On October 14, 1905 the Baptists held their first service at the home of the Reverend J.C. Long. The Baptists had been holding services in the Honey Lake Valley since 1873, and built a church in Johnstonville in 1889. Initially the Susanville services were held in someone’s home. As the congregation grew in 1913 they purchased a lot on the northwest corner of Nevada and Gay Streets. Shortly thereafter work began on the construction of a church and on February 20, 1914 a open public house was held.
In 1984 the congregation voted to leave the American Baptist denomination and joined the Evangelical Free Churches of America. At that time it was renamed the Community Evangelical Church of Susanville.