“This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” – Psalm 118:23
Open Door Baptist Church was founded on September 9, 1973, by Pastor Gene Springer, with a burden to start a Bible-preaching, Christ-centered ministry in his hometown of Council Bluffs. The church began in a small building at 3333 Avenue A, where a faithful few gathered under the sound preaching of the King James Bible.
As the church grew, so did the need for more space. On Easter Sunday of 1979, the congregation held its first service in the new building at our current location, starting in what is now our educational wing and fellowship hall. God continued to bless, and by the fall of 1986, preparations began for a new auditorium. That project was completed just in time for its first service on Labor Day of 1988.
The Lord provided yet again in November 2007, when we opened our multi-purpose building, complete with a Jr. High-size gymnasium, kitchen, classrooms, restrooms, and office space—used for ministry, fellowship, and outreach.
On June 22, 2022, our founding pastor, Gene Springer, finished his earthly race and went home to be with his Saviour, Jesus Christ. His faithful wife, Mrs. Joetta Springer, reunited with him in Heaven in May of 2025. Pastor Springer served the church for 49 years, never wavering in his call to preach the truth and lead with integrity and compassion. His legacy continues to influence generations.
Before his passing, Pastor Springer passed the torch to his son, Pastor Chad Springer, who now leads Open Door Baptist Church with the same biblical convictions and a passion to reach souls and strengthen believers.
Our Ongoing Mission
While the buildings and leadership have changed over time, the heart of this church has remained the same:
• To evangelize the lost
• To educate the believer
• To edify the brethren
Our goal is simple, to see every person come to follow the leadership of the Spirit of God through the Word of God. We are committed to building lives on the solid foundation of Scripture and helping people grow in their faith through preaching the Word, genuine love, and a Spirit-filled church family.