Believe, Belong, Become in Bay
First Baptist Church of Bay stands on Central Avenue in the small northeast Arkansas town of Bay, a community of only a few hundred residents tucked into Craighead County. The church's three-word motto, "Believe ... Belong ... Become," frames everything from its weekly schedule to its missions giving. Pastor Danny Taylor, who became the church's pastor on August 1, 2007, preaches a steady Bible-centered message to a congregation that has worshipped on or near this site for more than 130 years.
First Baptist identifies with the Southern Baptist Convention and partners locally through the Mount Zion Baptist Association and the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Visitors are invited to "feel at home as you worship the Lord," and the church offers giving, a sermon audio page, and a full schedule of services for every age group from preschool through senior adults.
A Sunday Built Around Three Hours
The Sunday rhythm at First Baptist Bay is built around three touchpoints: learning, worship, and a return to the sanctuary in the evening.
At 9:30 a.m., small groups for all ages meet across the educational wing. The program is carefully graded, with a nursery, a pre-school class, three elementary classes (K-2, 3-4, 5-6), two student classes for grades 7-9 and 10-12, and six adult classes. Pastor Taylor himself teaches the Connect Class, and the senior adult department is led by Carol Morgan for women with the men's leader position currently open.
At 10:30 a.m., the morning worship service gathers in the main sanctuary. A nursery is available for children from birth through age two, and Kidz4Christ! children's worship runs at the same time for older children. A blended choir leads music that weaves traditional hymns with newer songs, grounded in the Word of God and lifted up in praise.
The day closes with a 6:00 p.m. evening worship service in the main sanctuary, giving the church a full morning and evening pattern of gathered worship.
Wednesday Nights for Children, Students, and Adults
First Baptist Bay's midweek schedule is just as carefully built. At 6:30 p.m., Kidz4Christ! meets for children, and Bay First Students gathers for the student ministry. At 7:00 p.m., adults gather for Wednesday Worship, a service designed to extend the teaching of Sunday morning into the middle of the week.
The student ministry is led by Zach and Candace Jolly, and its purpose is straightforward: "to develop a personal, obedient, life-long relationship with Jesus Christ in which He transforms your character into Christ likeness, changes your values into Kingdom values, and involves you in His mission in the home, the church and the world!" Students are invited to come as they are, with the assurance that "we are better together."
FBC Children: Kidz4Christ from Pre-School Through 6th Grade
Children are a major focus of the church. First Baptist seeks to provide "a caring ministry to our children and parents" that takes to heart Jesus' own love for children. Each week and across the year, the children's program offers a wide range of activities so that children can experience acceptance, engage in learning, enjoy themselves, and express their faith.
The children's ministry is built around five ongoing pieces:
- Kidz4Christ! children's church on Sunday morning
- Sunday morning Bible classes
- Kidz4Christ! on Wednesday nights
- Vacation Bible School
- Kingdom Kidz choir and music
Programs are age-graded and available to all children from pre-school through the 6th grade. The church says it is "committed to partnering with you as a parent" and believes in "the unlimited potential in each and every child."
A Blended-Worship Music Ministry
Music is central to life at First Baptist Bay. The music ministry's conviction is simple: "God is an awesome God who deserves our praise, adoration, and exultation" and "every human being is created to worship God." Anchoring the program is Psalm 150:6, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!"
Three groups make up the worship music family. The Kingdom Kidz Choir introduces children to music, The Refinery leads youth worship, and the Celebration Choir leads the adult services. The blended format intentionally combines traditional and contemporary music so that every worshiper finds something familiar while also being invited to "discover a 'new song' with which to praise the Lord." Musicians, singers, and those who simply want to participate are all invited to "come share your voice, your musical instrument, and your joy."
Deacons, Small Groups, and Pastoral Care
The deacon ministry is described as "vital to the life of First Baptist Church." Deacons serve as co-partners with the pastor and staff to meet the spiritual needs of individuals in the church and the community. Their duties include proclaiming the gospel, assisting in the administering of the church's ordinances, and leading the Family Deacon Ministry, a structure that connects every member with a deacon who cares for them.
Deacons also minister in times of crisis, provide scriptural counsel and referral, assist the benevolence ministry, lead by personal example of Christian living, interpret the work of the church to members and the community, and build and maintain fellowship. The deacon body serves under the authority of the congregation.
Small groups are the heartbeat of discipleship. Beyond the Sunday 9:30 a.m. small groups for all ages, the church offers additional classes and Bible study opportunities throughout the week. Pastor Taylor's own teaching rotation, along with the rotation of deacons, keeps the congregation knitted together across generations.
From the "Big Bay" Log Church to a 400-Seat Sanctuary
First Baptist's history stretches back to 1888, when the church was organized on what is now the site of the Assembly of God Church, sometimes called the "Rock Church," on Brown Street. The original log building served the congregation in the 1800s, when the church was known as the "Big Bay" Baptist Church. In October 1889 the church joined the Mount Zion Baptist Association with 44 charter members under the leadership of Rev. E.P. Minton.
The name shifted several times: to Liberty Baptist in 1891, back to Bay Baptist the following year, then to Bay Missionary Baptist, before the congregation finally adopted "First Baptist Church" in April 1935. The logs were replaced by a white frame building in 1900, and a cobblestone building rose in the 1940s. The current sanctuary was constructed in 1957 on property donated by Mrs. Ida Blalock, and the educational wing was added in 1964.
Two ministries stand out in the church's early years. The Women's Missionary Society was organized in 1911 with eleven charter members, and the first Sunday School was held in 1916. Vacation Bible School first appears in the church minutes in 1941. During the pastorate of Rev. L.L. Jordan in the late 1920s, the church grew to 260 members, and Rev. Jordan baptized 139 people at one time following a great revival meeting. During the ministry of Rev. Eugene Webb from 1949 to 1952, the Alsup Baptist Mission was started; under Pastor Max L. Taylor it was organized into a separate church in December 1956 with 27 charter members.
In 2010, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to enter a complete renovation project covering the sanctuary, the educational building, and expanded parking. The work was finished on time and debt-free, a moment the church describes as "a reflection of the congregation's love for the Lord, for His church and for the community that she serves." Then in July 2015, the church broke ground on a new 400-seat sanctuary, looking forward with anticipation to what God would do next.
Missions: Lottie Moon, the Cooperative Program, and Haiti
First Baptist Bay is deeply tied to Southern Baptist missions work. The church supports four mission channels: the Cooperative Program, the Mount Zion Baptist Association, the International Mission Board, and the North American Mission Board.
Each December, the church receives the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, which supports more than 5,000 foreign missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. The offering is named for Lottie Moon, a Southern Baptist missionary who served in China for 39 years and whose name has become "something of a legend" among Southern Baptists. Lottie turned down a marriage proposal, left her family and her life of privilege, and "labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus." She adopted Chinese dress, learned the language and customs, baked cookies to draw neighbors to her door, and wrote letters home pleading for more workers and more support. In 1912, during a time of war and famine, Lottie silently starved so that her Chinese neighbors could eat, dying on Christmas Eve in harbor at Kobe, Japan. Her legacy continues to send and support missionaries in every country on the globe.
In 2015, First Baptist sent a team of seven to the earthquake-ravaged area of Haiti, where they did construction work on an orphanage for children who had lost their families in the earthquake and shared the hope of Jesus Christ. The church continues to pray for the people of Haiti, especially the children.
What to Expect on a First Visit
First Baptist Bay wants newcomers to feel at home. The address is 200 Central Avenue, Bay, AR 72411, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 190, Bay, AR 72411. The phone number is (870) 781-3269, and the office is open Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A nursery is provided during the 10:30 a.m. service for children from birth through age two, and Kidz4Christ! children's worship runs at the same time for older children.
Online giving is available through EasyTithe, a sermon audio archive is available online, and the church is active on Facebook. Whether arriving for Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., the 10:30 a.m. blended worship service, the 6:00 p.m. evening service, or one of the Wednesday night programs, the same welcome extends to every guest: "Believe ... Belong ... Become."