‘Northeast Wichita’s pastor’: Longtime minister Lincoln Montgomery dies at 72
Longtime Wichita pastor Lincoln Eugene Montgomery died on Monday. He was 72.
Montgomery took the role of pastor at the Tabernacle Bible Church in 1987. For the next three decades he would lead the “transforming years” at the church that sits on the corner of 17th and Volutsia near Wichita State University.
“The transforming years” was a period where the church experienced “great spiritual awakening” and gained about 1,300 new members since 1987, according to the church’s website.
In a July 2022 letter to church members, Montgomery announced he would retire on Aug. 31 to “step into the next chapter of my life purpose.”
Pastor Carl Kirkendoll is the president of the Greater Wichita Ministerial League and a friend of Montgomery.
“He was at one time considered to be northeast Wichita’s pastor even though people went to other churches because everyone knew and respected pastor Montgomery for his love and concern for the community,” Kirkendoll said over the phone.
Kirkendoll said he and Montgomery played on the same baseball team as children.
“Lincoln was a heck of an athlete when he was younger... My dad, Jessie Kirkendoll, coached one of the first black baseball teams in Wichita. Lincoln and his brother Robert played on my father’s team. It was called the Wichita Warriors,” Kirkendoll said.
Montgomery and Kirkendoll continued their friendship through baseball to becoming pastors. Montgomery “was part of the foundation” of the Greater Wichita Ministerial League, Kirkendoll said.
“He was there when everything was being set up. He would allow us to use his church in the early days for our annual Martin Luther King Day celebration,” Kirkendoll said. “It’s just really hard to grasp the impact he had on the community.”
Kirkendoll took over as pastor at the Missionary Baptist Church in Wichita 15 years ago. “He [Montgomery] was the first one to call me and congratulate me. He let me know that he was there for me if I ever needed him,” Kirkendoll said.
Under Montgomery’s pastorate, Tabernacle Bible Church was able to “contribute over $1.5 million dollars over 13 years to national, state and local causes, emergency relief efforts and other mission areas,” the church’s website said.
When Montgomery retired from Tabernacle in August, his wife, Annie Montgomery, also retired as director of the family life counseling center for the church after 24 years, according to the couple’s retirement letter.
Montgomery is survived by his wife Annie, children and grandchildren.
A family and friends visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Tabernacle Bible Church, 1817 N. Volutsia. Masks are required at the visitation.
A celebration of life is scheduled at 10 a.m. Sept. 24 at the Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Rd. Masks are preferred.
This story was originally published September 12, 2022 at 5:18 PM.