Welcome to a brief look at the history of the local church ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ which we call "Liberty Baptist Church" of Prescott, Arizona.

To get an in depth look at our history would require a long look back and we encourage you to take the time to read 'The Trail of Blood' which can be viewed from this web site.

Our main focus at this time is to give you some background on how this particular ministry got its' start and so herein is recorded the beginnings of Liberty Baptist Church.

For some time three families of the Prescott area had been meeting together and also talking with Pastor Larry Taintor of New Testament Baptist Church in Safford, Arizona attempting to discern God's Will in establishing an Independent, KJV, Fundamental, Bible-Believing Baptist Church with a desire for the salvation of the lost and the growth of the saved.  (To understand this stand further please refer to the sections on 'Baptist Distinctives' and our 'Articles of Faith'.)

In early 2001 it was decided to begin a mission work under New Testament Baptist and name it 'Liberty Baptist'.  In the beginning the pulpit was filled by the men here with Pastor Taintor and some of his men taking turns helping as pulpit supply.  As time went on and word got out, help was also received from other churches in Arizona and from some travelling church planters.

Later in 2001 it was decided to find facilities to accomodate Sunday Services. In November the group started meeting at the Prescott Adult Center off Aubrey Street.  This gave a constant location and added a comfortable neutral ground for visitors who can feel uncomfortable in people's homes.

In early 2002 Bro. Dean Deaton came from Washington to preach and assist in the more formal foundational aspects of church building.  He and his wife were a special blessing during this time with all their work to help get this work off the ground.  (And on a second visit in 2003 spent much time helping in our Pastoral search).  Many men were found to assist in pulpit supply during this time and the church saw fruit for their labors.   During 2002 several families came to check out this new ministry.  As is usual during the stages of church growth, some of these families stayed and some moved on for various reasons.

The next move was to add stability to our services and ministry by finding our own full-time pastor to shepherd the flock of God here.  This was especially important as several who were leaving did so because of the expressed need for a pastor in the pulpit.  All of us felt this need and it was becoming a matter of extreme urgency.  Thus began a serious search for a pastor in June of 2002.  Many men were examined and interviewed to fill the pastoral needs of our congregation.  While we knew we would never find anyone we would all agree with 100% there needed to be common ground on the essentials of the gospel and basic beliefs that we had as Baptists.

In the middle of this search Brother Deaton returned.  During this time the name of Mark Hoffer came to us from two separate sources that did not know each other.  He was about to graduate from Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and was looking for God's direction in the area of a church ministry to get plugged into.  After several e-mails, phone calls, a visit, preaching, more phone calls, and much prayer, we extended a call to him to come and be our pastor.  He accepted and moved his family to Prescott the first of June 2003.  On Sunday night the 8th of June, 2003 we got our first message from our own pastor.

It has been so obvious to all of us that God has blessed us in many ways during this entire process.  All that we can do is give Him the Honour and Glory and Praise for all His wonderful works toward us.

But, we would like to pause here for a moment and thank the many people who had a part in our beginning.  So, to the people of New Testament Baptist Church and especially Pastor Taintor and the other men who came up here to preach, the Deaton's, Craters, Thelenes, Hodges, Hornes, Severies, French's, Pastor Hoover and the young preacher boys from Payson First Baptist Church, Pastor Knudsen, Pastor Zike, Pastor Lee, Brother Myering, and other missionaries and preachers whose names we may not have included (but not because we don't appreciate you - we just have trouble remembering everybody), as well as the men who took time with us to consider taking the pastorate here in Prescott.... THANKS and GOD BLESS AS YOU SEEK HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIVES AND MINISTRIES.

In July of 2003 we began meeting at the Adult Center for our Wednesday evening service and prayer meeting as well.

God has continued to bless the work here with more fruit for our labors.   There have been salvations, baptisms, more people joining, and a sweet spirit of worship and praise in the congregation.  We are still growing in number as well as in spiritual growth.  A discipleship class to assist new christians in their growth.  Two formal times of visitation to reach the community with the gospel and introduce our church to them.  And our regular times of fellowship and worship to meet the needs of the people.

On December 13, 2003, Pastor Taintor ordained Pastor Hoffer.  

On Saturday, February 28th, the two ministries; New Testament Baptist Church and Liberty Baptist Church, were officially separated.  Liberty Baptist Church became an automously-functioning local New Testament Church, and Pastor Mark Hoffer became its Pastor.

On May 8, 2007, Liberty Baptist Church purchased the property at 3100 North Williamson Valley Road as its permanent church residence. On Wednesday, May 9, 2007, we had our first mid-week service in our new building. Our first Sunday services were on May 13, 2007 - Mother's Day.

If you are looking for a fellowship of Bible Believers who use the KJV of the Scriptures as their only authority, stand on the principles of the Historic Baptist Distinctives, and believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ as the only way for man to be restored to fellowship with God the Father... PLEASE.. Come and worship with us.  Ask questions. See if this is the place God would have you to make your church home.

God Bless.  Keep Looking Up.  He Is Coming and He Is In Control.