Our History
- January 19th, 1950 Rev. and Mrs. George Young from Bedford, IN came to Indianapolis and held the 1st church service in the dance pavilion at Long Acre Park. 12 people were in attendance
- March 23rd, 1950 the Indianapolis Baptist Temple was organized with 17 initial members
- April 1st, 1950 IBT moved to a building located at 3333 Madison Avenue
- 1953 – 3 acres on East Street were purchased from a florist named Mr. George Buscher and the first building was erected by volunteers in the church.
- June 14th, 1955 – Rev. and Mrs. Greg J. Dixon from Buffalo, MO came to Indianapolis. Rev. Dixon accepted the call to be the 2nd pastor of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple. Before long the weekly attendance numbered more than 250 and an addition was added to the back of the church building with included a basement to handle the size of the congregation.
- As the congregation grew, the need for a larger building was clear. In May of 1959, an 1,100 seat auditorium was built
- 2 years later, in May of 1961, a new two story educational building was added and IBT had become the largest church of any denomination in the city
- In 1967, after 15 years of phenomenal growth, a third auditorium seating 2500 was built. It was filled immediately
- By January 1st, 1970, the membership of IBT included more than 1,960 people
- IBT, under the leadership of Dr. Greg J. Dixon, held tent revivals, sunday school campaigns, and special events as a way of getting people to come and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached. These efforts worked and IBT at one time was known as the 11th fastest growing church in the country!
- By the late 60’s and early 70’s, IBT had a nationwide television ministry
- In 1971, IBT opened one of the 1st christian schools in the city of Indianapolis and over the next 40 years would educate countless boys and girls.
- During the 70’s and 80’s, IBT had over 50 buses going throughout the city picking up adults and children and bringing them to church. The church had ministries for the deaf, physically and mentally handicapped, as well as countless events to attract all ages.
- During the 70’s, the church grew to over 3,000 in weekly attendance and the school grew to nearly 700 junior and senior high students.
- During this time the 17 acre Columbia Park was purchased from Alison Transmission Inc and became part of the IBT property.
- Southside Christian School, located at 3810 E. Southport Road was acquired by the church from local businessmen Ethan and Frank Jackson
- Throughout these years, much building took place. Buildings and land were added, but more importantly the Kingdom of God was being increased. thousands came to know Christ as their Savior.
- IBT also became known as a group that would stand up for God and stand against an immoral culture. Public stands were made nationally and locally against gambling, immorality, government education, corrupt and liberal religion and the overall deterioration of our nation.
- In the early 80’s, IBT voluntarily gave up it’s status as a 501C3 not for profit entity after an overwhelming positive church vote to do so
- By the early 90’s IBT was on the IRS’s radar and one of its greatest battles would begin.
- In July of 1996, Rev. Greg A. Dixon was called to be the 3rd pastor of IBT. Rev. Greg and Kathy Dixon were an invaluable couple that God used to stabilize and move the church forward during troubling times. Dr. Dixon spent 41 years as the Senior Pastor of IBT
- On February 13, 2001, at 8:15 AM Federal Marshals seized the church property and IBT became the 1st church in America to be seized for allegedly failing to pay taxes.
- From 2001 to 2006, IBT continued on with great faith, patience and love while renting numerous facilities.
- In 2002, Pastor Dixon asked God for the Racquets Four Sports Facility and in May of 2004 negotiations began. 15 months later the congregation began remodeling in September of 2005
- 12 months and 1.3 million dollars later, IBT held its first service on August 27th, 2006 with nearly 1,000 in attendance
- On December 31st, 2015 Rev. Greg A. Dixon stepped down as pastor and on January 1st, 2016 Rev. Matt Roller became the 4th pastor of the church. Matt and his wife Bekah have grown up in the church and with their family continue to look forward to what God will do at IBT as the ministry of Jesus Christ continues on.