First Baptist Church stands at 23 N Central Avenue in Belmont, North Carolina. Established in 1874, the independent, Christ-centric, Bible-believing church family is known for its uncompromising Gospel preaching and the Storehouse, a ministry beneath the sanctuary that serves 20 to 40 families each month.
A Gospel That Has Remained Central
Belmont has changed over the years, and the church has changed with it, but one conviction has not: the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached every time the congregation gathers and is not watered down. Jesus is its Lord and Savior, and the church centers its life on Him. Across more than a century, First Baptist has marked life, death, marriage, suffering, love, perseverance, grace, mercy and faithfulness, as well as answered prayers, people being called home and healings.
Its mission is to glorify God and make disciples by sharing the love of Jesus through prayer, reaching, teaching and ministering in unity with God and one another. Its vision is of a church built by God on the foundation of Jesus Christ, exalting the Son of God, edifying the people of God and enlarging the family of God.
First Baptist's beliefs center on the Bible as God's inspired Word, the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the virgin birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The church teaches that Jesus laid down his life for sins, is the only way to salvation, and that justification comes by God's grace through faith. It also affirms rebirth and the Kingdom of God, accountability to God, heaven and hell, and the security of the believer, described as once saved, always saved. Its doctrine includes the priesthood of believers, communication with God through prayer, communion and believer's baptism, and evangelism and missions. The Great Commandment remains central: love God with heart, soul and mind, love neighbors as oneself, and love and forgive one another.
Sunday Worship, Sunday School, and Midweek Gathering
Sunday worship begins at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Sunday School starts at 9:30 a.m. and brings members into one combined class. Its lesson plan works through the entire Bible repeatedly. The regular rhythm continues with Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday prayer at 6:30, both in the chapel or coffee spot in the middle building.
Women's Group meets Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. in the chapel, and the church also has a men's group. Sunday worship is available through Facebook Live, and sermon videos are available through the church's YouTube sermon channel.
Entering from the Upper Lot behind the Church
For Sunday worship, visitors are directed to the upper lot at the rear of the building. On Sundays, blue flags carrying the church logo and a huge Welcome sign mark the way. People coming for Sunday evening or Wednesday prayer use the same rear entrance to the middle building and stay left inside the door. For the sanctuary, the route turns left rather than right and follows the sounds of fellowship.
The lower lot serves the office and fellowship, and Redemption Hill Church attendees are directed there on Sundays. First Baptist has also served overflow parking needs for the old Belmont Middle School and downtown events. It welcomes neighbors to park for community events as well. To keep the lots safe, drivers are asked to park only in designated spaces, avoid green X marks and areas where traffic flows, follow the red arrows for entering and exiting, and avoid long-term parking. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Storehouse Beneath the Sanctuary
The Storehouse began as a single clothes closet with a desire to align more closely with the Great Commandment and Great Commission. It supplements other local BCO and county efforts and has grown from two bags of clothes in a room to the entire basement beneath the sanctuary. What began with a clothes closet and an annual Community Thanksgiving meal developed into a monthly offering to people in need.
First Baptist serves between 20 and 40 families each month through the Storehouse, supported by member and community donations. Food, clothing and household goods are all accepted. Weekly volunteer opportunities include sorting and inventory, and the ministry shares the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ with those it serves. A prayer-warrior role provides another way to support the work.
Independent Governance and Southern Baptist Fellowship
First Baptist is an independent, congregation-governed church. It works through a constitution and organized committees and is shepherded by its pastor, deacons and ministerial staff. It is also a voluntary member of the Southern Baptist Convention and follows The Baptist Faith and Message.
Its objectives include sharing Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, gathering as a worshiping fellowship that recognizes God and responds to his leadership, experiencing meaningful fellowship, growing in knowledge of God and humanity, ministering unselfishly to people in the community and world, and pursuing Christlike living. That pursuit is described as total commitment of life, personality and possessions to the lordship of Christ.
Discipleship and Neighbor Care in Belmont
First Baptist's life combines worship and teaching with regular prayer, small groups, support for missions and practical care for people in Belmont. The church's schedule and mission place prayer, Bible teaching and fellowship alongside its Storehouse work. Together, these practices express its stated aim of glorifying God, making disciples and sharing Jesus' love in unity and service. For First Baptist Church, these commitments remain joined in one identity: an independent, Gospel-centered family established in 1874, committed to prayer, discipleship, unity and service.