Heritage Baptist Church

Write a Review863-494-6890

Heritage Baptist Church is a friendly, independent, fundamental assembly. Our goal and desire is to reach the people of DeSoto County with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Believers will find an atmosphere in which to learn, grow, and serve. We invite you to come and worship with us. You will find a warm and friendly welcome, where every visitor is an honored guest. Heritage History Heritage Baptist Church was founded by Pastor Jack Riffe serving as a home missionary with Baptist International Missions Inc. ( BIMI ) on March 4, 1975. He had named it Victory Independent Baptist Church and they met in his living room on Whispering Pines Circle in Arcadia, FL. The first service consisted of Pastor and Mrs. Riffe, their two daughters, a lady in the community and her two daughters. In just a few months they had outgrown the living room and decided to rent out the Garden Club. They stayed there until Pastor Rife resigned in1978. The church called Brother Jackie Wray who changed the name to Morningside Baptist Church and moved the location to a house on Route 17 north of town. A year or so later Brother Wray resigned and the church called Brother Bob Marshall as pastor. Under his leadership, the church changed its name to Heritage Baptist Church. It was in 1980 that the small church purchased their present building ( the old First Baptist Church ) from the city of Arcadia for $50, 000. When Bob Marshall left, Evangelist J.D. Grush from Sarasota, Fl. filled the pulpit. Then Brother David Greenwood became pastor and served for approximately seven years. When Brother Greenwood left, Brother Bill Delaney filled the pulpit for almost a year before the church called Bud Gibbs, who pastored for one year. After Pastor Gibbs resigned Evangelist J.D.Grush again came to the aid of the needy congregation, filling the pulpit for a number of months. Pastor Thomas Knickerbocker was called as pastor in Jauary of 1994 and has continued as pastor to the present.