Home

Mission

Navbar

Mission

First Baptist Church is an independent local church which began her ministry in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1880. Our mission is to glorify God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as we share the Gospel of Christ. In reliance upon the Holy Spirit, our mission is achieved in:
 
  • Sharing from the Bible how one can be certain of eternal life;
  • Proclaiming life-changing and relevant messages from God's Word;
  • Providing discipleship and training in order for Christians to mature spiritually and to be involved in Christ's work;
  • Helping people relate to others in fellowship and ministries;
  • Assisting families to experience God's real meaning and blessing in life;
  • Relating to young adults how the Bible is the most relevant Book of all times;
  • Maintaining an emphasis on doctrinal truth while not being legalistic or negative in attitude.

Statement of Faith

The following statements represent our Statement of Faith. They are what we believe the Word of God teaches and are summary in nature. A complete Statement of Faith with scriptural references is available upon request.
 
  • We believe the originally written words of the sixty-six books that are called the Old and New Testament are the inspired (God-breathed) Word of God.
  • We believe in the one true living God Who has eternally existed in three persons identified as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe that Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Eternal God, while not ceasing to be God became a man, lived a perfect life, and shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary to provide the satisfaction for the penalty of sin. We further believe Jesus arose from the grave, ascended into heaven and will return for His church.
  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and Son. His ministries include convicting people of sin, being the agent of the new birth, indwelling believers and filling believers. We believe His work of baptism places a genuine believer into the body of Christ and is not associated with the gift of tongues.
  • We believe that one gains eternal life by placing genuine faith in Jesus Christ. When one truly accepts Christ, he/she is declared righteous (justified), is regenerated (born again), and has peace with God as far as eternal life is concerned. One's salvation is secured by the work of Jesus Christ.
  • We believe that genuine faith also results in spiritual growth in a believer's life that includes a desire to worship, live for Christ, and serve Him. The assurance of the reality of salvation comes from the witness of the Holy Spirit and from the works of the life.
  • We believe in the importance of the local church which is an assembly of believers who associate themselves together in fellowship upon agreeing with the Statement of Faith and desire to be involved in the work of the ministry.
  • We believe there are two ordinances which the local church is to follow--baptism and communion. Both are symbolic in nature but give testimony of Jesus Christ's ministry in our lives. Baptism is a testimony by immersion following one's salvation of that person's identification with Jesus Christ. Communion (the Lord's Supper) is a reminder of Jesus' death on the cross which is the payment for our sin.