In July, 1956, the Home Mission Board and Ohio Convention of Baptists sent summer missionaries to conduct a regional census and have Vacation Bible School. The first mission meeting was held in the basement of Ryan's Hardware Store located at the corner of Wilmington Pike and Dorothy Lane. The Kettering Baptist Mission was established and at 2:30 pm, August 12, the first Sunday School was held. It was not until January, 1957, that the Rolling Fields School became available for use for the Sunday morning worship services. Bill Smith became the interim pastor. Allen Hardy was the church clerk, and Arnold Huff was treasurer. Rush Frazier served as the first Sunday School superintendent, and Warren Gillum was the church song leader. During March of 1957, the average Sunday School attendance was 66, and the offering averaged $81.58. On March 31, 1957, land was purchased at Sutton and Brownleigh Roads. Financial Assistance from the State Convention, West Moraine Baptist Church, and $475 from mission members made the purchase possible. The land cost $5,500.

God blessed with the addition of many members, including Mr. and Mrs. Russell Hanger, who provided a basement meeting place for permanent prayer services on Wednesday evenings. A pulpit, folding chairs, and an organ were donated for use by the mission church. Reverend Thomas Gordon was called as pastor and preached his first sermon to the mission on August 26, 1957. A tent revival was held on the mission's property in September 1957, resulting in several additions to the membership. On September 22, the mission was constituted into a New Testament Church. The church was called the East Kettering Baptist Church. By June 1958, work had begun on the first unit of the church building. Members of the church did most of the work. The first services were held in this building on January 4, 1959. The second floor was completed on January 20, 1960. On December 13, 1961, the name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church of Kettering. Another two-story building was built, and the first worship service held in the new auditorium on February 22, 1962. This facility is currently used as the fellowship hall and was named "The Thomas Gordon Hall" in the fall of 1996. In 1969 the current Worship Center, church offices and additional Sunday School space was completed.

In the fall of 1991, the members of First Baptist Church of Kettering convenanted together to raise funds to restore and remodel the facilities. The campaign was titled "For Such a Time as This." Many members promised, with God's help, to contribute to the endeavor. This formal campaign ended in 1994. The first phase of remodeling, that of the sanctuary, was completed in December 1992. The entire front of the sanctuary was reshaped, the sound system updated, and an orchestra pit added. The second phase, the preschool building was completed in the Spring of 1995. In the Summer of 1996 the members of First Baptist Church of Kettering voted to close the old building campaign "For Such a Time as This" and enter into "Hearts and Hands for the Harvest." This campaign was not only to raise funds for additional building improvements, but also to prepare the membership to move to dual Sunday School and worship in the Fall. The Heating and Air Conditioning in the Worship Center has been replaced, the roof and roof extensions on the Worship Center were replaced and added and the foyer was enlarged.

The church also purchased the house at 1650 Brownleigh Road. Currently the seller is still living at the property and will be moving this summer. There are no definite plans for the property at this point. The church is renting out the house while utilizing the large back yard. The parking was expanded by 99 spaces in the fall of 1998 to help satisfy the continuing growth of the church. Continuing to examine how to meet the space needs of a rapidly growing Sunday School, the church explored building a multi-purpose building at the current site as well as purchasing Far Hills Baptist Church before the 75 acres of land was located and finally purchased in Little Sugar Creek.