Saks Road in Anniston
First Baptist Church of Saks sits along Saks Road in the Saks community of Anniston, Alabama, in Calhoun County. The church's desire is to help as many people as possible to know and experience the wonderful love of God, and its reach extends well beyond the immediate neighborhood through ministries that draw families, students, college-aged young adults, and seniors from across the region. A Child Development Center has operated on the church's campus since 1967, and a senior adult fellowship known as the Golden Jewels welcomes adults from churches all over Calhoun County who do not have a group of their own.
Sunday Mornings at FBC Saks
The Sunday rhythm begins at 9:00 AM with Sunday Bible Study, when age-based classes for children, students, and adults meet across the campus. The morning worship service follows at 10:00 AM and runs between an hour and fifteen minutes and an hour and thirty minutes. The music is a modern blend of new songs and old hymns, led by a worship team that includes a band, a praise team, and a worship choir. Lead Pastor Joey Hanner then preaches a biblical and practical message, and the service closes with a time of fellowship.
A Welcome for First-Time Visitors
Greeters are stationed at the entrances to answer questions and walk newcomers to the right classroom or pew. Visitors can pull into one of several reserved parking spaces in front of the sanctuary, and a courtesy golf cart is on hand to give anyone a lift from the parking lot. Guests with mobility needs can pull up under the office entrance, where someone will meet them, and guest wheelchairs are also available. Security personnel are posted throughout the buildings and grounds, including the children's and nursery areas, so families can worship with peace of mind. The dress code is open: from a Sunday best to blue jeans, everyone is welcome.
Children, Students, and the Child Development Center
FBC Saks takes the care and discipleship of children seriously. Secured childcare is offered during every service for newborns through sixth graders, and Sunday School classes are organized by age for the same range. During the 10:00 AM worship service, children in first through sixth grade are invited to Worship Kidstyle Children's Church, preschoolers ages four and five join ARK Kids, and children up to age three stay in the nursery; a hostess in the sanctuary can escort young children to their rooms. Worship Kidstyle children stay for the first set of songs and are dismissed during the fellowship time, then meet a Children's Ministry worker in the front.
On Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 PM, ARK Kids gathers for K4 through sixth graders, a program of singing, snacks, Bible study, games, and worship. For seventh through twelfth graders, First Students meets on Sundays upstairs in the Student Worship Center for Bible study at 9:00 AM and joins the 10:00 AM worship service, then returns on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM for a student Bible study led by Student Pastor TJ Martin. A college ministry, led by Chris and Amy Reaves, also meets on Sunday mornings upstairs in the Christian Life Center.
Established in 1967, the FBC Saks Child Development Center is a year-round weekday preschool and daycare. Hours run Monday through Friday, with a half-day preschool from 8:00 to 11:30 AM, a mini day from 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM, and a full daycare day from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The center is directed by Alana Smith, and families can call 256-237-3468 to confirm enrollment.
Golden Jewels: A Senior Adult Group from Across Calhoun County
The Golden Jewels is FBC Saks's senior adult ministry for adults 55 and older. Members need not belong to FBC Saks; many come from churches throughout Calhoun County that lack a similar group. The Golden Jewels meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 AM in the Christian Life Center for a covered-dish meal, with men and women both contributing home cooking. Each meeting features a guest speaker or entertainer, and the calendar includes several one-day trips and one extended trip each year. The group also takes on church and community projects and mission actions, and members often describe the Golden Jewels as family.
What FBC Saks Believes
The church's statement of faith centers on the Bible as the verbally inspired, error-free Word of God, and on one true God revealed in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Members affirm the virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and personal return of Jesus Christ, along with a literal Heaven for the saved and a literal Hell for the lost. Salvation is a gift from God, received by repenting of sin and placing faith in Jesus Christ, and believers are eternally secure in Him. The church recognizes two ordinances: baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. FBC Saks fully complies with the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Pastoral Team
Joey Hanner serves as Lead Pastor, having entered ministry in 2000 as a student and missions pastor before leading Union 3 Baptist Church from 2011 to 2023. His focus is one-on-one discipleship and door-to-door evangelism, with a vision for raising up disciples who make more disciples. Gary Wright, the Pastor of Worship and Discipleship, has been in ministry since 1991 and brings experience from church plants, large contemporary churches, a decade in corporate leadership, and a wide slate of speaking and worship engagements. TJ Martin is the Student Pastor, currently pursuing a degree in Biblical Studies through Leavell College, and Amber Ford directs the Children's Ministry. Alana Smith leads the Child Development Center, and Chris and Amy Reaves lead the college ministry.
Getting Connected Through Sunday Bible Study
Sunday Bible Study at 9:00 AM is how most newcomers plug in. Classes are organized by age, life stage, and interest, and greeters help families find the right room. For older adults, the Golden Jewels gathering on the second Tuesday offers a second way to connect. Online giving is available through Realm, and visitors can reach out to the pastors and ministry leaders by email before their first visit.