In the autumn of 1877 an itinerant wood-chopping Baptist preacher named Wann came to the farm of Mr. Sam Orten, known now as Highley Heights and the farm of Mr. & Mrs. Ben Goode, to chop cord wood.  He sought and obtained permission from the patrons of the Ortenville School District to hold religious services in their school house which was located approximately one hundred yards from the intersection of North Main, North Grand and the Bonne Terre Road.  These services resulted in a revival.  Following the revival a group met and organized Ortenville Baptist church.  Unfortunatelly we do not have record of the exact date;  our first information and records of a functioning church are in 1898.  Among those listed as Charter members of the new church were Bros. Riley Gibson and wife, Mr. & Mrs. George Gibson, Misses Elizabeth and Ida Gibson, Mr. & Mrs. Ellis B. Gunningham, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lawson, Frank McClanahan, Henry Price, Henry White, Mr. & Mrs. James Reeder and a Mr. Yakley.  Riley Gibson, Frank McClanahan and Ellsi B. Cunningham were elected to serve as the first deacons with George Gibson as first clerk.  Services were held regularly in the school house with a brush arbor used during summer weather, until 1893 when the school house was destroyed by fire.  After the fire the congregation voted to build a new house for worship.  A lease was obtained from St. Louis Smelting & Refining Works of National Lead Co., ground was broken and the building at Lincoln and Locust Streets was erected in 1894.   Among those active in the erection of the new building were F.D. Wells Sr. & J.W. Green, the grandfathers of Mrs. Nellie Shelley & Lawrence & Irvin Green.   Upon moving to the new building the name was changed from Ortenville to New Prospect Baptist Church.  The Franklin Baptist Association first met with our church in 1896.  Bro. J. L. Whitener was a messenger to the Association in 1901 and was elected Clerk of the Association in 1905.  Bro. Whitener served as Moderator of the Association from 1921 - 1923.  The church name was changed from New Prospect Baptist Church to Desloge Baptist Church in 1905.  In 1911 Wendell L. Bouchard was a messenger to the Association and in 1915 was elected Associational Clerk.  He served as Clerk through 1919.   1912 was the high membership year for our chruch with 92 total additions.  In 1914 the church name again was changed, from Desloge Baptist Church to Desloge First Baptist Church.  This change was made due to a group of the membership who left the church in 1913 to organize the Second Baptist Church of Desloge, later changed to Parkview Freewill Church.  During the arly 1920's with the coming of Dr. Theodore Whitfield as pastor the image of the church began to change and has maintained a steady growth since that time.  Mrs. Gladys Ritter McNabb was a messenger to the Association in 1918.  In 1923, messengers included Gilbert Elders, Mrs. J.L. Ritter, Gladys Ritter McNabb, Ethel Thurman, Earl Whitener, Mrs. M.G. Elders and Mrs. Emmett Shelley - Mr. Luther Blackwell served as Sunday School Superintendent during the years 1925, 1928 - 1932.  Among 26 candidates at a baptizing service on Owl Creek west of Desloge in 1913 were Mr. John Downey, Mr. William B. Murrill, Mr. Amada Robare, Mr. Billie Thurman, Mr. James Ponder, Mr. Louis Robare, Mrs. Ida Randolph, Mrs. Ave Randolph.  The pastor at that thime was Rev. S.P. Mothershead.

With the coming of Dr. J.H. Winstead as pastor in 1931, plans began for the expansion of our facilities with the lowering of the ceiling in the north section of the building and providing for two extra class rooms.   During the depression years of the 30's the pastor and men of the church with joined hands and hearts excavated thru almost all solid rock and made a full basement and installed a new central heating system.  Our Sunday School reached it's highest point - 652 enrolled in 1934.  Mrs. Nelllie Shelley was elected Church Clerk, beginning January 16, 1935 and has served in that capacity since that time.  It was during 1938 under the leadership of Br. J.R. Wagoner that the sanctuary was completely remodeled, a Baptistry was added and a beautiful mural painted by Mrs. W.A. Buckner was put in place above the baptistry.  The first services in the new auditorium were held on May 1, 1938.  It was Homecoming day and Bro. J.R. Wagoner preached the dedicatory sermon.   In 1943 Bro. Chas. Townsend was elected our Church Treasurer, a position he still holds.  In 1947, under the pastorate of Bro.W.T. Lewis, the church bought a new organ.  Mrs. Thelma Sutton became our Church Organist, a position she still holds.   In May, 1950, still under the pastorate of Bro. Lewis, plans were adopted for the erection of the new educational building at the North of the existing structure.   With this completed, provisions were made for the enlargement of Sunday School attendance which followed.  Bro. C.D. Bell was serving as Sunday School Superintendent, having first been elected to that position in 1945.  Bro. W.A. Buckner still holds the position of Associational Treasurer, having been elected in 1950.   Bro. E.O. Shelley was elected as Financial Secretary for the church in December, 1955.  Bro. Shelley still holds that position.

Early in the 1950's sentiment began to grow for a complete remodeling or rebuilding of our church plant.  Various plans were considered and discussed, committees were selected and studies were made.  The increasing problem of parking facilities challenged the committee to consider removal to a new site.  In February, 1965, under the leadership of Bro. Don Stanley, a recommendation to purchase a new site on North Harding Street was approved by the church;   approximately four acres from the St. Joseph Lead Company for $2,250.00.  With the purchase, interest in building began to accelerate and plans for selection of architectural help was considered.   After much consideration the firm of Warren and Coodin Architect-Engineers of Springfield, Mo.were selected.  Plans were presented, considered, and revised until a plan was presented and accepted.  A plan having been approved, bids were called for and on March 26, 1968 bids were opened.  After some further revisions and negotiating, on May 12, 1968 action was approved to accept the bid of Walter Brockmiller Inc., Construction Co. and the signing of a contract was ordered.  Groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the site on May 19, 1968.  Our first service in our new building was on August 10, 1969.  A Service of Dedication was held on August 24, 1969.  Our present building at 411 N. Harding Street represents an investment of approximately $350,000.00, including pavement of the parking areas.