Showcasing the Glory of God on Birmingham Road

Liberty Baptist Church sits on Birmingham Road on the north side of Liberty, Missouri, just a few minutes from the city's historic downtown square. The church's single-sentence mission is clear: "We exist to showcase the glory of God by being and making disciples of Jesus." Every element of church life, from the Sunday schedule to the children's check-in process, is shaped around that goal.

Sunday Mornings at 1000 Birmingham Road

The Sunday rhythm is built around two anchors: an equipping hour at 9:00 a.m. and a corporate worship gathering at 10:30 a.m. The equipping hour offers courses in three tracks: Biblical Studies, Theology and Doctrine, and Practical Discipleship. Recent offerings have included a walk through 1 and 2 Thessalonians in the Fellowship Hall, alongside the Exploring Membership class in Room 101. A separate Liberty Students equipping group for grades 6 through 12 meets at 10:45 a.m. in the Students' Room.

Corporate worship is "simple and centered on Jesus," in the church's own words. Each gathering typically includes congregational singing, corporate confessions and prayers, the reading and teaching of Scripture, and the practice of the two ordinances the church observes: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Preaching is expository, moving book by book through Scripture. Recent seasons have included a long series through 2 Corinthians, a four-part walk through Psalms 1 through 4, and a Men and Women series drawing from Genesis, 1 Peter, and 1 Timothy.

One Sunday a Month at Manor Hill Elementary

On the last Sunday of each month, the 10:45 a.m. corporate worship gathering moves to Manor Hill Elementary at 1400 South Skyline Drive in Liberty. The 9:00 a.m. equipping hour still meets at the church building that morning. The shift gives the congregation room to gather as one body for worship while the regular building hosts the monthly teaching time.

Wednesday Nights for Prayer and Children's Missions

Wednesday evenings bring two parallel rhythms starting at 6:30 p.m. Adults gather in the main building for a prayer service that runs until 8:00 p.m. In the Liberty Kids wing and the Students' Room, children and students gather for their own programs: Royal Ambassadors for boys in grades 1 through 5, Girls in Action for girls in grades 1 through 5, Mission Friends for children ages 3 through kindergarten, and Liberty Students for grades 6 through 12.

Liberty Kids: Safe, Biblical, and Fun

Liberty Kids serves children from 6 months through fifth grade at the 9:00 a.m. hour, with nursery care for 1- through 3-year-olds continuing during the 10:30 worship gathering in the Yellow and Orange Rooms. Alyssa Kester directs the ministry under a safety-first framework built around MinistrySafe, with multiple background checks and training required of every volunteer before they step into a classroom.

Parents check children in at an iPad station fifteen minutes before each service; check-in for the 10:30 nursery closes at 10:40. Children receive a colored card matching them to their classroom, and parents receive a matching check-out tag. Snack and water are provided, with veggie straws on hand for dairy or gluten allergies. Preschool through fifth grade works through The Biggest Story Bible Curriculum, while babies through 3-year-olds use A Sure Foundation by Truth78. Each month, every age group memorizes the same Bible verse with a Seeds Kids Worship song.

Kids' Worship Kits in the lobby help older children follow the songs and sermon. A Mothers' Room just outside the sanctuary is available for nursing moms. Families with children who have specific needs are encouraged to reach out to Alyssa directly before a first visit so accommodations can be put in place.

Liberty Students in Grades 6 Through 12

Liberty Students meets at 10:45 a.m. in the Students' Room. The fall rotation continues a study of the New Testament, tracing God's plan of redemption through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Students learn to ask questions, make observations of the text, and apply Scripture to daily life. Will Richardson serves as Ministry Assistant for Liberty Students.

What to Expect as a Visitor

The church wants first-time guests to feel at ease. There is no dress code; most who attend dress casually. Guest parking spaces are marked in the Upper Parking Lot, and a covered walkway leads to the lobby, where a member will be there to greet visitors. Guests are invited to stop by the welcome table in the lobby before or after the service and to introduce themselves to the pastors at the end of the gathering. The church promises not to single out guests during the service itself.

Children are welcome in the worship gathering at any age. Kids' Worship Kits in the lobby help little ones follow along, and Liberty Kids is available for children 6 months through fifth grade during both Sunday hours.

Elders, Deacons, and the Membership Covenant

Liberty Baptist Church is governed by a team of four elders. Jared Wilson serves as primary preacher, Bobby Sumner oversees equipping and administration, Paul Gandy oversees the worship gathering, and Joseph Kester serves as lay pastor. Four deacons share pastoral responsibilities: Chris Burgos (Book Room and Resources, Personnel), Kyle Faucher (Homebound and Widow Care), Collin Sansom (Ordinances, Member Care), and Jeff Muir (Personnel).

The church's Statement of Faith is linked to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the confession of the Southern Baptist Convention, anchoring the church in continuity with historic Christianity. Members commit to a covenant that includes living in Christian love, meeting together regularly, sustaining the church's worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines, confessing sins to one another, bearing one another's burdens, contributing cheerfully and regularly to the ministry, and, when moving away, uniting with another church as soon as possible.

Becoming a Member: The Exploring Membership Course

Anyone curious about membership can attend the Exploring Membership Course, a five-week class held during the 9:00 a.m. equipping hour three times a year. The sessions cover the gospel and the Christian life, the meaning of church membership and the covenant, the church's polity of pastors, deacons, and congregation, biblical church discipline, and church unity. Completing the course does not obligate anyone to join; current members are also welcome to sit in.

After the course, those pursuing membership fill out an application, meet with a pastor for an interview, and are then recommended to the congregation at a members' meeting, where the church affirms them publicly.

Sermons on Spotify

Sermons are published weekly on Spotify and archived on the church's sermon page. Recent series include the long walk through 2 Corinthians, the four-part series on Psalms 1 through 4, the Men and Women series, and Advent messages from Jeremiah and John. Guest preachers such as Dr. John Meade and Kaden Classen fill the pulpit occasionally alongside the church's regular pastors.

Giving

Giving is available online through Planning Center for one-time or recurring donations, with receipts emailed immediately. On Sundays, contributions can be placed in the offering portion of the worship service or in the boxes around the building. Checks, made payable to Liberty Baptist Church, can also be mailed to 1000 Birmingham Road, Liberty, MO 64068.