First Baptist Church of Gresham has been a fixture at 224 West Powell Boulevard since 1882, when a small group of believers organized the Bethel Baptist Church and built their first house of worship four years later. Today the congregation still meets on the same block in downtown Gresham, a Portland suburb on the eastern edge of the Willamette Valley. The fellowship belongs to American Baptist Churches of the Central Pacific Coast, one of the regional bodies within American Baptist Churches USA, and Pastor Charlie Rice leads the church as its senior pastor. In his welcome to visitors, Rice boils the church's purpose down to two words: "Jesus Christ. We are here because of Him." He is quick to add that the congregation is "far from perfect" and describes First Baptist as "not a place for perfect people, but for imperfect people to find faith, hope and healing."
Sundays from 9:30 to 12:15
The rhythm of a Sunday at First Baptist follows a simple, unhurried pattern. Sunday School opens at 9:30 AM for every age, from nursery through adult electives. Classes meet across the upstairs classrooms and the downstairs Assembly Room. Adult electives include Bob Pearson's study "A Lifestyle of Faith and Prayer" in Room B and Kelly Carroll's "Walking as Christians in the World we Live in Today" in Room A, a class shaped by Romans 12:2 about being transformed by the renewing of the mind. At 10:30 AM the congregation gathers for fellowship and refreshments, and at 11:00 AM the Worship Service begins in the sanctuary. The service typically concludes around 12:15 PM.
The livestream begins at the same 11:00 AM hour, and recordings remain available on the church's YouTube channel and Facebook page for anyone who wants to catch up later in the week. For anyone joining from home, the church's online worship runs Sundays at 11:00 AM.
One Hundred and Forty-Three Years on West Powell
The congregation began as Bethel Baptist Church in 1882 and built its first building four years later in 1886. Major building changes came in 1962, when a new sanctuary and fellowship hall replaced the original parsonage, and again in 1978, when the older structure was moved to the city park to make room for a larger addition with classrooms and an expanded fellowship hall. The combination of spaces that resulted is what members use today: the sanctuary, the upstairs classrooms, the downstairs Assembly Room, the Gathering Room, the Conference Room, the Library, the Fellowship Hall (which holds a maximum of ninety-five people under Fire Marshal regulations), the Ministry Council Office, the kitchen, and a parking lot.
Anyone wishing to reserve space for a non-church-sponsored event submits a Space Use Application through the office. Non-church activities cannot be booked more than six months in advance for nights and weekends, and not more than one year in advance for daytime use. The application lays out straightforward rules: no smoking, drugs, or alcohol on the property, children supervised at all times, groups bringing their own supplies, the function leader responsible for locking up, and food garbage carried out to the dumpster in the parking lot. Wedding ceremonies at the church follow the same man-woman definition of marriage that shapes the statement of faith.
The Five Purposes Behind Everything
The church's purpose statement, drawn from Acts 2:42-47, names five commitments that frame the congregation's life together: Worship, Fellowship, Maturity, Ministry, and Evangelism. Phrased as action words, the church joyfully praises God, encourages one another, strives for maturity in Christ, uses its gifts to serve Jesus, and shares Jesus with others. The vision statement, built on Matthew 22:36 and the Greatest Commandment, distills those five commitments into a single sentence: "Becoming fully devoted followers of Christ, drawing others to Him." The Connecting ministries at First Baptist are built around the conviction that God desires each of his people to experience true community with him and with one another.
Eleven Articles of Faith, One Trinitarian God
First Baptist of Gresham holds a classic Trinitarian confession shaped by eleven core articles of faith. The church teaches that God exists eternally in three co-equal persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the Bible is the inspired and trustworthy Word of God written without error under the Holy Spirit's guidance; and that salvation is a free gift received by faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism by immersion is practiced as an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's death to the old life and resurrection to new life in Christ, and the Lord's Supper is observed as a memorial of Christ's sufferings and promise of return. The congregation also holds a traditional Baptist view of eternal security, teaching that those truly born again are kept by God's grace.
On marriage and human sexuality, the church defines marriage as a covenantal union of one man and one woman and performs only those ceremonies. It teaches that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, and that those actively practicing contrary sexual behaviors may not serve as members, staff, or ministry leaders. Beyond the essentials, the church practices a generous Baptist principle: unity in essential beliefs, liberty in non-essentials, and love in all things.
From Nursery through High School
Children's Ministry at First Baptist operates under the conviction that children are some of God's most precious gifts and that parents carry the primary call to raise them. Courtney Mick serves as the Children's Ministry Coordinator, working alongside other volunteers to support families.
For the youngest, the nursery welcomes newborns through two-year-olds each Sunday from 9:30 AM until the worship service ends at 12:15 PM, with Kelli Ellis as the nursery attendant and a team of adult volunteers.
Children ages three through fifth grade begin their morning in Kid's Zone, which meets in the downstairs Assembly Room from 9:30 to 10:30 AM for music and activities with a biblical emphasis. At 11:15 AM, after the opening portion of the worship service, children in four-year-old kindergarten through fifth grade are dismissed to Kid's Church in the foyer and remain there until 12:15 PM, when a parent or guardian picks them up.
The Student Ministry is open to every young person in grades six through twelve. Sunday morning Bible study walks through books and stories of the Bible, working through real-world issues through the lens of Scripture. Jim Helser, who leads the class, encourages students to bring friends from the community. The student ministry's guiding verse is 1 Timothy 4:12: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."
Tuesday on Zoom, Wednesday Mornings, Thursday Evenings
Outside Sunday morning, the church runs a steady weekly schedule of Bible studies. On Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM, Ken Wingler leads a mixed men's and women's study on Zoom. On Wednesday mornings from 10:30 AM to noon, Teresa Carroll leads a women's study at the church, and on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, Shirley Geisler and Brenda Delmarter lead another women's study at the church. Thursday evenings belong to the men, with Lenny Langley hosting a study at 6:30 PM. Anyone interested in joining one of the studies can call the church office for more information.
A Choir That Welcomes the Neighborhood at Christmas
The Adult Choir rehearses every Thursday evening at 6:00 PM and sings each Sunday morning from September through May. Under Choir Director Tracey Schwab and Accompanist Miriam Gibby, the choir prepares music for regular worship as well as concerts at Christmas and Easter. The Christmas season features a community Christmas concert in which neighbors are invited to sing alongside the choir for an evening of music and fellowship before Christmas Day. Shirley Geisler also serves as Director of Worship Arts, helping to shape the church's broader musical worship beyond the choir loft.
Praying for Missionaries from Thailand to Lebanon
First Baptist supports a stable of missionaries through prayer and financial giving, drawing on the Mark 16:15 commission to "go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere." Most are affiliated with American Baptist International Ministries: Mike and Becky Mann serve in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Daniel and Sarah Chetti serve in Lebanon; Kyle and Katrina Williams serve in Thailand; and Kathy and Tim Rice serve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The congregation also supports Tito Paredes with United World Mission in Peru, Samuel Hakim as the founder and director of Redeeming the Nations Ministries, and Tim and Sondra A. in a sensitive location in Southeast Asia. Each missionary family is featured monthly so the church can keep them in prayer.
Pastor Charlie and the Ministry Team
Pastor Charlie Rice leads the church as Senior Pastor. Supporting him are Sherrill Widmark, Director of Ministries; Brenda Delmarter, Director of Connections; Marti Piper, Director of Discipleship; Shirley Geisler, Director of Communications and Director of Worship Arts; Tracey Schwab, Choir Director; Miriam Gibby, Choir Accompanist; Courtney Mick, Children's Ministry Coordinator; Kelli Ellis, Nursery Attendant; and Lenny Langley, Director of Missions. The Administrative Board, which provides governance and oversight, includes Moderator Jim Geisler, Vice-Moderator Norm Eki, Church Board Secretary Cheri Folk, Administrator David Hesselman, and Finance Manager Sue Swanton.
Visiting First Baptist
The church sits on West Powell Boulevard, a short drive from the Gresham Central Transit Center and within easy reach of Interstate 84. Parking is available on site. The building is open from 9:30 AM through the end of the worship service at 12:15 PM each Sunday. Visitors joining from home can tune in at 11:00 AM on Sundays through the church's YouTube channel or Facebook page. For questions about the church, its ministries, weddings, baptisms, or facility rental, the office can be reached at (503) 665-2159 or office@fbcgo.org.