A Hundred-Acre Campus on First Baptist Parkway
First Baptist Daytona Beach sits on more than eighty acres of lawn and buildings on First Baptist Parkway, on the eastern side of Daytona Beach. By His grace, the congregation describes itself as a disciple-making and sending church marked by generosity, hospitality, and love, and its mission statement keeps the language plain: Sharing Jesus and sharing our lives in Daytona Beach and around the world, because every soul matters. The church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Florida Baptist Convention, the East Central Baptist Network, and the Timothy Initiative, and it identifies its work through a four-part rhythm: Gather for Worship, Engage with a LifeGroup, Serve with a Team, and Share Jesus and Your Life.
The main campus is a working complex of more than just a sanctuary. Volunteers on the Facilities Support Team mow roughly ninety percent of the eighty-plus acres. Building 2 houses classrooms, the Kids Theater, and a College Life Group room. The patio between buildings hosts a snack supper on Wednesday evenings. Two Sunday services, three Sunday Life Group hours, and a full Wednesday schedule run on this campus every week, and the church also operates two additional locations: Primera Iglesia Bautista Daytona Beach, a Spanish-language congregation, and Harbor Oaks Church in Port Orange.
Sunday Mornings: Two Services, Three Life Group Hours
Sunday at First Daytona moves on a simple three-hour rhythm. LifeGroups for all ages meet at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM. Worship services are held at 9:30 and 11:00 AM. The 9:30 service is a contemporary, acoustic setting led by the Worship Team, with music the church describes as excellent and worship as deep and meaningful. The 11:00 service is led by the First Baptist Worship Leading Choir, a committed group of singers whose repertoire emphasizes biblically based, God-exalting songs, and the choir also leads the annual Daytona Christmas Experience, patriotic services, and other seasonal gatherings.
Music and Scripture carry both services. A typical morning includes gospel-centered preaching and music built on God's Word and focused on God's character, with the stated goal that every person present leaves with a sense of awe and wonder at what Jesus has done. The Matthew 28:19 commission, to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching, is the verse the church puts at the center of its welcome page.
First Kids: From Infants Through Fifth Grade
First Kids Ministry is the church's program for children from infants through fifth grade, and the strategy is adapted from Luke 2:52, where Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. The aim for every child is the same: spiritual, social, and physical growth in a safe, nurturing environment.
Two tracks run inside First Kids. First Kids Preschool welcomes infants through age four into a fun and caring space where age-appropriate activities introduce foundational teachings of faith. First Kids Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade with rotating activities including Bible stories, crafts, music, games, and team-building.
On Sunday mornings, First Kids programming runs on a rotating schedule from 9:15 AM until 12:15 PM using the Go! curriculum. On Wednesday evenings, the preschool continues with Go! and elementary children use KidzLife, a curriculum with carefully crafted lessons, journals, and songs. The midweek program lasts about ninety minutes. Check-in begins at 6:20 PM, and families are invited to the snack supper on the patio at 6:00 PM.
Safety procedures are detailed and visible. Every volunteer must pass a background check and an interview, and ongoing training is required. A secure check-in system ensures children are released only to parents and approved caregivers. The kids ministry hallway is a limited-access environment with video monitoring, and a full policy and procedures document is available on request. Amy S. leads the ministry, and families can connect through the First Kids Facebook and Instagram pages.
Big Life Students: Middle and High School
Big Life is the student ministry for middle and high schoolers, and the name comes from John 10:10: I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly. The weekly rhythm has four pieces. Students and their families gather for worship at 9:30 AM and Life Groups at 11:00 AM on Sundays. Pastor Jason, the student pastor, leads the 9:30 worship team. Life Groups are organized by school grade and gender and offer a supportive space for Scripture discussion, spiritual growth, and faith-based friendships.
On Wednesday evenings, Big Life Nights gathers at 6:00 PM with dynamic worship, engaging missions, fun activities, and deep community building. On Thursday nights at 7:00 PM, Student Discipleship groups meet at varied locations to deepen faith through intentional study, mentorship, and accountability.
Throughout the year, Big Life anchors its calendar with Breakout Camp over Spring Break, Passion Camp in July, Rock the Universe in February, a Guatemala trip in June, Connect Camp in June, and a Christmas Tree Bonfire in January. Fusion Nights are collaborative gatherings with students from other churches across the community, uniting for worship, fellowship, and shared faith.
Axiom: College Students and Young Adults
Axiom College Ministry centers on worship, life group, and Bible study. On Sundays, Axiom students gather for the 9:30 AM worship service, where a light breakfast buffet is available on the patio between worship and Life Group. Life Group meets at 11:00 AM in Building 2, Room 235, with a dynamic team of teachers leading through practical topics each week. Friday Night Bible Study at 7:00 PM, at varied locations, offers engaging discussions, food, and fellowship.
The annual rhythm includes a Fall Retreat in October and a Christmas Gala in December. Axiom College Leadership meets on Wednesdays at 7:45 PM, and students connect through a dedicated link page.
LifeGroups: The Primary Place for Discipleship
LifeGroups are the church's primary discipleship engine, the place where meaningful relationships are built, spiritual growth is deepened, and opportunities to serve each other and the community are discovered. LifeGroups meet at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings, and additional groups gather at different times and locations throughout the week. The church encourages newcomers to find a group that fits their season of life and promises to do everything possible to help them become all that God desires. Pastor Lowell oversees the ministry and can be reached for help finding a group.
Wednesdays: Midweek Worship and a Full House
Wednesday is a working day at First Daytona. Midweek Worship is held at 10:30 AM. In the evening, the rhythm picks up again at 6:00 PM with a snack supper on the patio, a family meal that opens the night for everyone. At 6:30 PM, the church offers a five-way program: Disciples Making Disciples (a Bible study for adults), First Kids Midweek, Big Life Nights for students, and Worship Choir rehearsal in Building 2, Room 235. At 7:45 PM, Axiom College Leadership meets. The Children's Choir, for preschool through grade 5, gathers in the Building 2 Kids Theater at 6:00 PM.
The Wednesday combination of supper, study, students, kids, choir, and college gives First Daytona's midweek a campus feel rather than a single-class feel. Adults can attend midweek worship in the morning, leave, and return in the evening for any of the five offerings that match their family.
Worship Arts: Three Sunday Styles and a Working Choir
The Worship Ministries team leads all musical worship and multimedia at First Daytona. The 9:30 AM service uses a contemporary, acoustic band. The 11:00 AM service is led by the choir. The Worship Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in Building 2, Room 235, and meets again at 10:45 AM on Sunday mornings for final preparations. The Children's Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM in the Building 2 Kids Theater, with seasonal musicals and instrument playing woven into the schedule.
Worship Arts is also a volunteer team. The team has three components: the choir and praise team, the worship band, and the tech team. Those interested in singing, playing, or serving on production can reach the team directly.
Adults on Mission and Member Care
Adults on Mission meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 AM in Building 2, Room 214, engaging adults in hands-on mission work, community service, and outreach. The Missions Bible Study meets on the second Tuesday at the same time and place, exploring Scripture with a focus on global outreach. The Mission Book Review meets on the third Tuesday at 9:30 AM, discussing books and literature focused on global outreach and spiritual growth.
Member Care is a volunteer team dedicated to prayer, encouragement, and spiritual support for individuals and families facing physical and emotional crises. The team visits homebound members and those in local nursing homes, and provides practical handyman help. Member Care also oversees specialized ministries such as Cancer Care and Grief Share.
Local Partners: The Network Around Daytona Beach
First Daytona partners with several ministries and organizations across Volusia County. God's Table is a food ministry providing nutritious meals and spiritual nourishment. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes empowers athletes to grow in faith, integrity, and leadership through sports. One More Child provides Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families. Resources for Women offers compassionate support, counseling, and essential resources for women facing unplanned pregnancies and parenting challenges. Child Evangelism Fellowship is dedicated to teaching children about Jesus Christ through Bible lessons, activities, and guidance in Christian faith. Faith Riders Motorcycle Ministry unites motorcyclists to share the gospel, serve communities, and support one another. Raceway Ministry reaches out to racing communities with spiritual support, hospitality, and faith-based services at motorsport events and racetracks. Disaster Relief of the Southern Baptist Convention provides emergency aid, recovery services, and spiritual support to communities affected by natural disasters. Prison Ministry brings hope to inmates through faith-based programs and spiritual guidance, with service at Tomoka Correctional Facility and Volusia County Jail. The church also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Far-Flung Mission Fields: Five International Partnerships
First Daytona's international mission work runs through five long-standing partnerships. In Anchorage, Alaska, the church entered a multi-year partnership with First Baptist Church, Anchorage, in 2022, supporting a revitalization phase that includes construction projects, street evangelism, and children's programming, with visioning trips in 2022 and follow-up trips in 2025. In the Dominican Republic, the church works with New Missions, an organization that has spent more than thirty years establishing local churches and Christian schools in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, providing children with education, food, and medical care. In Cambodia, the church partners with Resource Development International - Cambodia (RDI), a community development organization active since 2000 in water, sanitation, education, and livelihood projects, with First Daytona teams working primarily on the construction of collection tanks and simple latrines, most years during January and February. In Guatemala, the church partners with Clubhouse Guatemala, which currently serves families in 22 different communities through VBS, Block Parties, Medical Clinics, Home Construction, Water Filter Systems, and Chicken Coops, and offers child sponsorship at $35 per month. The Coffee Club ships Guatemalan coffee and provides thirty meals to those in need for every two pounds purchased. In Southeast Asia, the church supports friends of the International Mission Board (IMB) working in the region with the largest concentration of non-Christians on the planet. Mission Journey Applications are available for both US and international trips.
Three Campuses: Main, Spanish, and Port Orange
First Baptist Daytona Beach is a multi-campus church with three distinct congregations. The Main Campus sits at 10 First Baptist Parkway in Daytona Beach. Primera Iglesia Bautista Daytona Beach is the Spanish-language congregation, with pages in Spanish for Adoración, Grupo de Vida, Creencias, and Próximos Eventos. Harbor Oaks Church meets in the Harbor Oaks community of Port Orange, at 5730 S Ridgewood Ave, Port Orange, FL 32127, holding Sunday worship at 9:30 AM and Life Groups at 11:00 AM, and is in a transition phase as the church prayerfully takes the next steps in that community.
Beliefs in the Church's Own Words
First Daytona's doctrinal statement covers the Scriptures, God, man, salvation, the church, baptism and the Lord's Supper, and the family. The church holds that the Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself, totally true and trustworthy, the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. There is one and only one living and true God, infinite in holiness, all powerful and all knowing, the eternal triune God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image, and through the temptation of Satan fell from original innocence, so that every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and in its broadest sense includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. A New Testament church is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant, observing the two ordinances of Christ, and governed by His laws, with pastors and deacons as scriptural officers; the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's death to sin and resurrection to newness of life, and is prerequisite to church membership and the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience in which members memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime, and children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. A full doctrinal statement is available as a downloadable document.
Giving, Online, and Staying Connected
First Daytona offers online giving through debit card, automatic withdrawal, or credit card, with options for one-time gifts or recurring weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly gifts. Text-to-give is available by texting the word give and the amount to 833-936-2284. Legacy Giving through the Estate and Planned Giving Ministry supports continued generosity. Sunday services and Wednesday midweek worship are livestreamed on Facebook Live and YouTube Live, and a full sermon archive is available for past messages. A 40-Day Prayer Guide and Church Center app support prayer and connection throughout the week.
What to Know Before a First Visit
First Baptist Daytona Beach is a place to come as you are. The church operates on a simple promise: every week you will find passionate and authentic worship, gospel-centered preaching, and a kids ministry. Children from infants through fifth grade have a dedicated, safe environment with secure check-in. Students have their own worship and life groups. Adults have three hours of LifeGroup choices on Sunday morning and a robust Wednesday program. The campus is large, with more than eighty acres, but a snack supper on the patio at 6:00 PM on Wednesdays is one easy way to land in the middle of church life. Three campuses, two languages, one mission, and a clear path from worship to LifeGroup to serving on a team: that is the shape of First Baptist Daytona Beach.