All About Us

"Every Member a Minister"

Purpose

The purpose of First Baptist Church of Morganton, North Carolina is to:

• provide regular opportunities for public worship
• observe the ordinances, sustain the doctrines, and practice the ethics set forth in the New Testament for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ;
• nurture members through a program of Christian education and ministry;
• direct offerings and resources to the support of the objects of the Redeemer's Kingdom, and
• preach and propagate among all people the gospel of the revelation of God through Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

 

Church Covenant

 

OUR COVENANT Confessing our faith in God the Father, who has made Himself known to us through His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, and believing that He has called us together in the fellowship of His Holy Spirit, we do now make this covenant with God and with one another. We will be faithful in worship, gathering with the church family to celebrate God's Presence, to experience His Word, and to remember His grace. We will commit ourselves to Christian growth through a diligent study of the Scriptures and regular prayer. We will be responsible stewards of all we are and all we have, giving time, influence, and resources to the support of the church and its ministries. We will encourage one another in love and good works, and through ministries of prayer and presence will share one another's burdens and joys. We will be a servant Church, following the example of our Lord, and will bear witness to His grace in word and in deed. We will seek God's help in striving to so live in this community and the world that others may be drawn to our Savior and Lord. We will call God's people wherever we are, living for the glory of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. AMEN Adopted by the Congregation of First Baptist Church Morganton, North Carolina November 5, 1978

History

First Baptist Church Morganton was organized in 1879 with eight charter members. A detailed study reveals scores of dedicated people - the real church - along with their contributions of time, talent, love, and money given to honor God and further His purposes. The work of dedicated pastors, of whom there have been twenty-two could fill volumes. To this record of over 120 years of dedicated leadership, is added countless years of individual records of love and service by dedicated adults and young people, all comprising a precious testimony of Christian service to further the Lord's kingdom in Morganton, North Carolina.

A more detailed history may be found here.
 

Affiliations

While believing that individual churches should be free, autonomous, independent bodies, First Baptist Church of Morganton, North Carolina recognizes the mutual helpfulness in collaborating with other organizations which have similar a commitment to Christian education, to the support of missions and evangelistic efforts, and to servant ministry to people in need.

First Baptist actively participates with the:

• Catawba River Baptist Association,
• Baptist State Convention of North Carolina,
• Southern Baptist Convention, and
• Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Individual members and church sponsored groups also engage in joint activities with other local, state, national, and international groups that seek to implement the missionary, educational, and benevolent interests and obligations of individual Christians and the collective church family.

Becoming a Member

A believer may become a member of First Baptist Church:

• upon profession of faith in Jesus as Savior and upon baptism by immersion, or
• by transfer of letter from another church or by statement of Christian commitment, if previously baptized by immersion, or
• through associate membership, if previously baptized by a method other than immersion. Associate members are full members with the exception that they cannot serve as deacons or be messengers to a Baptist Convention.

Persons interested in becoming a member of First Baptist may indicate this desire publicly during a Sunday morning worship service, during Wednesday evening Bible study and fellowship, or at another time agreed upon with one of the Ministers.

Members are expected to be faithful in all responsibilities inherent in the Christian life, to attend regularly the services of the Church, to give regularly and systematically to its support and to Kingdom causes, and to share in its organized work.

Plan of Salvation

Steps to Peace with God

Step 1

God's Purpose: Peace and Life

God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life--abundant and eternal.

The Bible says ...

"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1 (NIV)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (NIV)

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (NIV)

Why don't most people have this peace and abundant life that God planned for us to have?

Step 2

The Problem: Our Separation

God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice.

We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.

The Bible says ...

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 (NIV)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Our Attempts to Reach God

People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God.

The Bible says ...

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

No bridge reaches God . . . except one.

Step 3

God's Bridge: The Cross

Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.

The Bible says ...

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." 1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 (NIV)

God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.

Step 4

Our Response: Receive Christ

We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.

The Bible says ...

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12 (NIV)

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (NIV)

Where are you?

Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?

Here is how you can receive Christ: 

1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).
2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (receive Him as Lord and Savior).

Step 5

Prayer

How to Pray (an example):

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God's Assurance: His Word

If you prayed this prayer,

The Bible says ...

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (NIV)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Having received Christ, we are born again into God's family through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within every believer.

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship, you should:

• Read your Bible every day in order to know Christ better.
• Talk to God in prayer every day.
• Tell others about Christ.
• Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached (we would love for you to visit the First Baptist Church of Morganton, NC!).
• As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.

(Adapted from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.)

Contact: Tom Bland, Senior Minister, 828/437-2544, ext. 12, tabland@hci.net