ABOUT US
A group of committed believers you can call family.
WHO WE ARE
At First Baptist Church of Wilmington, we believe the church is a family where we belong, encourage one another, and grow together in Christ. We believe that growth begins with the truth of God’s Word, deepens our relationship with Jesus, shapes the way we live, and equips us to serve Him and help others grow.
OUR VALUES
WE BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS FAMILY
We care for, encourage, challenge, and support one another as we follow Christ.
WE TRUST GOD’S WORD
We believe Scripture is the foundation for what we believe and how we live.
WE PURSUE GROWTH IN CHRIST
We want to know Jesus more deeply and become increasingly like Him.
WE VALUE CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
We believe spiritual growth should be evident in the way we live.
WE EQUIP BELIEVERS TO SERVE
We want every believer to discover how God can use them to serve Him and others.
WE HELP ONE ANOTHER GROW
Mature believers aren’t simply consumers of ministry; they become people who help disciple others.
OUR MISSION
To help people know Christ, grow in His Word, and become equipped to serve Him and help others grow.
We believe that spiritual growth begins with knowing and understanding the truth of God’s Word. As we grow in our knowledge of Scripture, we grow in our relationship with Jesus, become more like Him, and are equipped to serve Him with purpose and help others grow.
OUR VISION
To be a church family of growing disciples who know Christ deeply, understand and live by the truth of God’s Word, reflect His character in their daily lives, and confidently help others grow in Him.
We envision a church where believers are not simply hearers of God’s Word, but people whose lives are shaped by it. We want to see Christians who can stand firmly on Scripture, trust God’s promises through every season of life, and demonstrate the character of Christ through their love, joy, peace, faith, and self-control. As believers grow, we want them to become increasingly equipped and confident to serve Christ, share His Word, and help others grow.
OUR HISTORY
First Baptist Church of Wilmington has been part of the Wilmington community for more than two centuries. In 1817, Baptists became the first denomination to establish a church building in the village. On April 6, 1853, the congregation formally took the name First Baptist Church of Wilmington, Ohio, and built a new place of worship at the corner of Walnut Street and Locust Street.
As the congregation grew, a larger and more modern building became necessary. In 1914, the present church building was constructed on the same corner, where it continues to stand today.
Through the decades, First Baptist has experienced seasons of growth, change, challenge, and renewal. In 2022, the congregation had dwindled to just eight people. Yet even in that season, God had not forgotten His church. He was faithfully working among those who remained, calling His church to return to Him in faith and obedience.
That renewed sense of calling has shaped the church we are today. God has brought new people into our church family, and together we are growing in our desire to know Christ and understand His Word. We encourage and challenge one another to grow, allowing Scripture to shape the way we live and deepening our relationship with Jesus.
As we look to the future, we are committed to honoring the legacy God has given us while faithfully following where He leads us next. We do so with hope, trusting God to continue His work in and through His church.
OUR AFFILIATIONS
As Baptists, we believe that each local church is independent (autonomous) with Christ as its leader and with the Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We also believe that there is an excellent benefit of working with churches of like faith to further spread the Gospel. As an independent church, we have chosen to affiliate and work with the following organizations: The Clinton Baptist Association, The American Baptist Churches of Ohio, and the American Baptist Church USA, as long as these organizations remain faithful to our doctrinal statement.