Sunday Mornings on Fox Meadow Road
First Baptist Church of Eugene sits at 3550 Fox Meadow Road, just off Coburg Road in north Eugene, where it has been a steady presence in the community for decades. The church meets twice on Sunday mornings, at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and both services run about 75 minutes. Each gathering includes a time of passionate worship and a Bible-based message. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of every month. Services are livestreamed, and the full sermon library is available online.
The welcome is intentional. Greeters meet people at the door, coffee and donuts are free, and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. There is no dress code. The church sums up its heart in two short phrases: Love God. Love People.
Love God, Love People as the Whole Mission
The church's mission statement reads from Matthew 22:37-39. Love for God is expressed through a daily lifestyle of worship and a lifelong pursuit of maturity in Christ. Love for people is lived out by serving others in the name of Jesus and by sharing the good news through the Great Commission. A class called Discover First B is offered for anyone who wants to learn more about the church, its mission, and how to get involved, with a follow-up class for those ready to make First B their church home.
What the Church Believes
First Baptist Church holds to historic, orthodox Christian teaching. The Bible is received as the divinely inspired Word of God, true and without error in the original writings, and authoritative for faith and life. There is one true God, eternally existing in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only way of salvation, sinless, crucified for our sins, risen bodily, and reigning at the Father's right hand. The Holy Spirit is active today, convicting of sin, indwelling every believer, and gifting each one for service.
Salvation is God's gracious gift through faith in Jesus, not earned by good works. Christian growth is the lifelong work of the Spirit, sustained through prayer, worship, Scripture, fellowship, service, giving, and sharing faith. The Church is the people of God, gathered locally for worship, teaching, and service, with Jesus alone as its Head.
An Elder-Led Church on a Large Campus
An Elder Board oversees the vision and health of the church, with the Lead Teaching Pastor and Lead Executive Pastor serving on the board and managing the staff and day-to-day ministries. Elders include Daryl Molyneaux, Brad Lauer, Wendell Ard, Marc Bickley, Chris Davis, Craig Dickison, Ron Ewert, Doug Gubrud, Jacob Jacobson, Steve, Glen, and Sheldon Johnson, men with deep ties to Eugene and decades of varied service between them. Glen himself was ordained in 1975 and returned to Eugene in 1989 to serve in nursing home ministry before joining the First B team. Sheldon Johnson grew up through the high school and college ministries of the church in the 1980s and has served as an elder since 2008.
The Lead Teaching Pastor is Daryl Molyneaux. The Lead Executive Pastor and Elder is Brad Lauer. Around them sit pastors for nearly every stage of life: Rudy Herr (Connections), Paul Herriott (College), Matt Busse (Spiritual Formation), Anna Lancaster (Kids), Phil Littleton (Missions and Outreach), Dustin Zerwas (Youth and Activities), Dave Mertz (Senior Life), and Levi Bagge (Worship). Enoch Howell directs media and technology, Katelyn Yakel directs communications, and a full team of coordinators and assistants handles communications, IT, accounting, facilities, worship coordination, digital content, and groups ministry.
1st B Kids from Nursery Through Fifth Grade
1st B Kids exists to see children become resilient disciples of Jesus who Belong, Believe, and Become. At the 9:00 a.m. service the nursery is open for ages birth to 4, and Kindergarten through 5th grade gather for a kid's church-style service with large-group Bible stories, games, and activities. At the 10:30 a.m. service the nursery is open for ages birth to 3, with Sunday School classes for ages 4 through 5th grade separated by school grade, led by staff and volunteers. First-time visitors should plan on an extra ten minutes for the kid check-in process, which is built around children's safety.
A free Moms + Littles Playgroup meets on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m., with an indoor gym for kids 5 and under and two-dollar specialty coffees from the church's espresso bar. Kids Clubs also meet on Wednesday nights as part of Community Connections Night.
First B Students for Middle and High School
First B Students gives middle and high school students a place to belong, grow, and experience God. The Mix meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. with engaging Bible teaching, fun connection time, and small groups where students can ask questions, process what they are learning, and apply it to everyday life. Midweek on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. is built around games, live music, and laughter, before students break into Middle School and High School crews for age-specific teaching and discussion. Special events run throughout the year.
Collegiate Christian Fellowship and Two Student Houses
Collegiate Christian Fellowship, CCF, is the college-age ministry of First B and meets on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at The Box, 661 E 19th Avenue, for worship, teaching, and fellowship during the academic year, often followed by pickup games at the REC fields or one of the CCF houses. CCF Life Groups gather in smaller communities for friendships and Scripture. The ministry is led by College Pastor Paul Herriott, College Women's Director Abby Kyle, and a network of sponsors and mentors.
Two residential houses sit right on the edge of the University of Oregon campus. Alpha Omega House is a historic craftsman across from the west end of campus that houses up to 30 men. Trinity House, in the South University neighborhood two blocks from campus, houses up to 40 women. Both are affordable Christian living-learning communities owned and operated by FBC and CCF, with their own cooks and an intentional rhythm of discipleship. Application materials and handbooks for both houses are available, and Alpha Omega and Trinity each have their own Instagram presence.
Camp Harlow: Seven Decades of Summer Ministry
Just up the road from the church, Camp Harlow has been part of First B for seven decades. A Christ-centered camp for children and youth, Camp Harlow builds faith, hope, and love through strong community, fun-filled activities, and a safe, caring environment where kids can play, laugh, grow, and learn of God's great love. The camp has its own Executive Director (Mike Bothman) and Associate Director (Tobey Hancock), a separate staff page, and campharlow.com. Mike received his AWANA Meritorious Award at First B in 1976 and went on to a long career in ministry before returning to lead the camp.
Renewal Ministry: Walking Through Hard Seasons
One of the more distinctive ministries at First B is Renewal, a network of support groups and classes that walk with people through the seasons of life they did not ask for, rooted in Isaiah 61. Current offerings include:
- DivorceCare, a 14-week seminar for men and women healing from separation and divorce.
- GriefShare, led by people who have walked through loss and rebuilt their lives.
- Sexual addiction recovery groups for men working to restore their social, familial, and spiritual well-being.
- Trauma support studies, framed as conversation rather than lecture, focused on healing for body, soul, and spirit.
- Post-abortion support for those experiencing lasting effects in every area of life.
- Caregiver support for families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other forms of progressive memory loss.
- People to Be Loved, a support group for families with loved ones in the LGBTQ+ community, focused on listening, learning, and encouragement.
Renewal affirms that no matter the challenge, no one has to walk through it alone.
Missions From Eugene to Twenty Countries
First B's commitment to Love God, Love People begins in Eugene and Springfield, where members are encouraged to pray, care, share, and disciple with their families, neighbors, and coworkers. The church also partners with a long list of local ministries: Eugene Mission, Every Child Lane County (foster care), Hosea Youth Services, Love for Lane County, Agape Families, Bushnell University, Child Evangelism Fellowship, and Lane County Youth for Christ (including Parent Life, a division serving expectant and parenting teens).
Globally, First B supports 44 missionary families serving in 20 countries, working through church planting, Bible translation, leadership training, evangelism, and humanitarian aid. Active projects include Wycliffe and World Venture Bible translation work in Africa and Asia, church plants in Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Turkey, seminary training in Kenya, a long-running evangelism and discipleship project in an Indonesian mountain region, and Bible distribution both internationally and in local public schools. Each October the church takes a Christmas fund to bless supported missionaries with an extra holiday gift.
Women's, Men's, and Senior Life
First B Women welcomes women of every age and stage for connection, growth, and service. Weekly groups include Sisters in Stitches, a quilting and sewing circle that meets Thursdays at 9:00 a.m., and Widow 2 Widow, which meets Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. for Christ-centered comfort and prayer. Bible studies run in morning and evening sessions, including Zoom options, with Women's Monthly Touch gatherings, morning walks, seasonal events, and retreats throughout the year. Kristi McElhinney, an Oregon native and UO graduate who grew up at First B, coordinates the ministry as interim.
First B Men exists to forge men of valiant faith who stand firm in Christ. Ignite Men's Bible Study meets Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. in the Willamette Room 103 with a rotating schedule of pastors and teachers. Men's Open Gym Basketball meets Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. The ministry also gathers for Life Groups, quarterly breakfasts, an annual Man Camp, hiking trips, and service opportunities.
SeniorLife is led by Pastor Dave Mertz, who has been on staff at First B since 1986. The Senior Life Group meets Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in Room 102 for spiritual growth and fellowship. First B Fit, a free gentle exercise class focused on strength, balance, posture, and flexibility, follows at 12:30 p.m. and is open to all mobility levels, including wheelchair users and those using walkers or canes. Muffins-and-coffee mornings, holiday gatherings, and mission trips round out the calendar.
Life Groups, Activities, and the Activities Ministry
Life Groups are the small-group heartbeat of the church. Most meet weekly or biweekly in homes across Eugene, Springfield, Coburg, and Creswell. Some follow the current sermon series; others work through Bible-based studies. Groups can be joined at any time during the year, and leaders are accustomed to newcomers and guests, including those who visit mid-series. Childcare arrangements vary by group, and the church helps families sort through what works best.
The Activities Ministry creates ways to stay active and connected. Upward Basketball is a faith-based league for Pre-K through 2nd grade that runs in the winter. A Youth Pickleball League serves middle and high school students in the fall. An Adult Volleyball League runs in the fall with teams of eight to ten players. Two pickleball courts in the First B parking lot can be reserved online by reservation. The Weekly First B Email Blast, sent every Thursday at 4:00 p.m., carries news, events, and serving opportunities across every ministry.
What a First-Time Visitor Finds
Sunday mornings at First B are built for first-time guests. The church is at 3550 Fox Meadow Road, just off Coburg Road. Services begin at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and run about 75 minutes, with worship and a Bible-based message, and communion on the first Sunday. There is no dress code. Coffee, donuts, and greeters are part of the morning. Parents are encouraged to give themselves an extra ten minutes for their first 1st B Kids check-in. A Plan Your Visit form lets the team know to expect a guest, prepare a small gift, and have someone ready to greet them. For students in middle and high school, First B Students offers Sunday morning small groups and Wednesday evening programs. Giving is available online, and weekly and year-to-date financial reports are posted for transparency.
Rooted in Eugene, Open to Eugene
What ties the church together is the mission: Love God. Love People. From Camp Harlow to the two student houses near campus, from 1st B Kids to SeniorLife, from Renewal support groups to forty-four missionary families on five continents, every ministry at First Baptist Church of Eugene flows from that simple two-part call. On Sunday mornings at 9:00 and 10:30 on Fox Meadow Road, it is what the whole congregation is invited to practice together.