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History of Round Prairie Baptist Church
Round Prairie Baptist Church was originally called Pleasant Gap Baptist Church. It was organized by a small group of Baptists who had been meeting in a school house and various homes around Pleasant Gap. The Round Prairie Baptist Church was organized on July 21, 1866. Council consisted of Brethern Courey, Lawton, Harvey, Browning and McCombs. Seven members presented themselves; (viz Jesse Stiff and Wife, Mary M. Roberts, Olive Robords, F.M. Lamkin and Wife and Lucy Rogers).
In 1868 the church moved from Pleasant Gap to the Douglas School House and by a unanimous vote the name was changed to Round Prairie Baptist Church. Articles of faith were adopted at this time.
In 1872 the current members voted to erect a church building near Spencer Cemetary, (which is across the street where the present church is located, and is now Round Prairie Cemetary). This building was built with donated labor and materials and was a wooden church complete with hitching rails.. Soon the membership needed a more modern facility. In 1929 the congregation decided to build the present building across the road from the Round Prairie Cemetary. It was crafted of rock quarried in 1928 and hauled in to make the new building. This building of this church was a community effort and people from all faiths came to help.
December of 1935 the church held a baptism for nine members. Quincy Brown, William Gilbreath, Betty Ann Gilbreath, Elton Anders, Leona Anders, Leon Davis, Carl Browning, Paul Sweezy and Norma Gragg. One of them later wrote, “We were baptized south west of the church in a creek north of the steel bridge on the Quincy Brown Farm. They had to cut the ice so we could be baptized.”
On October 31, 1943, the church had a formal dedication and homecoming. With great ado and rejoicing the mortgage on the building was burned. The dedication sermon was provided by Rev. A. L. Collins.
In 1940, Miss Josephine Browning of Appleton City presented the Missouri Historical Society a 360 page copy of records from Round Prairie Baptist Church. This record was complete from 1866 to 1937.
On July 17, 1949, three deacons were ordained to service the church. Those deacons included William Gilbreath, Chester Holt and L V Brown Jr. Mr. Brown is still a deacon at Round Prairie Baptist Church. He and his wife Marie Brown celebrated 60 years of marriage at the church on June 9, 2007.
Many of the members of today's congregation had grandparents, parents, aunts and uncle who attended and helped in the church. This old church has a rich past, a wonderful present and a promising future.
Original Church Covenant from the early 1900's
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and, on the profession our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body of Christ.
We engage, there fore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote it’s prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom our savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules our Savior, to secure it without delay..
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the principles of God’s word.
Whosoever thou are that entereth this Church, remember it is the House of God; be reverent, be silent, be thoughtful; and leave it not without a prayer to God for thyself, for him who ministers, and for those who worship here.
Now Round Prairie Baptist Church is still a quaint family church but with lots of fellowship and fun. Every first Sunday of the month we have a fellowship dinner after church. | Several times a year we have special events. We have two trail rides, a "motorcyclists" Sunday, a picnic, Christmas program, a Revival, a special service at the Assisted Living Center (Countryside Estates) in Appleton City, MO and other assorted programs. | For more information contact Pastor Gar at:
Round Prairie Baptist Church Gar Garman, Pastor 360 NW 300 RD Osceola, MO 64776 417-646-8057 
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