Who are we?

Winter Park’s First Baptist Church is made up of a wide range of different people, from all ages and different backgrounds. Whoever you are you are assured a very warm welcome at Winter Park’s First.

When to arrive:

If this is your first visit and you want to come just for worship it is best to arrive around 10:15 am. There is special “first time visitor” parking on the South side of the church – there is plenty of parking in other lots, too. For directions see the Location and Times page. You will be greeted at the door by a member of our welcoming team who will give you some information about the church and help direct you to a good seat. Professional child care is offered for infants and Children’s Church is offered giving a special worship opportunity geared just for them.

You are also invited to visit one of our many Bible study groups that meet at 9 am. These groups are made up of people of similar ages or interests. The coffee pot is always on and we never see a stranger. To help you find a group that might meet your specific needs stop by the “Welcome Desk” located just inside the door off the South parking lot (which is where child care is, too). Feel free to visit several groups to help find the right group just for you.

What to wear:

This is easy. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. We are an informal church and accept people as they are. There is no need to dress up to try and be someone that you're not. Whether you come as a suited businessman or super casual that is fine with us.

What to expect:

Going anywhere for the first time can be a bit of a nerve-racking experience. We all had our “first visit,” too. To help avoid any worries here's a quick summary of what you can expect at Winter Park’s First Baptist. First of all we aren't super-spiritual beings. If you don't understand something please simply ask. The first part of the worship service is music. The music style is led by a band (guitar, bass, drums, synthesizer, featured singers) organ and piano and a very good choir. There is usually a time of greeting (we very friendly) and sometimes one of our ministers will share information about upcoming events. The second part of the service features a message from Dr. Charles Roesel (co-author of the book “Meeting Needs, Sharing Christ,” magazine article “Turning the Church Inside Out” and others). We find his talks to be engaging and relevant. Since his sermons are often thought provoking he gives us a chance to respond. Sometimes at the end people may come forward to pray. Others may want to talk confidentially to a trained counselor. This time can be special for many people. The service usually ends around noon. Whether you are just looking into Christianity for the first time or have been a Christian for many years, our aim is for you is to encounter and draw closer to God.

What we believe:

We are a Christian church and believe that all can have a relationship with God. We believe this relationship with God is possible because of Jesus (God's only son) who invites us to follow him. We desire to make a difference in our community and the world through serving our fellow man in many ways. We have friendly relationships with other local churches from both traditional and modern backgrounds. If you are interested in exploring the Christian faith then please stop by on a Sunday or contact the church to ask for information or to talk to someone.

Is it just Sundays?

Absolutely not! God is with us all week long and we aim to lead lives pleasing to him. We're not perfect, but we desire to make a positive difference in everything we do. Our Sunday morning Bible study groups give us an opportunity to be more real with each other about everyday living. We love families and provide a large variety of activities for children including Awana Bible Club, music training, team sports and other opportunities. Same with teens, centered around Sunday night meetings of eXpress for middle school and S.N.Y.G. for high school and it goes out from there into service projects and study groups. We have women’s groups, men’s groups, a very active senior adult group, Grief Share to support those hurting from the loss of a loved one, day care, association with a fine private school – the list goes on. We have volunteer teams go into our community and world with a desire to make a difference – be it a dental and construction team to Brazil, a Sidewalk Sunday School group going on Saturdays into all neighborhoods around the city, teens and others traveling to New Orleans to do construction – we care and are always looking for people just like you who want to be part of this.

For those with disabilities:

Although our building were built before the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we have made sure our facility is accessible with ample special parking, ramps and elevator. In addition, we offer a wireless hearing aid system so those that are hearing impaired can sit anywhere and enjoy the worship experience.