St. Paul Baptist Church

 St. Paul Baptist Church
1320 W Bannock St
Boise ID 83702
208.344.0674

Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Prayer Meeting 2nd/4th Tuesdays 7p.m.

St. Paul Baptist Church located at 1320 W. Bannock Street in Boise, Idaho, was founded in 1908 during a decade of growth in Ada County.  Rev. William Riley Hardy, who moved to the city in 1904, was the founder and first pastor In 1993, when attendance at St. Paul Baptist Church exceeded the capacity of the building, the body was blessed when the congregation of Capital Christian Center offered their building at 14th and Bannock Streets to St. Paul Baptist Church.  The St. Paul membership then agreed to donate the historic building at 128 Broadway to a committee charged with restoration and preservation of the building.  The historic church building, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, now houses the Idaho Black History Museum.During its history, the congregation of St. Paul Baptist Church has extended its ministries to the Boise and surrounding communities, sharing its theological influence, music and culinary talents. St. Paul continues to stand proudly, a testament to God’s grace – worshipping, praying, singing and shouting, sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Today, under the leadership of Pastor Michael J. Ross, Sr., St. Paul has launched new programs and ministries and extended the reach of the fellowship throughout the community. Through his vision, St. Paul continues to grow spiritually and physically, while striving to bring others to Christ.

Dr. Michael J. Ross, Sr., is a native of Lake Providence, LA. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. During this time, Dr. Ross attended Grambling State University in Grambling, LA, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. While at Grambling, he met his lovely wife, Annette. They have been blessed with four beautiful children, Tawasky, Michael, Faith, and Hope. 

In 1993, Dr. Ross accepted his call to the ministry. He attended both Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA, and American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA.  Dr. Ross graduated with honors in 1999 with a Master of Divinity degree from American Baptist Seminary of the West and was awarded the prestigious L. Doward McBain Preaching Prize for Outstanding Preacher in his class. In December 2013, Dr. Ross graduated from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry degree. At his graduation, he was awarded the Will Edd and Lila Fae Langford Award for the Outstanding Doctor of Ministry Project Report. 

Of his many years in the Gospel ministry, Dr. Ross has served in various capacities. From 1998-2001, he served on staff at the oldest Black Baptist church in Alameda County, the Beth Eden Baptist Church, as the Minister of Youth and Young Adults. He also worked for the Bay Area Urban League, the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the Oakland Unified School District.   

Since March 2001, Dr. Ross has served as Senior Pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Boise, ID. He leads the only predominantly African American Baptist Church in Boise and the oldest in the state. 

 For over 20 years, Dr. Ross has been empowering the people of God, through God’s Word, who have been challenged by life’s circumstances. He is very compassionate, energetic, well grounded in Bible truth, and he loves the Lord. His greatest joy comes from touching lives through the Word of God and spending quality time with his family. All praises to God!