HISTORY OF NORTHERN HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH 

In late 1972, a small group of people living in the Kearney-Holt area felt led by the Lord to 
begin meeting together for Prayer and Bible Study.  After several months of meeting in homes, 
they felt God's direction in beginning steps to establish a church to meet the spiritual needs 
of the area.  On February 24, 1973, they voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. Charles 
Draper from Del City, Oklahoma, to be their Pastor.  Rev. Draper accepted the call on 
March 5, 1973.  The group agreed that the church should be called Northern Hills Baptist Church.  
The following week they began to give a percentage of the church's funds to the Clay-Platte 
Baptist Association and to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Constitution, Church Covenant, and the Baptist Faith and Message were adopted and the 
organization service of Northern Hills Baptist Church was held on May 30, 1973. The charter 
membership was closed on July 1, 1973, with 29 charter members.  They purchased 5 acres of land 
on Highway 33, halfway between Kearney and Holt and began construction of a building in 
June 1973.  The first services were held in the new building on September 2, without electricity 
or other utilities.  The new building was dedicated on October 7, with F.R. "Dick" Cole of 
First Baptist, Raytown, giving the Dedication Sermon.  By the end of 1973, church membership 
totaled 38, and Sunday School average attendance was 33.

1974 was another productive year.  The first VBS was held, Bus Ministry and Children's Church 
were started; Sunday School average attendance climbed to 58; church membership grew to 50.  
Rev. Draper, feeling the Lord calling him to another church,  resigned effective November 10.

In February, 1975, Rev. Ken Bevel from Torrance, California, became Pastor.  In April, a lot 
was purchased and a parsonage was built.  A sound system was added.  In 1976, the Pastor's Study 
was completed.  On August 29,1976 the new Educational Building was started and completed in 
December.  Sunday School attendance was 96; church membership was 127.  August 14, 1977, was 
Pastor Bevel's last Sunday at Northern Hills.  Rev. Eldon Jones served as interim from 
August 21 until December 25.

In January 1978, Rev. James Wells became Pastor.  A part-time secretary Dotty Johnson, and a 
part-time Music Director Tony Peoples were added to the staff.  In 1979, Rev. Steve Littleton 
was added as part-time Associate Pastor with responsibility for bus Ministry and Children's 
Church.  Sunday School average was 191; church membership, 246.  In 1980, Milt Gabrielse became 
part-time Music Director.

By the end of 1981, many changes had been made.  Rev. Wells was called to another church and 
resigned effective November 29.  Total church membership was 346.

In January, 1982, Rev. Earl McElwee was called as interim Pastor.  In February, 1982, Bro. Milt 
resigned to become Minister of Music at another local church.  In June of 1982 Rev. Richard Hubbard 
became the pastor of our church.  In December of 1982 Philip Wiloughby Jr. Became our minister 
of Youth, and in October of 1983 he resigned to attend Mid-Western Seminary.  In January 1984, 
Jim Campbell became the Minister of Music and Education, and Linda Everett became the church 
secretary/treasurer.  In June of 1984 Bill Cox became the Youth Minister.

In August 1984 Northern Hills voted to build, doubling the existing space and to use the 
Together We build Program in which each member would have the opportunity to help finance and 
be a part of the construction of the new building.  Lanny Rawdon was asked to be building 
designer and contractor.  The TWB program began in January of 1985, and construction began in 
June 1985 and was finished in March 1986.  The Dedication Ceremony was on March 23, 1986 with 
Dr. Gordon Kingsley bringing the Morning Message and Mr. Jeff Jeffrey bringing the Afternoon 
Challenge.

In October 1985, Doug Rawdon was hired as Minister to Children.  In June 1986 Bill Cox resigned 
to become Minister to College & Career at another church.  In November 1986, Jim Campbell was 
called as full time orchestra leader at FBC Raytown.  Dale Blackmon was hired as interim Music 
Director  December 1986.  In April 1989, Derk Markham became Minister of Music and Youth.  

In December 1989, Doug and Rachel Rawdon went on the Mission Field in the country of Costa Rica 
for one year training before going to their permanent field in Argentina, South America.  In 
February 1990, Mr. Jack Brown became Minister of Education and Children. Derk Markham resigned 
in October of 1993 and Jeff Freeman was hired in August of 1994 as Minister of Youth and 
Recreation. Karen Cloutier was hired as part time bookkeeper in July of 1994; Randy Simmons, 
rising out of the laity, was called as part time Minister of Music in 1995.

On March 5, 1995, the congregation voted to begin the Building For Tomorrow program which would 
include an  Outreach Center to be constructed along with additional parking area. Jeff Freeman 
resigned to work at Miracle Hills Youth Ranch in October 1995. Chris LaPack was hired as Minister
of Youth in February 1996. 

Construction for the new Outreach Center began in the Fall of 1997, and was completed  in the 
Spring of 1999. The Grand Opening was held on Nov. 21, 1999.

Steve Lopez was hired as part time Minister of Music on Nov. 9, 1998. Karen Cloutier resigned as 
Bookkeeper to be a full-time Mom, and Sandy Watt was hired as part-time Bookkeeper on 
March 22, 1999. 

Chris Lapack resigned as Minister of Youth and Recreation on May 28, 2000 when he 
was accepted by the United States Air Force as a Chaplain. Jack Brown accepted a call to Minister in an
inner city church in Colorado Springs, CO. He resigned on August 20, 2000 as NHBC Minister of  Education
and Children.

In August, 2000  Pastor Bill Friese accepted a call to be our Education and Children's Minister and on 
October 23, 2000 Matt Aviles was called as the NHBC Youth and Recreation Minister. On December 31, 2002 
Matt Aviles resigned his position as NHBC Youth  & Recreation Minister to pursue his education full time.

In October, 2001 our Church Membership was 859 members with 621 of those being Resident Members. 

In 2002 Northern Hills organized a committee to evaluate the need for a Christian School in our area. 
The information was brought before the church and it was voted that we would begin a Christian School 
at NHBC using the Outreach Center Facilities.  

In January 2003, Matt Aviles resigned to work as Minister of Youth at another local church and On 
January 26, 2003 Garrell Calton was called to serve as the interim Minister of Youth and began his 
Ministry on February 5, 2003. 

On September 21, 2003, to accommodate growth, NHBC began a Sunday Evening Bible study and Worship service.

On September 28, 2003 the congregation voted to make Pastor Garrell Calton the Minister of Youth
& Recreation on a full time, regular basis. Also, the first ever Northern Hills Christian School Board
was selected.

In January 2004 a School Administrator, Mr. Dan McCubbin was hired and construction began  
in the Outreach Center to add new offices, a library, teachers lounge, and set up classrooms. 

Northern Hills Christian Academy opened on August 23, 2004 with an Administrator, Secretary, 8 teachers 
and 35 students. The teachers: Miss Amy Ragsdale -Kg.; Mrs. Kelly Elmer -1st & 2nd grades and Spanish; 
Mrs Eva Smith -3rd & 4th grade; Mr. Dan McCubbin -5th-8th grades; Mrs. Allison Bade -Art; 
Mrs Sandy Noland -Physical Ed.; Mrs. Ginger Hessel -Band; Miss Elizabeth Smith -Music. 
 
The School Secretary, Mrs. Cheryl Simmons was hired in July 2004.  Mr. Skip Hessel came on in the second semester 
to take the position of 5th-8th grade teacher, so that Danny McCubbin could devote more  time 
to Administration. 

In March 2004 Sandy Watt resigned as bookkeeper and in June 2004 Ginger Hessel was hired to fill the 
position of bookkeeper.

As of September 2004, our church membership was 1020 members 

In August 2005 Bill Friese resigned as Minister of Education and Childen to take a Senior Pastor’s position at 
Gashland Baptist Church.  Skip Hessel was appointed as interium pastor at that time.  Skip was voted in as 
Minister of Education and Children on April 9, 2006 in a Special Business Meeting. 

For the school year of 2005-06, a Pre-school was added and NHCA had 64 students for the second year of operation.  
The school added Mrs Amy Calton, Miss Shannon Sprinkles and Mrs. Sherry Miller to the teaching staff. 

In February 2006, Ginger Hessel resigned as bookkeeper and Christena Diven was hired to the newly renamed position 
of Administrative Accountant. 

In April 2006 Linda Everett retired from the Church Secretary/Office Manager Position.  She served in this position 
for 22 years.  Lisa Mayzsak was hired to this position in May of 2006. 

In March, 2007 a Long Range Planning Committee was formed to determine God's Will and a direction for NHBC for the