In obedience to Christ command, First Baptist Church seeks to share the Good News with all the world in partnership with other Christians. Our primary partners for mission and ministry are the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Global) and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. We also partner regionally with the Western North Carolina Baptist Fellowship, along with many local ministries, such as Mission Ministries Alliance and Freedom Life Ministries.
First Baptist Church has a long history of hands-on mission work. Our Frank Miller Willing Workers group builds wheelchair ramps and addresses housing needs through construction and renovation projects. In addition, our various Journey Groups and Sunday school classes carry out other local mission projects throughout the year.
First Baptist Church has been instrumental in starting numerous community ministries, such as Hospice of McDowell, McDowell Habitat for Humanity, the Good Samaritan Free Clinic, and CareNet Counseling of Marion.
A major part of how First Baptist Church engages in missions is through short-term mission trips to various locations throughout the world. Our youth have taken summer mission trips to Alaska (2004); Pearlington, Mississippi (2006 and 2008); Perry County, Alabama (2010), and Belize (2012 and 2014), New Orleans, LA (2016), Houston, Texas (2018), and Miami, FL (2022). These trips have involved youth and adults doing construction, hurricane recovery, and working with children. Also, our Youth Choir for decades has taken numerous Musical Mission Trips to various places, using their talents in voice and instruments to share the Gospel. Recent Musical Mission Trips have been to North Carolina (2019), Germany, Switzerland, and London, UK (2017), Boston, MA (2015), Cleveland, Ohio (2013), San Antonio, Texas (2011), Chicago, IL (2009), and New York City (2007).
Since 2005, First Baptist Church has supported the Baptist Association of Belize through various projects and mission trips. We have sent numerous mission teams to Belize, sharing God’s love through free medical clinics, church music, construction projects on homes, schools, and churches, and agricultural projects. Recent trips have been in February 2020, 2023, and 2024, focusing on medical care and construction.
Some other FBC mission trips include a team in 2006 to Dalbeattie, Scotland to help a local Baptist congregation begin a community prayer ministry. In May 2019, a team of college students and adults traveled to Kosice, Slovakia to minister among the Roma people in partnership with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel, Jon and Tanya Parks.
Wherever the need may be, we invite you to serve with us and help bring to bear the love of Christ to all people!