What We Believe   We confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior   We believe in the Bible as the inspired record of God's actions in history.   We believe that all people need the saving power of Jesus Christ.   We observe two ordinances: we baptize believers by immersion.  We celebrate "open communion," and invite all believers to the Lord's table.   We are a mission people sharing the Gospel.

ABC/ USA   First Baptist Church is a congregation of the American Baptist Churches, USA.  American Baptists are committed to celebrative worship, evangelism as a lifestyle, the Bible as the center of faith and life, racial inclusiveness, religious liberty, social justice, democratic church government, and the ordinances of believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper.

First Baptist Church is one of 5800 American Baptist Churches. American Baptist Churches, U.S.A., is one of about 25 Baptist groups in the United States. American Baptists rank fourth in size among these Baptist groups.   Want to learn more about American Baptists, and the exciting mission we share? Check out the    ABC/USA Homepage.

How to join First Baptist Church   Being a member of a Christian fellowship can be an exciting and life-enriching experience. If you do not belong to a church or if God is leading you to join with us, we invite you to become a member of First Baptist Church. You may join the church in any one of the following ways:

BAPTISM - Upon profession of a personal faith in Jesus Christ, you may join by immersion baptism. The term translated "baptize" in the New Testament means "to dip, plunge".  Immersion pictures our death to the old life and our rising to new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-4). One of the great joys we experience as a church comes in seeing people baptized. Baptisms are conducted during regular morning worship services.   LETTER - You may transfer your membership to us from a church of like faith and practice. A letter is sent to our church from your present church stating that you are a member of that congregation and that they commend you to our fellowship. Joining by letter assumes that you have been baptized by immersion.   CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE - Join by experience if you were once a member of a Christian congregation but for some reason your membership was discontinued or records are no longer available.   HOW TO JOIN   At the close of each worship service, the congregation sings a Hymn of Invitation If you are interested in becoming a member of First Baptist Church, Please come forward during the singing of this hymn. You will be welcomed by the Pastor and a Deacon or Deaconess. A service of believers's baptism will be scheduled, if that is required.   Communion (the Lord's Supper) is observed on the first Sunday of each month. On the first Communion Sunday following your joining the church, you will receive the Hand of Fellowship. During  the Hand of Fellowship the Pastor extends a formal welcome to you on behalf of the congregation, and presents you with a Certificate of Church Membership.   Though not required for membership, we highly recommend that you complete the Inquirers Class, a seven week course on Christian faith and Baptist identity taught by Pastor Mary Miller.  Classes are offered in the spring and fall. (Similar classes for young people are also offered during the year).       The Church Covenant is the basis for membership in our church.  Members voluntarily enter into covenant with God and one another, thus assuming the obligations and privileges of church membership.   CHURCH COVENANT   Having been led by the Spirit of God to profess our faith in Jesus Christ and having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now with dedication and joy, affirm our covenant with God and with each other, as one body in Christ, and make the following commitments:   To seek to be obedient to Christ in our daily living, within our homes, in our labor and while at leisure. To participate regularly in the worship and work of our church. To give cheerfully and faithfully to God’s glory and the ministry of His church. To be faithful in personal and family devotions, recognizing that we need God’s help to live our lives. To teach our children the truths of the Christian faith. To pray for and witness to the unsaved and those in need. Believing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, we shall strive to avoid experiences and habits which defile our bodies and hinder our witness. We further commit ourselves to watch over one another in Christian love. To remember each other in prayer. To aid each other in sickness and distress. To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay. Bound together in a fellowship of faith with all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we shall pray and labor for a spirit of unity among all Christians.   By the aid of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to walk in Christian love as we serve Christ together.