Latest News
Deacon Ordination and Installation
We are grateful for the newest class of deacons that were ordained or installed in worship on January 11, 2026. Their servant leadership will be valuable to our church. Ordained: Patrick Bairefoot, Katherine Gallagher-King, Anna Goldston, Walt Herbert, Jamie...
Parent Education Initiative
On Sunday, January 11, we hosted a Parent Education Night for families of children and youth. We welcomed six knowledgeable and compassionate panelists who shared insight into body safety, sexuality and other meaningful topics that support parents as they navigate...
Authentic Engagement?
Before he became Pope John Paul II, then Cardinal Wojtyla wrote a book—The Acting Person—which described church participation as either authentic or inauthentic. The two kinds of authentic engagement, he wrote, are solidarity and protest. We expect him to say...
Foundation Sunday
On Sunday, February 8, our congregation will celebrate The FBG Foundation during a special worship service. We will share how the Foundation supports missions and ministries as well as hear from Foundation fund recipients who will be worshipping with us. Prior to the...
From the Senior Minister (January 20, 2025)
In November 2024, NPR ran a story titled “Churches in America Are Having a Hard Time Finding Pastors.” The story opened with a sobering reality: “American religious institutions are facing a crisis: they don’t have enough clergy to lead congregations, particularly in...
The Branch—January 20, 2026
Click to Access PDF
Vocare: Youth Ensemble at First Baptist Greenville
As I reflect on my first six months as Minister of Music at First Baptist Greenville, there are many highlights, but one of my favorite parts has been working with and getting to know the students who sing in Vocare, our youth ensemble. Youth choir was a huge part of...
New Intercessory Prayer Group
Are you moved by the growing hardship faced by our neighbors living on the margins but don’t know how to help? Perhaps God is calling you to support our neighbors through prayer. A new prayer group is forming to support community members inquiring for Local Relief...
You Are Invited to TRY January at the AYMC!
We are so proud of the AYMC and invite you to TRY us out for FREE for the whole month of January! We are always working to improve the quality and quantity of the programs the AYMC offers its members, so below is a list of what we currently offer, including some...
From the Senior Minister (January 11, 2025)
Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, I try to take time at the end of each year to do a year-in-review. A few years ago, Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes offered a guided meditation on her podcast, which included reflective questions for reviewing the year. Life is so...
The Branch—January, 12, 2026
Click to Access PDF
MidWeek Activities Resume January 14
Happy New Year! Regular MidWeek activities for all ages resume January 14. MidWeek Supper is served from 5 until 6pm in the Fellowship Hall ($10/adult, $5/child). Call the church office or visit firstbaptistgreenville.com/wednesdays-at-first for reservations. Youth...
Join the Children’s and Youth Ministries for an Evening of Learning, Connection and Community
Parent Dinner Party with Professional Panel Sunday, January 11 5:00-7:00pm | Fellowship Hall Our format is simple and conversational: participants will be seated around tables, and we will begin the evening with brief remarks from each of our professionals. We will...
Enrollment for First Baptist Day School 2026-2027
Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year for First Baptist Church members and current students will be held January 12-16, 2026. First Baptist Day School, a private preschool founded in 1952, serves 200 children ages eight weeks through five years. Our school year...
TRY January
Happy New Year! I am excited to embark on a new year filled with its unexpected opportunities and possibilities! Years ago, I left behind setting lofty, unsustainable resolutions that made me feel worse by mid-January and instead embraced a “Try January” mindset. With...
The Branch—January 5, 2026
Click to Access PDF
Peace and Grace, Matt Rollins
Dear friends and family of First Baptist Greenville, In 2003, I applied for the position of Recreation Coordinator at the church my wife grew up in. Over twenty-two years, seven offices, five positions, and two theology degrees later, I feel as though I grew up here...
From the Senior Minister (January 5, 2026)
After 22 years of faithful service, Matt Rollins will transition from First Baptist Greenville to full-time work with Village Engage. As I reflect on his ministry among us, I am struck by the gift Matt has given this congregation: longevity, an increasingly rare...
Poinsettia Dedications
Members of our congregation provided the beautiful poinsettias displayed in our Sanctuary. One poinsettia is given …in memory of Gregg Gallagher by his family. …by Tom and Sheri Ledbetter in memory of Robert L. Shaw. …in honor of the Johnson Sunday School Class by...
From the Senior Minister (December 22, 2025)
We all long for connection with one another, within a community where we belong, and for a sense of meaning at the beginning of a new year. Epiphany Sunday at First Baptist offers these gifts, and we hope you will be part of it! We will begin the new year together...
The Branch—December 22, 2025
Click to Access PDF
Church Epiphany Breakfast on January 4
Kick off the new year with a churchwide breakfast on Sunday, January 4, 2026! January 4 is Epiphany Sunday, the date in the church year that marks the official end of the Christmas season and commemorates the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. We will celebrate...
Music for Advent: Sanctuary Choir & Harpist Kari Novilla
On December 21, at both our morning worship service and our evening Candlelight and Carols service, we will enjoy the music of our Sanctuary Choir and guest harpist Kari Novilla. Kari is a former student of mine who has gone on to have a successful career as a harpist...
Family Faith Every Day Parenting Circle Cohort Recap
The past four months have been a meaningful journey with the five families in our Parenting Circle. Together, we explored ways to nurture faith practices at home and along the way, we watched a beautiful sense of community grow among both parents and children. We are...
From the Senior Minister (December 15, 2025)
During Advent, we make room for Christ in our hearts and our lives. Christine Rogers captures this beautifully in her poem, “A Clearing”: Help me make a space for you emptying myself to create a place for you spreading the straw on the floor of my soul in joyful...
Newsletter PDF
Access issues of the newsletter