In 1974 the small nucleus of people that would ultimately form First Baptist Church started meeting together at the Gardnerville Volunteer Fire Department. Reverend Paul Ray moved from Dallas to become the fledging congregation’s first pastor. Under his leadership the beginning church purchased 2.3 acres at the intersection of Highways 88 and 395. The first building was then constructed at a modest cost of only $55,000. Pastor Ray resigned to accept another position in 1976 and was then succeeded by Dave Boos (1979), Ed Jordan ((1980-1990), Larry Daily (1991-1996), Rene Houle (1997-1998), and Adam Barkley (1999-2008).

​

In 1985 the church purchased 10 acres on Centerville Lane in Gardnerville and in 2008 FBC constructed its present facilities consisting of a beautiful worship center, spacious lobby, kitchen, offices, and classrooms.

   

It was after the intentional interim period with Nevada Baptist State Convention Executive Director; Dr. Thane Barnes that FBC then entered a unique relationship with Larry Webb from First Family Church in Antioch California. Pastor Larry ministered remotely at First Baptist through videos of his sermons on Sunday mornings and then periodic trips to Nevada. But in the spring of 2012 God moved on his heart to actually relocate to the beautiful Minden Gardnerville where he now ministers full time to the FBC congregation.

​

On Sunday, May 4, 2014 our leadership decided to select a name that would be denominationally neutral, more concise, and unique to this region. “Shadow Mountain Church” seems to meet all the proposed criteria.

​

Shadows are used repeatedly throughout Scripture to describe God’s interaction with mankind. Each late afternoon and evening the massive moving shadow from the Sierra Mountain range that engulfs our church campus and congregant’s homes reminds us that God brings us relief from our struggles (Isaiah 32:1-2), God is in control of all that happens to us (Isaiah 49:1 and 2 compare to Galatians 4:4) and that God is also here to protect us from potential threats to our personal well being and congregational existence (Psalm 57:1).

​

God has now positioned Shadow Mountain to become a high impact church bringing the message of Jesus Christ to the entire Carson valley.