How will I be welcomed in the worship service? You will not be asked to stay seated, stand up, raise your hand, or do anything else that will make you “stand out” as a guest. During the guest welcome and greeting, the pastor will ask any first time guest to fill out the guest card that is attached to the worship bulletin and place it in the offering plate when it is passed. It is up to you whether or not you decide to fill out the guest card. You may want to visit a few times before filling it out. During the greeting everyone, guests and members, stand and greet one another. The hope is that you will feel welcomed without feeling embarrassed or made to stand out. Our large attendance enables you to come and not feel like you are the new person in the church.
How should I dress? People dress in different ways. Some people dress in suits and some dress in more relaxed clothing. The positive thing about First Baptist Church is that if you prefer to dress in a suit, you will not feel uncomfortable, and if you dress in a more relaxed fashion, you will not feel uncomfortable.
Where do I park? There is ample parking around the church and around the courthouse square.
Where do I take my children? If you are coming to the worship service, we have child care for children four years old and younger. The child care rooms are located in the Family Life Center (the large metal building on the Village St. side of the church). If you have an infant, a silent vibrating pager will be given to you in case the child care workers need to contact you during the service. If you are coming to Sunday school, come to the Family Life Center. Greeters will be there to walk you to the appropriate class.
Do the children and youth volunteers undergo a background check? Yes, all of our volunteer and paid adults who minister in the children and teenage ministries undergo a criminal background check. We also have a Child and Youth Protection Policy that describes appropriate behavior and boundaries when ministering to children and teenagers. Please contact the church office and a copy of the Child and Youth Protection policy can be mailed or e-mailed to you.
Tell me more about Sunday school. We have Sunday school classes for all ages. Our Sunday school classes are spread out throughout our education building (Charlton St. side of the church) and the Family Life Center (Village St. side of the church). If you are younger – middle aged, you will go to the Family Life Center. Greeters will be there to walk you to the correct class. If you have children and/or teenagers, they too will meet in the Family Life Center. Our classes for those 65+ in age meet in the Education Building. There will be greeters there to welcome and take you to the correct class.
How do I become a member? There are three ways to become a member. First, you can become a member by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior for the first time and then being baptized. Second, you can come by letter from another Baptist church. This means that you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, been baptized, and become a member of another Baptist church before joining First Baptist Church. The final way is to come by statement of faith and like baptism. This means you received Jesus as Lord and Savior in another denomination and then followed that with believer’s baptism. “Believer’s baptism” is being baptized after one is old enough to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you have any questions about membership, please contact the church office and ask to speak with Pastor Ross Shelton.
I have another question. Please feel free to contact the church office (409-283-2588) if you need another question answered. The church welcomes your question(s).
