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Here at First Baptist Church
our desire is to see God accomplish, for His glory, what He promised
to do in Matthew 16:18. "I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it." This being our desire, we have
embraced a brief purpose statement. A Great Commitment to the
Great Commandment and the Great Commission, will grow a Great
Church.
There are five specific purposes Christ has given us to accomplish. MAGNIFY-We are to love God with all of out heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."). God longs for us to worship Him with all of our being. MINISTRY-Jesus said that the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:32 "And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:"). Ministry is a demonstration of god's love by meeting all kinds of needs: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical. MISSION-It is our privilege and responsibility to GO and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."). We are ambassadors for Christ, and our mission is to evangelize the world. MEMBERSHIP-Baptizing is as much a part of the Great Commission as going and teaching (Matthew 28:19, 20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."). Baptism is a symbol of not only salvation, but also identification. We are called to believe in Christ and belong to His Body. MATURITY-"Teaching them to observe ALL things," is another purpose of First Baptist. Many opportunities are available weekly to accomplish this task. |
