Our Mission & Vision
De Soto Baptist Church is a family oriented church affiliated with the American Baptist Churches of the U.S.A.
“Engaged in the Ministry of Reconciliation” is our mission statement.
Our ultimate goal is to glorify God through worship, study, service, and fellowship. We seek to put this into practice by sharing the life-changing message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of love!
Jesus invites you to be a part of his community of believers, and as a disciple, share with the world God’s love, while growing in that love yourself. Jesus’ invitation includes sharing the Good News in word and deed as we live with compassion and work for justice in this world.
American Baptists are a Christ-centered, biblically grounded, ethnically diverse people called to radical personal discipleship in Christ Jesus. Our commitment to Jesus propels us to nurture authentic relationships with one another; build healthy churches; transform our communities, our nations and our world; engage every member in hands-on ministry; and speak the prophetic word in love.
As a people of prayer, purpose, and passion, we are in the forefront of creating a community of faith where people of every race, nationality and culture gather as one in worship, service and work.
The heart of the gospel is God’s redemptive love. In our life together, the world will see the power of forgiveness to overcome alienation, the strength of love to transform hate, the power of grace to break the bonds of guilt, the triumph of hope over despair, and the victory of faith over doubt.
Through the cross of Christ we embrace the world as neighbor. Our vision for mission energizes a multitude of servant ministries of evangelism, discipleship, leadership, new church development, social justice, healing, peacemaking, economic development and education. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we work together in mutual submission, humility, love, and giving that the gospel might be preached and lived in all the world.
Pastor – Matthew Burns
Matt was saved at twenty-one while stationed in Italy with the US Army. He and Rhonda, his wife of over forty years, have served in various ministries such as Bible studies, Sunday schools, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and more. Matt was licensed by the First Baptist Church of Hoyt in 2008 and has pastored churches in Whiting and Hoyt, Kansas.
Matt holds a BA in Business Management from Washburn University and recently retired after 21 years at Brewster Place, a retirement community in Topeka, Kansas. Matt began serving as Interim Pastor for De Soto Baptist Church in 2023 and became its full-time pastor in December 2024.
Matt is committed to fulfilling his pastoral duties with the grace that comes through the Lord Jesus Christ. He believes God has blessed him in leadership and teaching. Matt emphasizes the importance of understanding God’s Word as it relates to the person and ministry of Jesus and encourages thoughtful engagement with the scriptures.
Matt and Rhonda have been blessed with four children, their individual spouses, and five grandchildren.
