About Us

Sixty five miles northwest of Wickenburg and just forty miles off Highway 89, deep in the hill country between the Santa Maria River and Burro Creek, lies a small mining community called Bagdad. You might think, as you drive up and down hills and mountains, around curved roads, past beautiful rock formations, cactus, or roaming cow herd, that you are headed for the end of the road, and actually, you are - the highway ends at Bagdad.

Bagdad is one of only two remaining “company owned” towns in the entire country. Freeport – McMoran Copper and Gold, with headquarters in Phoenix, AZ, owns and operates the mine and, literally, owns the whole town. Virtually all of the residents, many of them third and fourth generation Bagdadians, are employed by the mine, the school, or one of the local businesses. As you enter town, the signpost brags of eight churches. Let us tell you about just one of those churches.

The Bagdad Southern Baptist Church was begun as a mission on May 20, 1956, by the First Baptist Church of Wickenburg. On July 13, 1958, the church was organized with Forty Eight charter members. In its first official business meeting, Melvin Frugia received a unanimous call to be the first pastor, and the new congregation adopted the name, Bagdad Southern Baptist Church.

At the time of this first official service, the church was meeting in its new building, a 27ft. by 76ft. structure consisting of five classrooms and an auditorium. Situated in a prominent location on Lindahl Road, it soon became a landmark in the small community. Over time, more classrooms and a fellowship hall were added to complete the facility as it now stands. Our current pastor, Fred Reiter, came in 2007.

Compared with the huge churches in the Phoenix area, we’re a small group of worshippers. However, we’re big on expectations for growth and have a firm commitment to developing quality programs for all ages.

The children’s ministry, “Awana Clubs” has recently begun another year with record attendance in its first two weeks. We think that’s happening because of a very successful VBS program from this past summer. And, we’re also excited that our brand new Youth Group, that meets on Sunday evenings, recently welcomed fifteen high schoolers. Pastor Reiter is a strong believer in the power of prayer and gives God all the credit for recent growth in the ministries of the church.

When you visit Bagdad, you’ll find a Basha’s grocery store, a unique, Fifties-Style diner and a lovely steak house. But, if you’re here on a Sunday morning, just come as you are and join us for our worship service at 10:00.

Bagdad Southern Baptist Church

Reaching out to Bagdad with God's Love