First Baptist Church, Whiteville, NC, was constituted August 17, 1834. The Church has a long history of commitment to missions and continues to give more than twenty percent of the operating budget in those areas. The Church also gives graciously to the special offerings. Five pastors have been Foreign Missionaries.

The Church is a moderate Southern Baptist County Seat Congregation with strong inclination towards the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The Church’s style of worship is a traditional, sacred music, and most reverent, respectful one, recognizing the importance of listening to God.

The Church has a long history of supporting a “big” budget and meeting her goals financially.

Facility wise, the Church is abundantly blessed. The sanctuary is an inspirational environment for worship. The Church has been blessed to have many very strong pastors who have enjoyed a long tenure with the community. In the past 41 years we have had 5 Pastors.

First Baptist Whiteville has ordained women deacons for many years. Presently (2008), the Church has four active female deacons. In keeping with this moderate theology, a believer’s baptism is accepted and some communion services are intinction. The Church is incorporated, has bylaws, and a church policy manual.

Sound theological, expository sermons, active caring pastoral care, quality sacred music, and missions are revered traditions and trademarks of the Church’s past and future desires.

Our Mission

The purpose of this Church body is to be a worshiping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world, striving in our daily living to be Christ-like by emphasizing total commitment of life, personality, talents and possessions to the Lordship of Christ.

Further, the purpose is to operate and function as a church in all its religious, charitable and educational dimensions, including but not limited to the following church purposes.

1) To advance and promote the worship of God.

2) To engage in and promote the study of the Holy Scriptures

3) To advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ by preaching, evangelism teaching and the administration of the ordinances of the church

4) To create and enable Christian fellowship as a nurturing and discipling function of the church.

5) To promote the biblical principles of justice and righteousness in personal, social, community and national life.

6) To carry on the work of the church in all its spiritual, benevolent, educational, philanthropic, civil and social aspects and activities

7) To promote the spiritual welfare of all persons and to disseminate the Word of God to the people of all nations through evangelistic, educational and charitable missions.

8) To organize and maintain such ministries and divisions, relief programs and social services and other programs authorized by law which will promote and advance the religious purposes set forth herein.

Our Worship

Worship at First Baptist Church Whiteville is at the core of our church community. It is what brings us together in faith and sends us out in service. Regular participation in worship encourages and sustains both the individual and the congregation as each seek to live out God’s purpose in the world. From the opening prelude to the final postlude, our worship services are thematically structured with every effort made to connect scripture, sermon text and music as one. Traditional in form, worship themes loosely follow the liturgical calendar year. Special services during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter enhance our overall worship experiences. Other special days of observance include the Day of Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, World Communion Sunday and Christ the King Sunday. The congregation leads and participates in worship through prayers, reading of scripture, responsive readings, litanies and through the singing of timeless hymnody.

Our Music

The Music Ministry at First Baptist Whiteville is an important part of the church’s identity. It is threefold in nature encouraging experiences in worship, musical instruction, and missions within the church, community and world. The Music Ministry’s commitment to excellence is taught, sung and played in worship and in weekly rehearsals. It seeks to provide musical experiences and worship training to people of all ages. Our graded choir ministry is built upon age appropriate curriculum that encourages musical understanding coupled with spiritual application. The Preschool Music Activity is for ages four and five. The Children’s Choir at the present time is made up of grades one through five. The Youth Choir is for grades six through twelve. Each of these choirs sing periodically in worship as well as provide music for The Hanging of the Greens

Service and end of the year Music in Worship Service. The Chancel Choir for adults is the predominant Sunday morning worship choir. It also presents musical programs during the seasons of Christmas and Holy Week. The Singing Seniors, our senior adult choir is for ages fifty-five and older. The Singing Seniors also presents musical programs at local assisted living homes twice a year. The Congregation makes up the largest choir at First Baptist as it offers musical praise and reflection through hymnody each Sunday. Children in grades three through five have the opportunity to participate in the Children’s Hand chime Choir. A hand bell choir is offered for youth and adults. The vitality and quality of the Music Ministry is built upon a traditional foundation yet is eclectic stylistically. Choral repertoire includes great classics, traditional anthems, spirituals, hymn arrangements as well as newly composed anthems accompanied by organ and/or piano.

FBC MISSIONS

First Baptist Church Whiteville has had a long history of mission work. This mission work began in the 1800’s. Our church was constituted August 17, 1834. Five of our pastors have been missionaries to foreign countries. We contribute approximately 25% of our operating budget to missions.

First Baptist Church Whiteville participates in giving to all the SBC and CBF offerings. The annual budget includes giving to Help Mission, CBA, BWA, ABS, Chaplain Fund, Campbell University Divinity School, and Gardner-Webb Divinity School.

Community Missions consist of assistance with water, electricity, housing, gas, medical and other needs for people in the community as they are requested. Guidelines are in place to assess need. Members of First Baptist also participate in the annual Operation Inasmuch Day, whereby we organize and participate in missions that involve every age group.

The Baptist Men as well as WMU have ongoing projects to teach, pray, give and participate in missions. First Baptist Church also participates mission projects in CBA and community. Examples:

· CBA ministry at the Columbus County Fair

· Countywide Revivals,

· Redbox ministry at the Women’s Prison in Raleigh

Vacation Bible School also stresses the importance of missions. Each year we take up an offering that goes to meet needs that are important during that particular year. 2008 has been a particularly difficult year for many financially, and we have had many requests for assistance from people needing donations from our food pantry. Offerings were collected as well as canned food to help provide additional assistance to meet the needs of the food pantry ministry. Past offering have benefited:

Help Mission
Families First
Pregnancy Crisis Center
Prison Ministry

Our Food Pantry reaches more people on a daily basis than any other mission ministry. Sunday School classes contribute regularly to stock the items needed. Everyone is asked to bring wrapped canned goods at Christmas.

The Grief Committee has provided a missions ministry to many families who are church members and some who are not. The Wednesday night supper committees pack suppers and volunteers deliver the meals to shut-ins. Flowers given on Sunday morning are divided and delivered to some church members, and some non-members.

The Missions Fund has provided many wheelchair ramps and funds for needs that exceeded our budget. Some of the community projects that have been supported are; Literacy, “Pack the Truck” for hurricane victims, items for soldiers abroad, Gideons, Relay for Life, Samaritan’s Purse, and layettes for newborns at Columbus County Hospital.

Our financial contributions to missions place us in the top 2% of the Baptist churches in the state.

Our Denominational Affiliations

Ø CBF

Ø Columbus County Baptist Association

Ø North Carolina Baptist State Convention

Our Programs

Sunday School

Enrollment 339

Adult 277

Youth 62

Number of Shut-Ins on roll who cannot attend, but who receive literature – 24

Literature :

Adult - Lifeway: Explore the Bible

Adult - Smyth and Helwys Uniform

Youth - Lifeway

Children - Lifeway

Classes:

Couples - 3

Women (adult) - 3

Men (adult) - 3

Nursery

3 to 5 Year Old

1^st to 2^nd Grade

3^rd to 5^th Grade

6^th to 8^th Grade (Middle School)

9^th to 12^th Grade (High School)

Average Sunday School attendance - 124

Average attendance children (birth to 18 years) - 24

Sunday School meets from 9:45 to 10:45

Hospitality room from 9:15 to 10:30

Home Life for various ages and Open Windows are provided for those who want them.

Deacons

1. Duties. In accordance with the meaning of the word and the practice in the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the Church. The duty of the deacon is to serve with the pastor and ministerial staff in performing pastoral ministries tasks: proclaim the Gospel to believers and unbelievers; care for Church members and other persons in the community; lead the Church to engage in a fellowship of worship, witness, education, ministry and application, and lead the church in performing its tasks.

2. Number and Terms. The Church shall have twenty-one active deacons who serve three-year terms with seven deacons elected each year.

Music Ministry

The Music Ministry at First Baptist Whiteville encourages experiences in worship, musical instruction, and missions within the church, community and world. Music Ministry classes include:

Preschool (ages 4 to5)

Children’s Choir (Grades 1 to 5)

Youth Choir (Grades 6 to 12)

Chancel Choir (adults)

Children’s Ministry

We have Wednesday night programs for the children, pre-K through 5^th grade.

The curriculum is “Bible Skills, Thrills, & Drills.” We have 3 classes.

3-4 year olds, K-2^nd grade, and 3^rd-5^th grade. There are also choir opportunities for each age group that meet on Wed. as well.

Our Wed. night programming runs from Labor Day – May.

The youth group (grades 6-12) meets on Sunday nights.

There is a children’s church available on Sunday morning after the children’s sermon.

This is for children under 5. It is staffed by a group of ladies that rotate once/month. (There is also a nursery on Sunday mornings for the babies.)

Our yearly activities in the past have included:

*Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes

* Easter Egg hunt or Easter drama

* 1 summer activity in addition to VBS

* Fall carnival (during Oct.)

* Operation InAsMuch

* Parents night out – babysitting money raised for Lottie Moon

* Talent night/ Sweetheart banquet in Feb.

We have done Acteens, Mission Friends, GA’s , RA’s & RA basketball in the past, but have not had enough children or teachers to have separate boy/girl programming for these groups. We would love to reinstate these programs if we had enough response.

Youth Ministry

The Youth Committee consists of 9 people, who serve 3 year terms.

The youth meet on Sunday nights – the first three Sundays are dedicated to Bible study, while the fourth Sunday is a short Bible study and then a “fun” night where they may go out to eat or play games.

The youth went on an out of country mission trip through World Changers this summer to Puerto Rico to help rebuild some homes damaged from a recent hurricane. They had a Boston Butt Fundraiser in the Fall to help pay for some of their expenses.

This summer we hired a former Christian camp counselor and had a summer program for the middle school on Tuesday nights and Thursday nights for the high school. He would conduct Bible studies, some of which were through games and songs. They also went to Carowinds for a “fun” day and the high schoolers went to Lake Waccamaw for a weekend retreat. One important highlight of this summer was a Car Wash Community Mission Project where they showed their love for Christ by reaching out to others.

Each year they have a Fall retreat in the North Carolina mountains, go skiing in Virginia in the winter, have a Progressive dinner at Christmas, which concludes with the Lord’s Supper in the sanctuary of our church, help with our church wide Operation In As Much Program, help with VBS and participate in the Operation Shoe Box project at Christmas.

We are currently seeking a full-time Minister of Children, Youth and their Families.

Senior Ministry

First Baptist Church of Whiteville has a strong history with the senior adult program. Rev. Roy Walker and the deacons of FBC saw a need for a senior adult program in 1982. Robert Howard, Chairman of Deacons enlisted Annie Ward to organize the group. The group was formed from adults 55 and over and called them selves the Sunshine Group. The group has had as many as 71 members.

The objective was to help elderly people to render a personal service for our Lord by becoming more involved in church activities, thereby making retirement years more meaningful.

The Group has been very active. They plan and follow through on projects, trips, plays, organized fellowships, and fun and informative programs with special speakers.

The Sunshine Group meets once a month, usually on the 2^nd Tuesday. Other than officers, they have the following committees: Advisory Committee, Hospitality/Food Committee, Program Committee, Telephone Committee, Outreach Committee and Travel Committee. They take various day trips including one surprise trip each year. At present, they rotate overnight trips between Spring and Fall which means one major trip per year. Our minister of music has the Singing Seniors who sing for various events, especially the Nursing Homes. Traditionally the group has a Winter Bible Study and a Spring Prayer Retreat. Both of these are usually led by special guests.

Our Congregation

As of our Congregation Profile 2007, our total church membership was 826, with 481 resident members, and approximately 50 children who are not church members, but are participants in the various ministries.

Chart 1

Chart 2

Chart 2 shows the resident membership by age. As stated earlier, we have a number of children and youth that participate in programs offered by the church that are not members, and thus do not show up on this chart. The largest segment of our membership resides in the 65 and over category, followed by the 45 to 59 age group.

Chart 3

Chart 3: Shows a breakdown of member status. Members have been divided into two categories, almost three-fourths of the resident membership is registered in Sunday School, with the remaining one-fourth listed as only attending Sunday morning services.

Chart 4

Sunday School : Enrollment 342

Average Attendance 140

Worship Attendance: Enrollment 481

Average Attendance 175

Church Governance

Congregational Government. This is a sovereign and democratic Baptist Church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The government of this Church is congregational in nature and vested in the body of believers who compose it, and is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical or political body or bodies. The membership retains unto itself the exclusive right of self-government in all phases of the spiritual and temporal life of this Church.

Relationships. Recognizing that there is mutual helpfulness in the association and cooperation of Christian churches, this Church will, insofar as is practical, cooperate with and support other Christian churches and organizations.

Ministers and Staff

Pastor

Job Description

The Pastor is to give leadership and spiritual nurture to the congregation and staff through the various ministries of the church and to articulate with the church a defining vision of what it means to be a New Testament Church.

Ministries Responsibilities

1. To proclaim faithfully the Word of God in the preaching ministry of the church.

2. To provide leadership for the observance of the church ordinances.

3. To schedule quiet time daily to study God’s Word and to pray.

4. To work with other ministers in planning and coordinating all corporate worship services.

5. To give spiritual leadership to the congregation and community

6. To represent First Baptist Church in the best ways possible in order to further the worship of the church for the kingdom of God.

7. To be available for short term counseling as needed.

8. To coordinate and participate in hospital visits, visits to homebound and nursing home members who cannot attend church on a regular basis.

9. To visit prospective members and to coordinate follow-up with new members.

10. To conduct weddings and funerals and to provide the needed spiritual counseling for persons and families involved.

General Planning and Coordinating

1. To supervise all church staff, conduct staff meetings, and coordinate with the church staff, the calendar for all church events.

2. To give direction and support for the spiritual growth of all church staff, deacons, and leaders of the church, and to guide the ministries of all groups.

3. To serve as the overall administrator of the church.

4. To lead the staff and lay leaders in ongoing planning, coordinating and evaluation of total programs, ministries and missions of the church.

5. To serve as a model for maturing Christians in Bible study, devotion, interpersonal relationships, and commitment to serve God’s church and people in a Christ-like manner in (his) personal and professional life.

Committees

Endowment

Grounds

Long Range Facility Planning

Personnel

Properties

Stewardship and Finance

Minister of Music

Eddie Fort began his fifth year as Minister of Music at First Baptist Whiteville in August 2008. With over twenty-five years of music ministry experience he has served churches in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky. He and his wife Robin are natives of Georgia. Both hold master degrees in church music with emphasis in vocal performance. Responsibilities at First Baptist include planning, promoting and implementing the total music ministry. Eddie personally directs the Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, Chancel Choir, Senior Adult Choir, and Children’s hand chimes. Worship planning and implementation is on of Eddie’s strengths. He also shares in staff responsibilities which include hospital visitation, weddings, and ministering during times of crisis and bereavement. Eddie has been a member of the Century Men, an auditioned men’s chorus of Baptist ministers since 1984. He is also a member of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, American Choral Directors Association and The Choirsters Guild. Eddie has served on the faculty of Music Week at Caswell sponsored by the Music and Worship Team of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He has also served on the faculty of Children’s Music Camps in Georgia and Florida. In his spare time, Eddie enjoys gardening, painting and music composition.

Minister of Children, Youth and Families

Position – Vacant

Overview:

The Minister of Children, Youth, and their Families shall be a full time position. This person shall be passionate about Jesus Christ and have a sense of God’s call to minister with children, youth, and their families. This position will require development and implementation of programs for family ministry within the church and community.

The Minister to Children, Youth and their Families will:

1. Help lead children and youth to Christ and nurture them in age-appropriate Christian discipleship.

2. Meet with appropriate children and youth committees and organizations to help plan and implement their ministries

3. Develop relationships with children, youth and their families and promote an outreaching ministry to encourage them to reach out to others.

4. Coordinate visits to active, inactive, and prospective children, youth, and their families.

5. Organize opportunities for children, youth, and their families for ministry and missions.

6. Be personally involved in outreach and in-reach.

7. Maintain a high level of professional and personal development through continuing education opportunities.

8. Be involved in the worship ministry by participating in the planning and leading of worship.

9. Assist and participate in the ministry team through staff meetings, pastoral care, and visitation.

10. Carry out any other duties assigned by the pastor.

Professional Qualifications:

Masters Degree from accredited theological seminary or divinity school preferred. Experience with children, youth and their families.

Committee and organizational assignments

Church Council

Sunday School Council

Youth Committee

Children’s Committee

Nursery Committee

Vacation Bible School

Family Life Committee

Nominating Committee (as requested by the Chair)

Church Secretary – Paula Inman

Organist – Randy Page

Financial Ministry Assistant – Dinah Reaves

Our Facilities

Date of Construction: 1952

Sanctuary Seating: 400

Fellowship Hall Seating: 300

Educational Spaces: 21,078 Sq. Ft.

Office Complex Space: 11,470 Sq. Ft.

F.M. White Bldg.: 1,550 Sq. Ft.

Storage Building: 528 Sq. Ft.

Property Acreage: 3.42 Acres

Our Budget and Finances

Total Budget $481,500.95

Missions $ 95,863.33

Personnel Expense $264,073.22

Educational Ministry $ 28,800.00

Supplies and Equipment $ 15,950.00

Special Service Expenses $ 16,054.40

General Operating Expense $ 60,760.00

The budget for 2008 as prepared by the Stewardship and Finance Committee reflects the priorities of members, personnel, and the staff at First Baptist. We are committed to supporting missions and feel that our strong commitment is reflected in the high percentage of our overall budget that is allowed for missions.

Our City

Whiteville is a small town, located in Eastern North Carolina. With a total area of 5.4 square miles it provides a certain small town southern charm. The 2000 census lists the population as 5,148 people, 2,191 households, and 1,336 families were reported to reside in the city.

Although, Whiteville is a small town it is centrally located too many activities that are attractive to families. Just 11 miles outside of Whiteville, is the largest natural lake between Florida and New York. Lake Waccamaw offers a wonderful vacation site for families looking for sun, fun and picturesque tree lined shores that surround the lake.

Just to the south lies one of the nations’ most popular beaches. At only 50 miles away, Myrtle Beach offers, sandy beaches, water slides, shopping, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (class A – affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) and some of the best golf on the east coast.

Facts and Figures:

Climate:

Average Temperature 62.8 degrees

Average Annual Rainfall 48.5 inches

Average Annual Snowfall 2 inches

Driving Time to Metropolitan Cities:

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 45 minutes

Wilmington, North Carolina 45 minutes

Fayetteville, North Carolina 1 hour

Raleigh, North Carolina 2 hours

Airports within driving distance:

Columbus County Municipal (Whiteville): Offers charter service

Wilmington, North Carolina 45 miles

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 50 miles

Raleigh, North Carolina 145 miles

Pastor Profile

First Baptist Church is a moderate Baptist church seeking a pastor who is a faithful follower of Christ and has a clear sense of calling to the Baptist ministry who must uphold traditional principles: priesthood of the believer and autonomy of the local church. Candidate must have more than 5 years of prior pastoral experience and a minimum of a master’s degree from seminary/divinity school.

· To have a personal vision and well-developed vision for the future of God’s church – lead and shepherd.

· To be an effective communicator of meaningful and well-prepared sermons which inspire the congregation, arouse their interest, deepen their faith and lead to spiritual growth.

· To be a gifted teacher who enables person to learn and understand deep spiritual truths.

· To promote unity within our church while respecting different points of view and beliefs.

· To be a secure and confident leader responding to all types of leaders (use committee structure to govern the church).

· To be supportive of women in leadership roles.

· To relate, attract, interact, involve and be responsive to children, youth and their families.

· To be supportive of Sunday School and Outreach.

· To promote missions.

· To provide a caring ministry for the sick, shut-ins, those in crisis, and the bereaved.

· To effectively supervise staff by working cooperatively together with staff and laity.

· To be able to make difficult decisions when necessary.

· To have good organizational skills.

· To relate to finances regarding personal/family finances and church/ministry finances.