History of True Bible Baptist Church
In July 1960, following his acceptance as a Missionary, Ezell Wiggins brought his wife, Marie, and their three young children, Ezell Jr., Patricia, and Nathaniel to Des Moines from Cleveland, Ohio. Meetings were held in their home. In October 1960, a former church building at 906-10th Street was rented for $60.00 per month. They organized into a mission called Bible Baptist.
In 1962, the Lord provided a storefront building, at 1768-70 Walker Street, to be utilized as a house of Worship, and an adjacent parsonage for use by Pastor and his family. A contract was signed for $8,000, to be paid at the rate of $70.00 per month. The first meeting in our “new” location was held on April 29, 1962, with 30 attending Bible School.
A Charter was signed on September 23, 1962 by 14 people, constituting the group as True Bible Baptist Church. “True” was added because there was already a church in this area incorporated as Bible Baptist Church. Rev. Walter L. Banks, Dean of the Baptist School of the Bible, Cleveland, Ohio, officiated at the organizational meeting. Ezell Wiggins accepted the call as Pastor.
With the need to expand, some Christian businessmen located a plot of land (seven lots) at DeWolf and East 18th Street on the “Roll of Unpaid Taxes,” and it was acquired from Polk County in July, 1966, for $620.00. Ground was broken on November 18, 1966, and construction began on the new church building.
The first meeting in the building was held on Sunday, October 29, and on November 15-17, 1967, the Dedication Services were held. A mortgage-burning ceremony was held nine years later!
In March 1992, we moved to a larger building at 4101 Amherst Street where our membership began to grow. By February 25, 1996, an extensive remodeling of our sanctuary and foyer, under the direction of Assistant Pastor Rod Bradley, was accomplished in just three weeks. Many thought it could not be done. Seeing was believing!
When Pastor Wiggins retired from True Bible in June, 1997, to go to Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis, Indiana, to work with Campus Ministries and new students, Pastor Bradley took over as Interim Pastor with the approval of the Deacons and the congregation.
Pastor Bradley is blessed with Sis. Teresa Bradley as his wife, daughters, Dwana and Tiffany, and son Roderick L. Bradley, II.
On February 1, 1998, Pastor Bradley was formally ordained in a service at True Bible Baptist Church with Rev. Sherman L. Brown as the officiating pastor. A graduate of Faith Baptist Bible College, Pastor Bradley has led the church in working to pay off the mortgage by 2001.
