Ridgewood Baptist Church

1922-1928

On March 26, 1922, Rev. Carey R. Moser came to our church as pastor, and 37 members were added to the church membership the first year.

It was during Rev. Moser's ministry that the church parsonage, a six room brick veneer bungalow, was built under the leadership of Benjamin F. Lumley at a cost of $5,250. The church property at this date was valued at $14,000. The R.N.G.E. missionary club purchased and donated to the church the lot to the south of the church building, and Monroe Bros. Real Estate Agency donated the second lot to the south of the church.

The spiritual level of the church continued to rise, and during the six and a half years that Rev. Moser was pastor there were 73 members added to the church. On April 12, 1925, after prayerful consideration, the church membership voted to withdraw from the Northern Baptist Convention and join the Baptist Bible Union of America (from which they also withdrew later). Rev. Moser felt led to accept a call to Eldor, Iowa in the fall of 1928 and so resigned a very fruitful ministry in Joliet.