Our Purpose

First Baptist Church is a place for you to love God through worship, grow together in a Bible study group, serve others in a ministry, and reach your world for Jesus Christ.

Our Values

We have eleven core values that guide us. These values describe the culture we desire to create at First Baptist:

  1. We value commitment to Christ. A relationship with Jesus Christ is central to who we are. From worship through every act of service, Jesus Christ is at the center. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is at the heart of all we do. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ and seek to be fully devoted to Him. (John 3:16)
  2. We value grace relationships. We love people regardless of their life situation or experience. (Matthew 22:39)
  3. We value heartfelt worship. We are saved to praise and worship God with all our heart. (Matthew 22:37)
  4. We value spiritual growth. We believe every member must make a conscious commitment to grow to spiritual maturity. (II Timothy 2:2; Ephesians 4:13)
  5. We value ministry involvement. We believe every member is a minister and should serve in the church. (I Corinthians 12; I Peter 4:10; Romans 12:5)
  6. We value reaching people. We take seriously the Great Commission to share the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19)
  7. We value community. We need each other’s friendship and encouragement. (Acts 2:42)
  8. We value Biblical teaching. We base all we do on God’s Word. The Bible is the absolute authority for truth and decision making. We model the use of God’s Word in the pulpit, classrooms and meetings. We encourage people of all ages to use their Bible in worship, Bible study and personal daily devotion. We study it, believe it and obey it. (II Timothy 3:15-17)
  9. We value prayer. Prayer is the foundation, the underpinning of every action. Prayer is the key that opens the door to God’s guidance and wisdom. Prayer is the center of every decision, under girding every facet of our ministries. We can do nothing without the Lord. (James 5:13-18)
  10. We value giving generously. We are blessed when we give God our tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:10)
  11. We value excellence. Excellence is the end result of a Godly attitude coupled with our hard work. We do not look for the easy way out. We apply all that is in us to the task that is set before us; for in everything we do, we are serving the Lord.  (Colossians 3:2; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Galatians 6:4; Colossians 3:23)

 Our Beliefs

Accepting the Bible to be the very Word of God to man through men, and understanding the importance of knowing and obeying its truths, our church is committed to study and teach it with diligence and authority. We strongly seek to teach the Scriptures to people that they may know God and serve Him in worship and ministry.

Through the years, this fellowship has come to convictions concerning the major theological truths of the Bible. This outline presents an overview of those important doctrines. We believe these to be the primary doctrines of the Christian faith, and reflect the teaching of First Baptist.

1.  About God

We believe that God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2)               

 2.  About Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; Acts 1:9-11; John 1:1-5; 14:10-3; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3-4; Titus 2:13)                         

3.  About The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift when he or she is saved. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13)

4.  About Mankind

We believe people are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 59:1, 2; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23)

5.  About Salvation

We believe salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved.  Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 3:26; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:1)

6.  About Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
We believe Jesus instructed His followers to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called "ordinances") as reminders. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Neither of these ordinances contains any saving grace. Baptism by immersion is a one-time act of obedient identification with Jesus as Lord. It serves as an outward sign of conscious confession of repentance and faith. The Lord's Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and promised return (Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).

7.  About Assurance of Salvation

We believe God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, therefore, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security. (John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12;1 Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14)

8.  About the Scriptures

We believe the Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21

9.  About the Church

We believe the church is the body of Christ and the family of God. It is made up of saved and baptized believers, who regularly join together on the Lord's Day for worship, fellowship, and ministry (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25).

10.  About Eternity

We believe people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence. (John 3:16; John 14:17; Revelation 20:15; Romans 6:23;Romans 8:17-18; 1 Cor. 2:7-9)