Photo by Ival Lawhon Jr. / St. Joseph News-Press

Pastor Gary Williams founded Bible Baptist Temple 37 years ago in the basement of his home. Last Sunday he gave his final sermon to a congregation that has grown to more than 400. Behind him is his favorite verse from the Bible that he has used over the years. Rev.. Williams plans on continuing his ministry as a traveling Evangelist.

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When Gary Williams stepped before his congregation for the last time, the pastor of Bible Baptist Temple looked out at the hundreds who had gathered to say goodbye.

As he gazed out, he remembered all the milestones they’d shared — births, weddings, baptisms and when they accepted Christ into their hearts.

And he remembered the basement of his old house, where about 37 years ago, this church began.

The Rev. Williams came to St. Joseph with his wife and three daughters in January of 1971. They were here to start a church as a mission out of their church in Springfield, Mo.

“I just believed it was the leadership of God. I’d never been here, just came up and looked at the town and just had peace,” the Rev. Williams says. “We knew that’s where we were supposed to come.”

The Williamses didn’t know anyone when they moved to St. Joseph, but they knocked on doors, handed out fliers and invited anyone they met.

“The first Sunday service was Feb. 7, and we had 18,” the Rev. Williams says. “(Two Sundays ago) was 383. We just started inviting people, and they invited others.”

Things were tight in the beginning. The second month after starting the church, they had exactly seven cents in their bank account after all the bills were paid.

Though the church’s beginning was a bit rough, the Rev. Williams says he had faith it would work.

“It went easier and better than I ever imagined. In only two years, it was a completely self-supporting church,” he says. “Of course, there are hard times in whatever you do, but the church grew and prospered beyond what I thought it would.”

The church continued to grow, and in 1975 it moved to its current location on Sycamore Court, just off Highway 36. The church buildings now include a gymnasium and a kindergarten through 12th grade school. Churches in Cameron, Maryville and Savannah have been started as outreaches of Bible Baptist.

While the Rev. Williams is quick to give the credit to God for making the church prosper like it has, there are others who say it couldn’t have been done without his leadership.

Mike Elms first met the Rev. Williams when he and his future bride were looking for a church to get married in. Bible Baptist Temple was the first church Mr. Elms had ever attended, but he became a member that night. Both he and his wife were saved by the Rev. Williams.

“I’m just thankful that he cares enough for people, that he’s concerned about their eternal destiny. When we went there to get married, that’s the first thing he talked about, whether we knew if we were getting to heaven or not, and I guess that’s what impressed me about him,” Mr. Elms says. “He walks the walk, he lives what he preaches.”

The Rev. Williams’ wife, Glenda, says her husband has the ability to make the Bible relatable to church members.

“I think that’s one of his strong points, to make it really understandable and liveable,” she says.

Though the Rev. Williams is leaving Bible Baptist, it’s not the end of his preaching days. He will spend the next year leading revivals across the country. And while it’s hard to leave his life’s work, the church he started in the basement of his house, he takes comfort, and pride, in what has been accomplished.

“There are marriages and families still together, and loving, wholesome relations, that would not be if there had not been this church ministry,” he says. “And we believe that by preaching the Gospel in Christ, there will be people in heaven because the church has a ministry here. That’s what matters most to me.”