A Baptist Church on North Court Street in Circleville
Circleville First Baptist Church sits at 1540 N. Court Street in Circleville, Ohio, the Pickaway County seat best known for its annual Pumpkin Show. The congregation has gathered in this community for generations and describes itself as a church family made up of varied backgrounds, personalities, generations, and experiences, united by what its pastor calls having "the mind of Christ." Its mission is summarized in two short phrases that appear throughout its materials: Go in Christ and Grow in Christ. The church's stated vision is to equip its people to make disciples by boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and to be deeply rooted in a relationship with God.
Circleville First Baptist is best known locally for three things: a Sunday schedule that pairs Sunday School with a blended worship service, a robust Celebrate Recovery ministry that meets on Thursday evenings, and a wide array of small groups and women's Bible studies that meet at the church, in homes, and at Joy House Coffee.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School and Worship
The Sunday schedule starts at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School, which the church calls small groups. Classes are organized by age and stage of life and meet in various rooms around the building. Adult options include the Sonshine Group and Middle Agers Group led by Steve Huff, a Young Adults group led by Tom and Sherry Camden, the Eve Group for women led by Cheryl Burton, the Agape Group led by Bob Smith, the M.A.D. (Multi-Age Disciples) Group led by Craig Belkamp, and the JOY (Just Older Youth) Group. Middle and high school students meet together under Trevor and Taylor Fullen.
At 10:45 a.m. the congregation gathers for the Sunday worship service. Music is led by a praise team of vocalists accompanied by a praise band with piano, keyboard, drums, bass guitar, and electric guitar, with additional instruments on occasion. The team is open to adults and teens and helps lead worship on most Sundays during the school year. The service itself is described as a blend that offers something for those who prefer contemporary music and those who prefer traditional, sometimes enhanced with short video clips, testimonies, and personal faith stories. Pastor David Perkins preaches using PowerPoint slides to help follow the message. A worship media team handles lighting, sound, video, and other production needs.
Sunday School for children runs alongside the adult groups. The church provides a nursery for infants through age five in the preschool wing, and children in kindergarten through fifth grade stay with their families in the worship center until the sermon, then exit for KidsFest (Children's Church), a high-energy gathering held in the church gym where children learn about God and make friends. Parents register children on their first visit. Every volunteer who works with minors has been screened, trained, and background checked.
Children and Teens: Nursery, KidsFest, and Ignite
The children's ministry is built around safety, fun, and age-appropriate teaching. The nursery serves infants through age five with interactive activities designed to help little ones discover that God loves them. KidsFest, for kindergarteners through fifth graders, meets during the sermon portion of the worship service in the gym and is described as a fun-filled, safe environment.
Teens in grades six through twelve have their own ministry called Ignite. Ignite meets on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for small group time and again from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for the evening youth gathering. The youth also participate in teen missions, including Ohio Changers, a week-long summer missions and discipleship experience. The church also supports its teens through the middle and high school Sunday School small group led by Trevor and Taylor Fullen.
Celebrate Recovery on Thursday Nights
Celebrate Recovery is one of the most active ministries at Circleville First Baptist. It is a Christ-centered, twelve-step program that meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The program addresses hurts, habits, and hang-ups, and at the same time Celebration Station serves children ages five through thirteen with teaching aimed at helping them avoid cycles of hurt, habits, and hang-ups in their own lives. Tom Camden coordinates the ministry. The church pairs this weekly gathering with the broader nationwide Celebrate Recovery movement.
L.I.F.T.: A Women's Ministry That Meets Throughout the Week
The women's ministry, known as L.I.F.T. (Ladies In Fellowship Together), is unusually active. Its mission is to grow personally closer to the Lord through obedience to His Word, to serve one another with love, respect, and encouragement, and to share the joy of salvation with the community.
Women can connect in several formats. On Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., L.I.F.T. meets at the church for a Bible study and fellowship from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m., with childcare provided. On Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., a morning group meets in the building as well. A Saturday group meets at 11:00 a.m. The Eve Group, a women's Bible study led by Cheryl Burton, also meets Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom. On the fourth Friday of each month at 9:00 a.m., women gather at Joy House Coffee for fellowship and discipleship, with Cheryl Burton as the contact. Heather Potts and Cheryl Burton coordinate these groups; women interested in joining can email Heather Potts for more information.
The women's ministry also runs periodic events such as retreats and banquets, including a Ladies and Girls Spring Banquet catered by Elegant Eats and a Women's Fall Retreat, with reduced and free tickets available for children and for guests who do not regularly attend church.
Fishers of Men and Men's Ministry
The men's ministry is called Fishers of Men. Its purpose is to help each man find his purpose by living by God's design, recognizing that Christian men share a common thread even when their personalities and circumstances differ. Jesus Christ is the model, and the ministry aims to follow His plan and purpose. Men also gather for a periodic men's breakfast and connect through shared service opportunities.
Small Groups for Every Stage of Life
Small groups are central to life at Circleville First Baptist. Most meet Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship and Bible study, and many also meet outside the church building for additional study, fellowship, and outreach. The church lists groups for ages eighteen through ninety-something, with specific facilitators: Steve Huff leads the Sonshine and Middle Agers groups; Tom and Sherry Camden lead the Young Adults group; Cheryl Burton leads the Eve Group for women; Bob Smith leads the Agape Group; Craig Belkamp leads the M.A.D. (Multi-Age Disciples) Group; and the JOY (Just Older Youth) Group serves older adults who enjoy Bible study and serving the community.
The church encourages newcomers to try a group as the best way to get connected. Beyond Sunday morning groups, growth tracks offer four short courses that walk through church membership, habits of spiritual maturity such as prayer and Bible reading, discovering personal ministry gifts, and discovering a personal life mission.
Reaching Out in Pickaway County
Community outreach is built into the life of the church. The deacons oversee a Benevolence Ministry that supports families inside and outside the congregation who are facing crisis needs. Every other month the church provides a free Friday-evening meal through a community soup kitchen. The church also partners with Elizabeth's Hope, a Christian crisis pregnancy center offering practical help and spiritual support to individuals and families, and supports The Trellis, a small-group Bible study that promotes a hand-up rather than hand-out approach toward independence and self-sufficiency through Jesus Christ.
The congregation supports missions through giving to the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions and through hands-on participation in Ohio Changers, a week-long summer missions trip. Recent weekly updates have highlighted the church's participation in the prayerful study of Philippians 2 and the church's "stepping forward in faith" theme.
Basic Beliefs and Values
Circleville First Baptist holds to a written set of basic beliefs, available in a referenced document on its site. Its values are rooted in those beliefs. The church describes itself as Baptist and identifies its mission as Go in Christ and Grow in Christ, summarized by the idea that growth happens as believers step out in faith. The vision is to equip disciples who are deeply rooted in a relationship with God and who use their discovered spiritual gifts everywhere.
What to Expect When Visiting
Visitors who arrive on a Sunday morning will be greeted at the door and handed a bulletin. Greeters are happy to help direct families to the right classroom or seat. The dress code is relaxed: some attend in dresses and suits, others in very casual pants and shirts, and shorts are common in the summer. The praise team provides a mix of contemporary and traditional music. Nursery and preschool childcare are available during services, and KidsFest welcomes children kindergarten through fifth grade during the sermon.
Getting Connected and Practical Details
The church office can be reached at (740) 474-6074 or by email at office@circlevillefbc.org. The address is 1540 N. Court St., Circleville, OH 43113. Sunday services are livestreamed on Facebook, where the church also posts updates. Messages are available as audio and video through the church's media page. Giving can be done online through the church's giving portal, and a Building Fund option is available for those who want to give toward facility needs. The church also has a mobile app called Church Center, available for iOS and Android, where events, registrations, and giving are managed.
Those exploring membership are invited to attend the Introduction to CFBC class, one of the Wednesday evening options. Weddings, funerals, and facility use can be arranged through the church office, with preparation materials, checklists, and policies available on the resources and forms page. The Constitution, Deacon Handbook, Leadership Expectations, Childcare Protection Policy, and Ministry Job Descriptions are all part of the church's published resources.