With the assistance of Janesville Bible Baptist Temple, a man named Brother Hillyer came to Madison, WI for the purpose of starting a church. Under the name Madison Baptist Temple, a few people began meeting, believing that God wanted a Bible teaching ministry that would reach the lost. From the beginning, this church understood the importance of missions. In the first quarter of 1961, they began supporting Richard Konnerup, a Missionary to Ethiopia.
In the second quarter another missionary was taken on for support: George King, Missionary to Japan. All of this happened before Madison Baptist Temple officially had called and supported it’s first pastor. William Dale Fisher was called as the first pastor in the summer of 1961. Under the leadership of Pastor Fisher, the church continued to give to missions.
The church purchased it’s first meeting place at 221 Jackson Street.
The first parsonage was at 125 Garnet Lane.
In December 1961 the Church was incorporated as a legal religious organization. On March 27th, 1967, Pastor Fisher presented his resignation, and he left in June.
On July 27,1967, John McKinney was called to be the pastor. Very little is known about Pastor Mckinney. It is uncertain when he left the pastorate, but it would seem to be in the summer of 1968.
Over the next several months, the church would nearly close its doors. Janesville Bible Baptist Temple sent men to fill the pulpit and helped financially by paying the mortgages. Had the Holy Spirit not moved the church in Janesville to act sacrificially, it is possible there would not be a church on Portage Road.
A man of God came to the church in January 1969 to preach a one-week meeting. He believed God was leading him to pastor this ministry. In the middle of the meetings God showed this preacher that it was not His will for him to Pastor this church. Not wanting to end the meetings, but still obeying the Lord, he called his friend in Topeka, Kansas who had just resigned his ministry. He asked this fellow pastor to consider the work. This pastor's name was Clyde Barnes. He came to Madison with the intention of closing out the meetings and had no intentions of coming to this place to pastor. Pastor Barnes held meetings on that Friday and Saturday evening. That Saturday, Janesville Bible Baptist Temple sent a group up to help pass out flyers. On Sunday, the Lord moved on Pastor Barnes’ heart and he knew he was suppose to come to Madison. If this church didn’t call him as Pastor, he would come and start a new church.
On February 9th, 1969 Pastor Clyde Barnes was unanimously called to be the new pastor. The heart of the church began to beat strong again and the church began to grow. Once again, missionaries were being supported. During his tenure, Pastor Barnes strengthened the focus on missions, both at home and abroad. The church began to grow, to sacrificially give, and souls were regularly added to the church.
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In the second quarter another missionary was taken on for support: 
The church purchased it’s first meeting place at 
A man of God came to the church in January 1969 to preach a one-week meeting. He believed God was leading him to pastor this ministry. In the middle of the meetings God showed this preacher that it was not His will for him to Pastor this church. Not wanting to end the meetings, but still obeying the Lord, he called his friend in 
On February 9th, 1969 Pastor Clyde Barnes was unanimously called to be the new pastor. The heart of the church began to beat strong again and the church began to grow. Once again, missionaries were being supported. During his tenure, Pastor Barnes strengthened the focus on missions, both at home and abroad. The church began to grow, to sacrificially give, and souls were regularly added to the church.
