A Place You Can Call Home on Second Avenue North
First Baptist Church of Great Falls sits at 525 2nd Avenue North in central Great Falls, Montana, and describes itself as "a place you can call home." The American Baptist congregation extends a clear invitation: come as you are, grow at your own pace, and let the love and grace of God shape the person you are becoming. The church's vision is to live out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment in Great Falls, helping people make their tomorrows brighter than their yesterdays through the light of Christ.
Senior Pastor Mike, who also serves as a church elder, deacon, and member of the Fishers of Men outreach group, has a heart for individuals and their personal walk with God. He invites anyone - wherever they are in life - to visit and experience the love of God firsthand.
What First Baptist Believes
The congregation holds to a straightforward confession of faith centered on Jesus Christ and the Bible. They affirm that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, Lord and Savior, and that the Bible is the divinely inspired record of God's actions in history - trustworthy, authoritative, and all-sufficient for faith and practice.
All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, and Jesus died to pay the price for those sins. Those who believe are forgiven by God and enter a new life - a relationship the church calls being "born again." Believers are baptized by immersion as a symbol of death to the old life and resurrection to a new life in Christ. The Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month as an open communion, and all believers are welcomed to participate.
Christians are called together as a family of disciples to witness at home and around the world to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly before God.
Sunday Morning Rhythm
Sunday at First Baptist begins early with Prayer Time from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. The Morning Service follows at 9:30 a.m., led by the church's Praise Team in song. Fellowship Time runs from 10:40 a.m. onward, giving the congregation space to greet one another over coffee and conversation before heading home or to Bible study. The service itself centers on preaching, teaching, and discipleship, with a special time for children included in the sanctuary before they are dismissed to their own classes.
Children and Sunday School
Children three years old through fifth grade are welcomed into the Sunday School program. The format begins in the sanctuary with the rest of the congregation during the children's time, then moves into Children's Church for prayer, Bible learning, games, and crafts that teach what it means to live for Jesus.
The ministry frames the Christian life as an adventure that changes day by day, even though God stays the same. Families are encouraged to participate in the church's wider ministry and to grow together in faith.
Men's Ministry and Fishers of Men
Saturday mornings are a working heartbeat at First Baptist. The Men's Ministry gathers on Saturdays for nourishment of body and spirit - a time together with the Lord that often includes discussion of building projects around the church and service projects in the community.
Fishers of Men, a quiet group within the Men's Ministry, feeds needy children in the local schools and makes sure no one goes hungry in Great Falls. Members of this group remain largely unnamed - the church describes them as the unsung heroes of the community. They host a breakfast and Bible study on Saturdays from 7:45 to 9:45 a.m. The broader Men's Ministry connects with American Baptist Men at the national level.
Women's Ministry
The Women's Ministry meets every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. for a shared Bible lesson. The study is led by Nancy Rowell and is structured as a time of learning together, asking questions, and growing in the Word. The alternating-week schedule keeps the gathering small enough for genuine conversation.
The Giving Room: Practical Help for Neighbors
One of the most distinctive ministries at First Baptist is the Giving Room, a free resource for anyone in need. Everything in the Giving Room is free, and donations of all seasons, sizes, and ages are accepted. The room stocks baby bottles, baby cloths, burp cloths, socks, shoes, shirts, pants, coats, and general care hygiene kits. Non-perishable donations can be dropped off at the church office Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and noon.
The Giving Room operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The church grounds its motivation in James 2:16: "and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"
Camping Ministry at Templed Hills
First Baptist maintains an active camping ministry through Templed Hills, the American Baptist Camp located between Livingston and Yellowstone National Park on US Highway 89 at Mill Creek Road. The setting offers a beautiful outdoor environment where children, youth, and adults can draw closer to God in creation.
Templed Hills' mission is threefold: to provide a setting for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to offer spiritual growth through Bible-based teaching, and to create Christian fellowship and fun in a rustic outdoor atmosphere. The camp hosts a winter camp, a camp opening weekend, a junior camp, a youth camp, and a camp closing weekend spread across the warmer months. Details can be obtained by calling the church office.
The Bus Ministry
For those without transportation, First Baptist operates a bus ministry that picks people up and brings them to and from the church. The vehicle is one of only four restored Checker Aerobuses left in the state of Montana. Anyone needing a ride can call the church office weekday mornings between 10:00 a.m. and noon to arrange pickup.
Blessing for Your Life
The Blessing for Your Life ministry continues an ancient practice of praying blessings over people, places, and meaningful objects. The church welcomes invitations to pray over the birth of a child, a special pet, a new home, a vehicle used for daily travel, or any other significant moment. Historically in the local area, blessings were also prayed over work animals and herds when first acquired and on anniversaries afterward. To arrange a blessing, the church can be reached through the office email or by phone.
Youth, Small Groups, and Angel Tree
Alongside Sunday School and Templed Hills, the church nurtures its youth through dedicated programming and supports home and small Bible study groups across the area. Each Christmas season the congregation participates in Angel Tree, a ministry that delivers gifts to children whose parents are incarcerated, keeping families connected and sharing the love of Christ in tangible form during the holidays.
Reaching Beyond Great Falls
First Baptist partners with several national and international ministries for broader outreach: International Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA, American Baptist Men USA, and Mission Northwest. Together these partnerships work to build people up around the world, making their tomorrows brighter than their yesterdays through the light of Christ.
Staying Connected
Sermons from Sunday morning are shared online through the church's YouTube channel, and the church's mobile app lets members give, view donation history, and request prayer from their phone. Giving is welcome in three ways: in service by cash or check, online through the secure giving portal, or by texting an amount to 406-708-8880 - first-time text givers receive a link to register for an account, while returning givers can text a simple dollar amount. Mailed checks can be sent to the church address.
Prayer requests can be submitted to the staff at any time and, with permission, shared with the wider congregation for intercession.
Office and Visitation Information
The church office at 525 2nd Avenue North can be reached at 406-453-6614 or ouroffice@greatfallsfirstbaptist.com. Non-perishable donations for the Giving Room can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Sundays begin with Prayer Time at 8:00 a.m., Morning Service at 9:30 a.m., and Fellowship Time at 10:40 a.m., with Wednesday evenings set aside for the women's Bible study and Saturday mornings anchored by the Men's Ministry breakfast, Bible study, and Praise Team practice.