Frequently Asked Questions
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Where do I park when I visit?
There are several Guest Parking areas close to the building. If these areas are filled, parking is available next to the playground on Maypole St., which runs between FBC and Burger King.
What ministries are available for my children/youth?
Ministries are available for every age group in your family; babies to college student. Ministries are planned far enough in advance so parents can adjust calendars and attend with their child or student. FBC leaders and volunteers encourage other adults and parents to attend each event for children and get to know parents of the other children. We’re all about building a church family who enjoys one another and grows together in reaching our community. Please take a moment to visit the Preschool, Children, Youth, Music, and Missions web pages.
What should I wear to church?
You’ll be with friends and family… and some folks you may not know. Sunday mornings may be a little more formal; so you’d probably be comfortable in “dressy casual” or what you may wear to a job interview. Sunday evenings and Wednesdays jeans and kakis are popular.
Where do I go when I visit for the first time?
Walking into a new church can be a little intimidating if you don’t know anyone; that’s why there are members at each entrance to greet you with a smile and offer a helping hand. Ask anyone at an entrance and they’ll be able to direct you to the visitor center or a class for you and your family.
(A link to the map of the class rooms and building for all four floors will soon appear here.)
Who should I call about special events on your calendar?
From time to time we schedule concerts, special Bible studies, youth and children’s events, and training events. Please call the church office or email the church with any question and we’ll do our best to answer.
Telephone: 850-682-2544
E-mail:
fbcstaff@fbccrestview.org
What ministry organizations do you support?
First Baptist Church supports each ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program as well as local ministry organizations: Okaloosa Baptist Association, Samaritan House, Crestview Pregnancy Center, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and
What is a “Southern Baptist?”
"Baptists cherish and defend religious liberty, and deny the right of any secular or religious authority to impose a confession of faith upon a church or body of churches. We honor the principles of soul competency and the priesthood of believers, affirming together both our liberty in Christ and our accountability to each other under the Word of God.
Baptist churches, associations, and general bodies have adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as instruments of doctrinal accountability. We are not embarrassed to state before the world that these are doctrines we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of faith and practice.
As a committee, we have been charged to address the "certain needs" of our own generation. In an age increasingly hostile to Christian truth, our challenge is to express the truth as revealed in Scripture, and to bear witness to Jesus Christ, who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
The 1963 committee rightly sought to identify and affirm "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified." Our living faith is established upon eternal truths. "Thus this generation of Southern Baptists is in historic succession of intent and purpose as it endeavors to state for its time and theological climate those articles of the Christian faith which are most surely held among us."
It is the purpose of this statement of faith and message
to set forth certain teachings which we believe."
For more details, please visit
Baptist
Faith and Message.
Who do I call to make an appointment to speak with one of the ministers?
The first contact you should make is to the church secretarial staff by phone or email or drop by the church office. One of the secretaries will direct the phone call or contact to the appropriate minister.
Telephone: 850-682-2544
E-mail:
fbcstaff@fbccrestview.org
How can I become a part of First Baptist Church?
The membership of First Baptist Church is made up of believers who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who have made that decision public through baptism by emersion, and who are committed to growing spiritually and becoming involved in personal ministry in the life of FBC members and program ministries.
At the end of each worship services an invitation is offered to welcome your public decision. A staff member will gladly receive you and briefly counsel with you regarding your specific decision. Your decision may be one of the following:
To receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, with subsequent baptism by emersion during a scheduled worship service and being received by the church by affirmation of members present.
To request baptism by immersion (believer’s baptism). This decision is for those who have made a public decision in the past and are desiring to follow in obedience to be baptized by immersion or for those joining FBC from another denomination with the same doctrines and beliefs concerning the means of salvation.
To transfer membership from another Southern Baptist Church and affirmation of faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
To affirm your faith in and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and affirm with FBC like beliefs concerning salvation and baptism as described in “The Baptist Faith and Message.”
Please contact the church office and speak with a staff member regarding your decision if you would like more information prior to making a public decision; we would enjoy speaking with you.