Our Identity
Who are we at First Baptist Church?
We profess that God through Jesus Christ calls us to be:
A Redeemed People
who claim a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ;
who follow the Lord in believer’s baptism;
who gather as a believer’s church;
who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the Lord’s Supper;
who follow the Lord in believer’s baptism;
who gather as a believer’s church;
who share in the meal of the kingdom known as the Lord’s Supper;
who honor the priesthood of all believers;
who live their faith as visible saints.
A Biblical People
- who affirm the centrality of Scripture in our lives;
- who who pursue the study of God’s inspired Word as a mandate for faith and practice;
- who seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the understanding of Scripture, while respecting the common interpretation of Scripture within the community of believers.
A Worshiping People
- who gather regularly to praise God;
- who receive nourishment by communion with the Risen Christ;
- who share an open and public confession of faith;
- who believe that personal devotion brings vitality to corporate celebration.
A Mission People
- who strive to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples;
- who invite persons to receive salvation and follow Christ;
- who engage in educational, social, and health ministries;
- who seek justice for all persons;
- who provide prayer and financial support to sustain a worldwide mission outreach.
An Interdependent People
- who affirm the Church’s unity as given in Jesus Christ;
- who gladly embody in our practice the ministry of the whole people of God;
- who recognize God’s gifts for ministry and honor all offices of pastoral ministry;
- who live and work together “in association”;
- who bring the free church tradition to cooperative and ecumenical Christianity.
A Caring People
- who care for the needy, the weak, and the oppressed;
- who care for the earth and for all its creatures.
An Inclusive People
- who, gifted by a variety of backgrounds, find unity in diversity and diversity in unity;
- who embrace a pluralism of race and ethnicity;
- who acknowledge that there are individual differences of conviction and theology.
A Contemporary People
- who have a remembrance for the past and a vision for the future;
- who are committed to religious liberty and to the separation of church and state;
- who call our present world to make Jesus Christ Lord of all life;
- who trust the Holy Spirit for insight and power to live in the present age.