Alvin A. Harms was called as mission pastor with a weekly budget of $161.35. Attendance reached 78 by the end of the year. Wichita was growing rapidly and new homes were being built in Southwest Wichita. As new families came to the church attendance grew to 192 in 1958, and the first sanctuary and classroom area were completed in January of 1959. One year later, on January 17, 1960, Parkview ceased to be a mission and was constituted as a church with 194 charter members.
Southwest Wichita was expanding rapidly in the 50's. At times Boeing Aircraft Company was hiring one hundred people each day. As the 60's began, Wichita would never again see this post-war workforce involved in the aircraft industry.
A change in pastoral leadership occurred in 1964 when Alvin Harms resigned and the church called Jim Dyer as pastor. Brother Harms oversaw the construction of three new buildings and led a young mission into a church reaching many for Christ.
On the church's tenth anniversary the church had 375 resident members and Sunday School was averaging 162. A new sanctuary was built in 1966 with an annual budget of $40,000.
Parkview was like most Southern Baptist churches in Wichita in the 60's and the early 70's. The economy was declining, the Kansas Southern Baptist Convention nearly collapsed, and churches were dealing with shrinking memberships and increasing debt.
Only by the grace of God and the commitment of people kept the doors of the church open when other churches were closing. The church did not grow in numbers, but it did grow through trials and struggles. It gave birth to men who entered the ministry and carried the work of the Lord into the world.
A change in pastoral leadership occurred in 1973 when Jim Dyer resigned and the church called Clyde McClain as pastor. Brother Dyer led the church through crises and building a new sanctuary. At the same time, the church ministered to him and his family as Brother Dyer underwent major surgery.
After twenty years the church had 330 resident members and averaged under 120 in Sunday School. The annual budget was $87,000. Faithful members kept coming and giving and for the first time in its history, Parkview became debt free in 1978.
The 1980's brought a new spirit of growth and optimism with a 70% increase in Sunday School attendance between 1979 and 1983. Three full-time second staff members served during this time. The sanctuary and parking lot were expanded and a new children's wing constructed in 1983. The entire project at a cost of over $227,000 was paid for in just over three years time.
In 1986, Brother McClain resigned as pastor and the search for new leadership began. Having a pastor for 13 years made it almost inevitable that the next pastor would have a short tenure. Wayne Norton was called as the new pastor, but only served for eighteen months before moving on.
Parkview needed a new leader who was stable and committed to continuing the church's work. They found that man in Norvel Welch, who was serving as an Education Minister in a sister church, and had served in Brazil on the foreign mission field. Brother Welch and his wife Hattie served the church for six years until his retirement in 1994.
From the earliest days of the church, Parkview has looked back on its "heyday" in the 50's with a certain sense of nostalgia. As the years have passed the number of members and active attendees has gone up and down. But, like many churches in Wichita, and across America, attendance has slowly declined.
In 1995 Parkview called Dennis Clough to be their new pastor. Dennis and his wife Cindy and family were noted from the start as being a very musical family. During his time as pastor many of the programs begun in previous years continued to reach and disciple people in the church.
In September of 2001, Dennis Clough resigned as pastor of after six years of service.
After eighteen months without a pastor, the church called Bruce Hays as its pastor. (That's me) Pastor Hays was unique because he and his wife Denise had grown up at Parkview. They were in the youth group and got married at the church. The church blessed them as they went to seminary after college. And they kept in touch through their first pastorate in Southeast Kansas. In February of 2003 pastor Hays became pastor.
Since then some of that acreage has been sold to accommodate the "Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association" offices at 3474 South Meridian. In 2018, the land south of the church facility was sold to Freddie's Frozen Custard. (So after church services, you are only a few short steps away from a burger and fries.)
As of this writing, pastor Hays, (That's me) is still the pastor of Parkview. The church has had ups and downs through its 60 plus years of history. The church, like many modern American churches, is considering what the future holds. The church has committed itself to the Lord, and to the Word of God. As the coming days unfold, we are praying that we can remain a useful part of Christ's kingdom.