 2011 the church unanimously extended a call to Pastor Scott Hawes to become the pastor of SSBC.
On August 25, 2012 South Side Baptist Church ordained Reverend Scott Hawes for the Gospel ministry. Since 2011 there have been some challenging times financially and spiritually. However, God’s people led by God’s servant prayed and asked God to strengthen the ministry of South Side Baptist Church for His glory. Regrowth and rebirth can be a slow and laborious process. With dedication and prayer, South Side Baptist has been experiencing a revival. South Side Baptist has no desire to dwell on the past, but to learn from it and look ahead to how God will use His ministry in the future. As South Side Baptist Church has been blessed to see tremendous growth spiritually, financially and numerically in recent years, they do not want to lose sight of why they have received these blessings. South Side Baptist Church’s desire is to be obedient to God’s Word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as He directs the church to accomplish His will.