A Baptist Family on Shawnee Street
First Baptist Church of Gardner meets at 324 East Shawnee Street in Gardner, Kansas, a Johnson County town southwest of the Kansas City metro. The church's motto, "Showing and Telling the Love of Christ," captures both sides of what members practice each week: reflecting God's love to one another inside the building, and carrying it outside through service in the wider community.
A Sunday in Gardner
The building starts humming early on Sunday morning. Sunday School opens at 8:30 a.m., and a shared breakfast follows at 9:30 a.m. By 10:00 a.m. the whole church gathers for worship, with singing, prayer, and a sermon. Children stay in the service for a special children's message each week, and Children's Church is available during the sermon portion of the morning. Coloring bags and a nursery are provided so parents can worship with peace of mind, and the sounds of young life are always welcome in the room.
Sunday wraps up with Youth Group at 7:00 p.m. for students in seventh through twelfth grade.
Two Ordinances and a Family Feel
Members of First Baptist share in two ordinances that mark the life of the church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Communion is observed every other month, when the congregation gathers around the table to eat the bread and drink from the cup. Baptisms are celebrated each time a new believer chooses to follow Jesus and publicly profess that faith. Baby Dedication is another milestone the church marks, as a way of committing to walk alongside parents raising their children to know Christ.
The way the congregation talks about itself is unusually candid. "We believe in being a family of broken people offering encouragement, support, and helping each other grow closer to Jesus." Through Sunday School classes, Bible studies, youth groups, dinners, and shared events, members work to study God's Word and build one another up.
Throughout the Week
Tuesdays are busy at FBG. A Bible Study meets at 10:00 a.m., and a Craft Circle keeps the fellowship hall active from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, children gather for Discovery Club, a weekly program designed to help them learn about God's love.
Kids in the Pews
Children are central to life at First Baptist. The church takes seriously Jesus' words, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these," and shapes a full slate of programs around it. Sunday School classes for all ages meet weekly, Children's Church is available during the sermon, and Vacation Bible School is a major annual event. Coloring bags sit at the entrance for restless little hands.
A nursery is provided for the youngest children, and the church encourages families to bring kids of every age into worship rather than leaving them at the door.
Students from Seventh Grade Up
Youth ministry at FBG is built around the slogan "Love everyone. Give to everyone. Judge no one." Sunday School digs into God's Word with students from seventh through twelfth grade, and Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for games, worship, and teaching. Mission trips and outreach projects round out the calendar, giving students a chance to put their faith into practice.
Opening the Doors to Gardner
The church building is a gift the congregation wants to share. FBG hosts a steady rotation of community groups: blood drives, Strengthening Families meetings, homeschool gatherings, and Boy Scouts all use the facility during the week. The congregation is active in the Gardner/Edgerton Chamber of Commerce and joins in cleanup projects at local parks.
Throughout the year, the church hosts events designed to invite neighbors in. Easter Egg Hunts, Vacation Bible School, and Block Parties draw families from across town, and the church is always working on new ways to celebrate life together with the wider Gardner community.
Missions at Home and Abroad
First Baptist takes seriously the call to show God's love both near and far. The congregation supports missionaries internationally, including partners in Haiti, through prayer and financial giving, and also backs local and national ministries serving the poor, the orphaned, and those in need. Outreach is woven into the church's identity: members believe many people don't know there is more to life than making a living, and they see it as their responsibility to point others to the hope found in Jesus.
Five Words That Shape the Church
The church describes its work through five pillars: Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Missions, and Outreach. Worship is the Sunday gathering, but also every act of living offered to God. Discipleship happens through studying God's Word, praying, and walking together. Fellowship is the lived reality that no believer is meant to grow alone. Missions and Outreach are the church's response to the needs of neighbors in Gardner and people around the world.
Pastor Regan Stoops and His Family
Rev. Regan Stoops began his service as Pastor of First Baptist Church of Gardner in January 2017. He is a graduate of William Jewell College, where he earned a B.A. in Religion, and of Northern Seminary, where he completed his M.Div. Before coming to Gardner, he served for more than ten years as pastor in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Regan and his wife Katie have been married for twenty-one years and have three sons: Carson, a student at the University of Kansas; Jack, in eleventh grade; and Hayden, in ninth. Katie teaches Kindergarten at Grandstar Elementary in Gardner and holds a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood from William Jewell. The family loves sports, plays whatever is in season, and camps in their vintage Airstream. Regan is a runner, especially fond of ultra marathons, plays guitar, cheers on the Royals, Chiefs, and Jayhawks, and can usually be found at the church, ready to greet anyone who stops by.
Sermons and Giving
Sermons from First Baptist are posted online, both for members who miss a Sunday and for anyone exploring the church from a distance. Past messages are available on the church's YouTube channel, and giving is available online at fbg.churchtrac.com/give.