First Baptist Church is a community made up of all kinds of people from various walks of life and backgrounds.  We are racially, economically, and politically diverse, but we come together for a common interest.  While we do have a strongly committed membership of believers, we also include people of all ages who God has placed among us at this stage of their spiritual journey.  While we do in many ways think of each other as family, we choose to define ourselves as a community.  A community includes everyone who chooses to be part of it.  A community is fluid and can remain strong while constantly changing.  When you chose to work alongside us, join us in worship, or become a part of one of our small groups, you are part of us.  We serve a common interest, which is to share the love of Christ.

Scripture informs us that God is Love.  We understand true love as action, not warm fuzzy feelings.  Love is, or at least should be, the motivation for all we do.  The love of Christ extends to all of creation.  It is bold, intentional, and often misunderstood, but we endeavor to share Jesus’ perfect love to the best of our imperfect abilities.  We believe this is our calling as a church, and churches that prioritize love are being obedient.  This love manifests itself in a variety of ways, through our giving, our ministries, and our missions.  Jesus instructs us to share God’s love and we do so best by serving God.

First Baptist Church strives to serve God through following Christ Jesus, the Word of God incarnate.  We attempt to honor God in all we do, say, and think.  Our service to God manifests itself in a variety of ways, including worship, gJust as we believe God’s love extends of all people, we believe it is our duty as followers of Jesus to serve all people.  Jesus commands us to love God, love our neighbor, love ourselves, and love our enemies.  It is not our duty to judge.  We love and serve all regardless of station in life, experience, or identity.  If we show any preference as to whom we serve, it will be to the “least of these” Jesus referenced in Matthew 25.  We meet people where they are and patiently respond to their individual needs.  We do this, and all things, in obedience to God.

Giving, prayer, and sacrifice.  We are a community of individuals who have many talents and interests, but we serve God best when we subjugate our own wants and desires in order to put God first in all things.  We pray that God, through the Holy Spirit, cleanses our hearts of vanity and gives us the strength and courage to serve with pure motivations.  We serve God best by serving all people.

We believe that everyone is a beloved child of God, and thus everyone has the opportunity to encounter the Lord in a community. All means all. No matter differences around race, gender, sexuality, ethnic background, political affiliation, or any other descriptor we may use, all means all. It includes all people.  We strive to be open, encouraging, and inclusive in all we do...worship, education, etc.  Jesus says a lot about the poor among us.  By serving all, we serve God. We aim to be a blessing to our families, our neighbors, our coworkers, our classmates, random strangers, the hungry, the sick, the hopeless, and the social outcast. Practically this looks like meeting people where they are, being patient, and responding to each one individually as needed (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15)