In the late 1700s, Reverend John Clark preached the Gospel along the Mississippi River near what is now Herculaneum, Missouri, during a time when Protestant worship was restricted under Spanish rule.

What began with courageous frontier preaching helped pave the way for the establishment of some of Missouri's earliest Protestant churches.

In this video, we explore the remarkable story of John Clark, the spread of Christianity west of the Mississippi River, and the rise of early Baptist congregations throughout southeastern Missouri, including the communities surrounding Herculaneum and Jackson.

From a sermon delivered along the Mississippi River to the establishment of churches in the early 1800s, this is a story of faith, perseverance, and the Christians who helped build a lasting religious foundation in Missouri.

Join us as we look back at an important chapter in American Christian history and the beginnings of Protestant worship on the Missouri frontier.