1. The Swedish Baptist Church of Omaha        

In 1869 Rev. N.C. Jensen founded a Scandinavian church in Omaha. That first church later closed, and the First Swedish Baptist Church of Omaha was begun in 1880, later to change its name to Bethany Baptist Church. In 1886, Pastor L. Arlander of the First Swedish Church led in the founding of a mission church in South Omaha, which remained affiliated with First Swedish Church until 1896. In that year, the church became a separate fellowship, known as the Swedish Baptist Church of  Omaha, and was meeting in a small frame building that had been built near 22nd and K St. In 1914 Rev. Arlander became the pastor at the Swedish Baptist Church, and led the church to growth in both members and ministry. Under his leadership, the church name was changed to the Second Swedish Baptist Church of South Omaha. Rev. Arlander was followed in 1925 by Rev. Carl Anderson, under whose direction the church again changed its name, to Southside Baptist Church, reflecting the change from services in Swedish to English language services.

2. Southside Baptist Church        

The church continued to grow under Rev. Anderson’s ministry, reaching a new high mark for membership of 96 in 1935. During this time the church had plans for expansion, holding property at 19th and Missouri Ave for a larger building in the future. But in 1950, the decision was made to sell these properties due to the very heavy truck traffic on Missouri Ave, and to look for suitable property elsewhere. The search for a new home for the church was completed in 1955, when lots were purchased in the present location at 41st and Frances St. The church held its last meeting in South Omaha on September 9, 1956, and the original building was sold to the Latvian Lutheran Church. Today, that building is home to a Spanish-language church, an indication of the changing population of South Omaha.  

3. Center Baptist Church          

The name of the church was again changed to Center Baptist Church, to fit its new location in the city. The congregation began meeting in the auditorium of the Beals School, at 48th and Center, while a new church building could be built. The new sanctuary was finished, and services were held in it for the first time on November 11, 1956, and dedicated in March of 1957. That first building, which is today the church Fellowship Hall, was replaced as a sanctuary by a new building, which was dedicated in March of 1964. Later additions included the office/youth group room, which joined the original building and the present sanctuary, followed later by the addition of the front foyer.  

4. A NeW Partnership

In 2019, Center Baptist Church and Overland Hills Church entered into a historic partnership. Overland Hills sent Pastor Davy Lee to begin serving as Senior Pastor at CBC on January 1st, 2020. While the two churches are committed to retaining their independence as sister churches in the Converge Heartland District, they are also committed to working more intentionally together for the glorious cause of Christ in the community, city, region, and to the ends of the Earth.