Idlewild made its humble beginning as the result of a neighborhood survey that revealed the need for a church.  Mr. & Mrs. George H. Gibson organized the first meeting on October 8, 1933 in an old garage building on the corner of West Idlewild Avenue and Lynn Avenue.

The Idlewild garage quickly became too small and in February 1934 the almost-organized church body moved their meetings to a nearby store building.

Thirty-seven charter members officially organized Idlewild Baptist church on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934.  The church called Rev. Russell T. Porter as pastor at a salary of $10 a week.

The average offering in 1934 was $12.30 a week.

By 1935, the church membership was 100.  This increase exceeded the meeting space and led to the purchase of two lots at the corner of Hanna and Highland for $500.

In December 1935, the church voted to have a Christmas program with a live tree.