John Mason Peck (1789–1858), a pioneer missionary and educator in the West, was converted to Christ in 1807 under the preaching of God’s Word. After his conversion, he felt called to ministry through service in his local church, and he married Sarah Paine, who was converted under his preaching.
He was called into pastoral ministry through his church, and he eventually became a convictional Baptist. After coming into contact with Luther Rice, Peck felt called to the mission field. In 1816, he went to seminary to prepare for the work. In 1817, the Triennial Convention affirmed sending him as a missionary in and around Saint Louis, Missouri. Peck went on to start the first Baptist Church in Saint Louis later that year.
In addition to starting churches, Peck also established schools. He started schools for African American men and women, launched a higher education school called, “St. Charles Academy” to train missionaries and pastors, and founded Shurtleff College. In addition to this work, Peck helped start Bible Societies and Sunday Schools, advocated against slavery, and published widely.
