Tucked along Paris Road in Columbia, Missouri, Memorial Baptist Church has long been a presence in its neighborhood, marked less by stone and steeple than by the people who walk through its doors from all over the city and all over the map. The congregation describes itself as a community of faith seeking to follow the way of Jesus together, made up of folks from varied backgrounds and stages of life. In a culture that often pulls people apart, the church centers itself on Christ and on extending the same love and grace it says it has found in him.
The Four Fragile Freedoms: Reimagining What It Means to Be Baptist
Memorial Baptist identifies as Baptist, but it does so in its own way. The congregation acknowledges that the label carries a great deal of baggage and that no single Baptist body has a monopoly on the word, since Baptist churches have historically been autonomous, local congregations. The church still uses the name because it is the tradition it was born from and because it still identifies with core, historic Baptist principles. Those principles are summarized in what the congregation calls its "Four Fragile Freedoms":
- Bible Freedom
- Soul Freedom
- Church Freedom
- Religious Freedom
Out of these core principles the church looks to partner with various groups, Baptist and otherwise, to further the work of God. Congregations similar to Memorial Baptist sometimes refer to themselves as "a different kind of Baptist," and Memorial Baptist invites others to "reimagine what it means to be Baptist." Its first call and priority is to be Christian, and to partner with God's people in all their expressions as part of God's work in the world.
A Sunday Built Around Three Gatherings
Sunday is the backbone of the week at Memorial Baptist, and the rhythm is built around three gatherings. The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a traditional service in the sanctuary, followed at 9:30 a.m. by Bible study for all ages, and then a second worship service at 10:45 a.m. Worship is described as centered on God alone, thoughtful and intentional in all that is done, and open to anyone who wants to come as they are.
The 10:45 a.m. service is also the congregation's livestreamed gathering. Services are broadcast on YouTube, so people who are traveling, homebound, or simply exploring can worship alongside those in the room. A large archive of past sermons is available, organized by series (such as the Book of Acts, the Book of Jonah, Philippians, Lent, Advent, and many more) and by speaker, so newcomers can listen back through teaching from Pastor Joey Pyle and other preachers who have filled the pulpit.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
The week continues on Wednesday evening, when the church opens its doors for a full slate of programming that begins with a shared meal. Dinner is served at 5:15 p.m., and at 6:00 p.m. four tracks run in parallel:
- The Forum, the adult Bible study
- Youth group, led by Minister to Students Stephen Grayson
- Bible Skills, Drills, & Thrills, for children in kindergarten through fifth grade
- Mission Friends, for the youngest children from birth through pre-K
The shared dinner and the age-tiered studies make Wednesday a kind of one-stop evening for many families. After the 6 p.m. activities wrap up, the Adult Choir gathers at 7 p.m. for rehearsal, and the Children's and Youth ministry leaders continue to invest in the next generation through the broader rhythms of the church.
Music Ministry: Adult Choir and Church Orchestra
Music is woven into both Sunday services and the weekly calendar. The Adult Choir sings on Sunday mornings and also performs throughout the year at other events, rehearsing on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. after the dinner and study hour. The Church Orchestra plays in worship services roughly once a month, and its members come from a wide variety of musical backgrounds. Some are working toward a college degree in music; others returned to their instrument after not playing since high school. The orchestra rehearses at 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Joel Schilb serves as Worship Leader and oversees both groups; Randy Schilb serves as Assistant Worship Leader and is also involved in teaching from the pulpit. The church offers a scholarship in Randy Schilb's name to support those pursuing music in a congregational setting, a reflection of how seriously the congregation takes the work of congregational music.
Children, Students, and the Wider Community
Memorial Baptist invests deliberately in the next generation. Mark Martin serves as Minister of Children and Families, coordinating the work that ranges from Mission Friends on Wednesday nights through the elementary Bible Skills program and into the student ministry. Stephen Grayson serves as Minister to Students, guiding the youth group on Wednesday evenings and beyond. The church also offers a summer internship that places a candidate alongside the ministerial staff for approximately thirty hours a week, with opportunities in children and youth ministry, worship planning and leadership, livestreaming and communications, teaching, pastoral care, and general administrative support.
For those who want to go beyond the gathered hour, Lifegroups are the congregation's expression of small group ministry, providing smaller settings for study, prayer, and fellowship during the week.
Giving, Communications, and Getting in Touch
Giving is described as an integral part of worship, an offering back to God of time, talents, and resources. Memorial Baptist makes online giving available through a credit card donation form and also accepts gifts through Venmo. The church maintains a presence on Facebook and YouTube, where services and a deep archive of sermons are available for anyone who wants to follow along.
Visitors and newcomers are welcomed with a simple message: come as you are. The congregation itself spans t-shirts to sport jackets, and church leadership is upfront that what one wears is far less important than showing up. Those who want to know more before visiting are invited to reach out by email at office@memorialbaptist.org or to fill out a brief online form to say hello and request more information.
Leadership and Staff
The ministerial staff is small and close-knit. Joey Pyle serves as Senior Pastor and is the primary preacher in the archived sermon collection. Mark Martin leads the work with children and families, and Stephen Grayson leads the student ministry. Joel Schilb directs congregational worship as Worship Leader, with Randy Schilb serving as Assistant Worship Leader. The administrative and facilities side of the church is held together by the church administrator, secretary, and facilities team, who keep the building open and the calendar running.
A Place to Come As You Are
Memorial Baptist Church is, at its heart, a neighborhood congregation with a global imagination. Its members come from all over, physically and otherwise, and the church treats that diversity as a sign of the Kingdom of God. In a season when divisiveness is everywhere, the congregation says, the only thing holding it together is the love of God, and it intends to keep centering on Christ and on extending that love and grace to anyone who walks through the doors at 1634 Paris Road, tunes in to the livestream on Sunday morning, or sends a note to the office during the week.