History

On the corner of Palmer Park and Uintah sits First Southern Baptist Church, a church that has served
God in Colorado Springs, the state of Colorado, and the world for over fifty years. It was at 2:30 on
the afternoon of December 30, 1951 that Rev. and Mrs. M. B. Dunham, Dr. S. W. Diggers, Miss Eva
Crisler, Mr. & Mrs. Vivian Glenn, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Baughman, Mr. Billy Baughman, Mrs. R. L. Ramsay,
Mr. Fred Kirchbaum, Col. and Mrs. W. E. Hopkins, Chaplin and Mrs. R. H. Stevens and Mr. and Mrs. H.
C. Biggers met to organize Faith Baptist Church. In 1952 the church voted to change its name to First
Southern Baptist Church. The following have served as pastors of this church: Dr. W. C. Bryant, 1952
- 1959; Dr. Frank O. Baugh, 1959 - 1962; Rev. Richard D. Yancey, 1962 - 1967; Dr. Harlan Harris, 1967
- 1979; Dr. Ted E. Savage, 1979 – 1993; Jay Badry 1994-2001 and Dr. David Tomme. 2002 to Present.

The first meeting place of First Southern Baptist Church was in the home of Mr. and Mrs. M. B.
Dunham five miles northeast of town. During January 1952, the church held services at the
downtown YMCA and at the Glenn's home at 2029 North Nevada during the month of February. From
March 1952 to April 1952, the church met at the Carpenter's Hall. The church then moved into its new
building at 1409 Palmer Park Blvd. where it meets today. The church has been involved in several
building additions of which the latest being in 2000 with the renovation of the educational complex.

As the name implies, First Southern was the first Southern Baptist Church in Colorado Springs. First
Southern has been the catalyst that God has used to begin many other churches in Colorado Springs,
and throughout the state of Colorado. Among these mission endeavors are Bellevue Baptist Church
(Heart of the Springs), organized in 1954; Circle Drive Baptist Church, organized in 1953; and
Heritage Baptist Church, organized in 1965. Some of the local mission support at this time include
support for Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center, Baptist Student Ministries, Ecumenical Social
Services, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Colorado College Student Ministry, Manitou Springs
Mission, and Hispana Iglesia De La Roca which meets at our location. In addition to numerous local
mission works, First Southern has supported specific works in Zimbawe, Mexico, Tanzania, Central
Africa; Espanola, New Mexico; Korea; Central America and Japan. We are currently supporting
pastors in Cuba as well as missions at home and worldwide through the Cooperative Program of the
Southern Baptist Convention.