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 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, ethnicity, and gender;
  • 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.