History of Eagle Heights
November 1975 The few members that remained of Winnetonka Baptist Church appealed to Pastor Al Cockrell of Tri-City Baptist Church to assume the church. Tri- City assumed it's debts and assigned a staff person, Pastor Mike Alley, to become the pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church North.
January 1977 Pastor Mike Alley resigned and Pastor Al Cockrell assumed the pastoral responsibilities of both ministries.
August 1979 Pastor Cockrell hired Pastor Tom Sooter to come from OH to be the new pastor at Tri-City North Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Pastor Sooter the Lord allowed the church to pay off the $150,000 debt to become autonomous from Tri-City.
March 8, 1982 The name Eagle Heights Baptist Church (EHBC) was chosen to reflect the newly autonomous church. The Eagle in scripture is an illustration of the mature Christian rising above the world, the flesh and the Devil in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the goal of the church.
August 1985 After selling 5026 N. Brighton property, the church leased and moved its ministries to the Cooley Elementary School building at 2900 Cates St. Avondale, MO. During the next seven years the church accumulated the funds, purchased twenty acres of land at 5600 N. Brighton for the cost of $75,000.00, and finalized the plans for a future building.
February 1991 Ground breaking at 5600 N. Brighton began our church body journey of faith as it had been voted by the congregation that we will 'pay-as-you-go' in the erection of this building.
June 16, 1991 EHBC celebrated the dedication of the foundation of our new church and Christian School. I Chron. 29:10-15.
A report was given that in just under 5 days the new mission home was roughed in and ready for the inside to be finished. The mission home was completed in the next twenty-nine days.
January 1992 The parsonage was completed by the men of the church. The men continued to donate one night per week and one Saturday per month to work on the building and property.
July 1992 We were in the new building. It wasn't completely finished or furnished, but we were in. School began in August at the new location.
November 2000 After the tragic death of Pastor Sooter's wife and one daughter he resigned his duties as Pastor. Pastor Franseen became the interim.
February 2001 The Lord had providentially prepared our body with the arrival of Pastor Richard King's family's four years earlier. Pastor King had been an itinerant pastor and church planter, who had settled his family in our Christian school, and continued to help struggling churches in the Midwest. Pastor King accepted the call as pastor of EHBC.
May 2004 Pastor King felt led to return to his itinerant ministry and resigned his duties at EHBC. Pastor Franseen became interim.
May 2007 Pastor Robert Franseen was installed as the Senior Pastor.
August 2009 Eagle Heights initiated the evangelistic 3 & 4 yr. old Preschool
March 2020 Pastor Robert Franseen retired as the Senior Pastor at EHBC.
Pastor Bryan Shaffer accepted the call as pastor of EHBC.
March 2022 Pastor Bryan Shaffer resigned as pastor of EHBC.
Dr. Hubert Hartzler became interim pastor
June 2023 Pastor Joe Starr was installed as the Senior Pastor at EHBC