The work began in 1946 through home Bible studies by some members of the First Mexican Baptist Church of Shafter, California. In 1950, the Rev. Elias Campos took charge of the new congregation as its pastor. The church adopted the name First Mexican Baptist Church of Bakersfield. During his pastorate, a building was purchased in 1956 at the corner of Monterey St. and Miller St. in East Bakersfield. In 1966, Rev. Campos retired as pastor of the congregation after 16 years of dedicated service.

In 1967, the Rev. Juan Aguila came from Bolivia to take care of the church as its pastor. Under his leadership, the Monterey property was sold and the congregation joined the First Baptist Church, which at that time was located in downtown Bakersfield. The congregation became the "Spanish Department" of First Baptist Church, which in 1979 moved to its present location on Olive Dr. in the northwest of the city. In 1980, the Spanish Department became organized as a church and was incorporated as La Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Bakersfield (First Hispanic Baptist Church). Then, in 1984 the property where the church is at present was purchased and the congregation moved to this new location. In December 1986, after 19 years of faithful ministry, the Rev. Juan Aguila resigned from his position as the pastor to move into other areas of ministry.

The Rev. Jose Guerra began his work as the pastor of this church in August 1987. He had been the pastor of the First Hispanic Baptist Church in Santa Barbara, California, before moving to Bakersfield. During his pastorate, the church name was changed to Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Viva (Living Hope Baptist Church) in 2001 and the church mortgage was paid off in 2007, after numerous fund raising activities engaged by the congregation, under the leadership of Pastor Guerra. The church has at present over 100 members and carries out diverse programs and activities for all ages in English and Spanish.