In 1945, Saint James Missionary Baptist Church of Wichita, Kansas was established to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with clarity and sound doctrine based upon the Holy Bible and to share the gospel with others, to inspire them to respond in faith. Since 1969, we have been a member of the National Baptist Convention of USA, Incorporated, a national organization and association of Baptist churches, which includes others in Wichita and vicinity- we are proud of our church members who have served as delegates and officers at the district, state, and national levels.  Saint James anticipates celebrating our 80^th church anniversary in November 2025.

1945-1962 Reverend F. C. Cotton, our founder and 1^st of 3 pastors to date, obeyed God by faith to initially start a small “mission” (originally called “the children’s home of religion”) to evangelize to others, at the corner of East 13^th Street and North Ash with his faithful wife Mary by his side, out in the open air, with some chairs, a light pole and a strong determination to minister and bring the good news of the gospel to the community.  This was the humble beginning of what would eventually be legally organized as the Saint James Missionary Baptist Church which then grew into a medium sized congregation that still feels  “like family”, yet provides many resources and programs for spiritual growth and relational connection.  Pastor Cotton and his wife purchased the initial plot of land where the first edifice was built.  He had the divine ability to start and oversee the development of a new church because he obeyed God.  He had a strong commitment to the mission of the church and especially for evangelism.  He was serious, and he was a risk taker who was influential, respected and commitment-oriented to urge and motivate others to respond and to unite with Saint James, in the beginning. **To this day there are descendants from our early pioneers from this pastorate, who are still active church members. In 1962, Pastor Cotton and his wife were divinely led to relocate to California to continue his evangelistic ministries, until he passed away to be with the Lord in later years.

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In Zechariah 4:  10, a question was asked, “Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings?  They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!”  This prophetic description also fits the small beginnings of Saint James, which ultimately led to remodeling, then expansion for the building of a new church, due to rapid growth in membership and prosperity, most especially under the legendary and strong pastoral leadership of our 2^nd of 3 pastors, Dr. J. P. Dennis Jr. (Wife, Sarah). 

1962-2015.   Upon the resignation of Pastor Cotton, later in 1962, Reverend Dennis was unanimously selected by the pastoral search committee and unanimously selected by the church members. This pastorate still remains as the time of our most exponential growth in membership especially of young families, as well as being a time of implementing more programs to meet the needs of families. In the earliest years, he led the church in the remodeling of facilities and acquiring additional property. During this pastorate, many church members have remained as the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th generation of their families. Meeting the needs of Youth and Youngest Adults became a top priority which remains important to this day. Over the decades, Pastor and First Lady Sarah Dennis raised their 9 children up to be spiritually nurtured at Saint James, and 8 of their adult children’s membership and service still continues. The family was and is known as “The Dennis Family” for their collective music ministry and many charitable works. Saint James is very proud of our decades-long uncommon tradition which Pastor Dennis established- once a month the youth and youngest adults provide leadership during morning worship service. He and his wife were exemplary in leading their family to Christ.    

Over the course of Pastor Dennis’ 53-year pastorate, his ministry was fully proven, most especially through his gifts of shepherding, administration, leadership, and evangelism. He was also gifted to nurture, support, care for and guide the congregation toward on-going spiritual maturity to become more like Christ. This led to developing and equipping many good leaders to grow spiritually through Sunday School and other Christian Education opportunities. There was outstanding mentoring, forming of new ministries, teams and committees, improved church business practices, increased evangelism for the saving of souls and membership growth. New programs and services, building expansion and land acquisition continued. Land acquired under Pastor Dennis’ leadership was secured with his vision for the church to build a “Family Life Center”. He was a man of great faith and a visionary, who worked in unity with other well-equipped and gifted leaders within the membership who were also committed to the need to expand and accommodate future growth. Pastor Dennis taught and served by example the importance of giving with cheerfulness and liberality, especially tithing, to support the church’s finance goals for the work and ministries of the church. He will be remembered along with his steadfast and devoted wife, Sarah, and other church leaders and members who gave very sacrificially of their time, gifts, and resources for the “building up of Saint James”. Pastor Dennis was a powerful and sought after preacher, teacher, and leader who established trust and confidence through developing long-term relationships within the church and as a well-respected advisor within the business community, community of faith, and the community at large. Fellow pastors and clergy, CEO’s, politicians, and law enforcement sought his wisdom and guidance. Yet he was willing and actively engaged to accomplish practical and necessary tasks, as needed.  Many recall the labor of love and the physical labor that he shared when a new edifice was built, his labor inspired others. There are other pastoral and ministerial leaders who have “walked in a manner worthy of the calling with which they have been called”, but Pastor Dennis was a shepherd who fit the scriptural promise from God in Jeremiah 3: 15, “And I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” He served Saint James well until he passed away at the age of 85 to be with the Lord.

 Throughout the unprecedented span of his pastorate, Pastor Dennis’ greatest supporter and one of Saint James’ greatest motivators was his wife, Sarah.  She was known within the church, throughout the community and beyond, as a beloved and anointed woman of God.  She was positive, challenging, affirming, reassuring, loyal, dedicated, and trustworthy. Their 9 children joined with them in music ministry, known as The Dennis Family. Annie Dennis Montgomery, the eldest of their children, transferred her membership to the Tabernacle Baptist Church at the age of 24 upon her marriage to Lincoln E. Montgomery, who would eventually become the renowned pastor there, serving for over 30 years until he passed away to be with the Lord. Annie served well beside him and eventually accepted her call into the ministry. She recently commemorated her 50th year at what is now known as Tabernacle Bible Church of Wichita, KS. Their other 8 adult children are still faithful and valued church members who continue to make significant contributions to Saint James, the community, and beyond through the sharing of their spiritual gifts. Sister Dennis had a God-given gift to teach and mentor- and remains to this day, as one of our most beloved Sunday School Teachers of youth, among her many other attributes to demonstrate great faith, hope and love until 2012, when she passed away at the age of 80 to be with the Lord.

Dr. Fields was loyal church member who had proven himself, and was committed in sharing his spiritual gifts; as a beloved teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, vocalist, a cheerful and liberal giver, and a reliable helper to glorify God and encourage others. He was a member of “The Dynamic Revelators”, a beloved quartet formed in 1962 with special ties to Saint James. He was a dependable interim pastor, who served up to the time that the 3^rd pastor was selected. In the years which followed, Dr. Fields continued to be a committed servant-leader until he passed away to be with the Lord. As a cherished church member, his wife, Mary, was also very faithful and served well in the Mission, Sunday School, with the Ministers’ Wives, and the Women’s Chorus until her relocation to receive additional health care from her daughter.

Through God’s power Saint James continues to demonstrate faith, hope, love and compassion in the work of the ministries so all can have opportunities to experience growth, encouragement, connections, understanding, forgiveness and the gospel truth spoken in love.  We believe that God gives spiritual gifts to equip believers to discover and use them for His glory in service to others and to worship Him in spirit and in truth in an affirming atmosphere where everyone is considered and treated as “somebody special”- a child of God. Most of all, at Saint James we hold high the glory of God“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Our goal is to fulfill the mission of the church and to “Do everything in love”. (1 Corinthians 16: 14).  

We have been blessed with many outstanding servants along with hundreds of other  loyal and loving members throughout our history “with a mind to work”- all of whom we remember and honor to this day.    

2023-Present.  We continue to strive to meet goals and fulfill our purpose during this pastoral vacancy; to continue to labor in accordance with 1 Peter 4: 10-11 “to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace…to speak as one who speaks oracles of God…to serve by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” and we are working to meet the challenges of being without pastoral leadership. We are standing on the promises of God as we go to Him in prayer. During this time, the Deacon Board Chair, Deacon Billy R. Dempsey. Sr. provides leadership with the support of the Board of Deacons and Associate Ministers who preach the gospel and administer church ordinances. Ministry Leaders and others work together to oversee the spiritual health and well-being of the congregation.  The Bylaws Revision Committee is working to revise the church’s bylaws.  We are also grateful for the time and care of Pastor T. LaMont Holder and Pastor Terrell Davis, Senior Pastors who serve as advisors during this transition.  

The Pastoral Search Committee is working to meet its goal to recommend final candidate(s) for the congregation to consider to be our 4^th pastor, a momentous process now in progress, to select the pastor according to Jeremiah 3: 15; “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”  Our Trustee Board Chair along with the Board of Trustees and other church officials continue to work to make improvements and upgrades to the church’s facilities, with ongoing projects in progress for internal and external improvements. Our Treasurer and Finance Teams work to oversee and manage the financial resources of the church. Our personnel committee recently hired a new church office administrator who serves along with our experienced office staff and volunteers to provide ongoing support to the mission of the church and the work of the ministries through various information systems. By faith, we look forward to working with our next Pastor who will provide leadership to cast vision, motivate, and direct us to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God, most especially with an evangelistic crusade to revive, restore, and make new disciples. Saint James continues to declare, “From Generation to Generation, the Lord has helped us!” (1 Samuel 7: 12)