First Baptist Church of Paradise gathers on Clark Road in Paradise, California, where its members have shaped a simple three-part vision: Honor God, Serve God, Love People. The congregation holds to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and belongs to the California Southern Baptist Convention through the Sierra Butte Baptist Association.
A Threefold Vision: Honor God, Serve God, Love People
The church's vision statement frames everything it does. To honor God, members gather to worship, praise, and pray, and they read, study, and apply Scripture in daily life. To serve God, they obey His Word, intentionally use their talents, spiritual gifts, finances, and time for His purposes, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with spiritually lost people. To love people, they demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways, growing in love for one another through fellowship and service.
Sunday on Clark Road
Sunday morning begins at 9:00 AM with a prayer time in the library, followed by adult Bible study at 9:45 AM, currently working through the book of Acts and the foundations of the faith. The main worship service begins at 11:00 AM, when the church gathers to hear the Word of God and to worship through music and fellowship. The service is livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. Children's Church, for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, dismisses during the pastor's weekly message; children remain with their parents and family groups until after the song portion of the service concludes, and parents are asked to pick up children promptly afterward. Nursery care is provided as needed.
Midweek Bible Study and Prayer
On Wednesday evenings at 5:00 PM in room #1, members dig into the book of Psalms together. A women's Bible study meets Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM, currently working through "Adorned" from Titus 2. Men's ministry gathers for breakfast and Bible study on the second Tuesday and fourth Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM. A prayer chain supports members and visitors throughout the week; prayer cards can be placed in the offering or in boxes on the pillars, with the option to keep requests private. A portion of Sunday evening gatherings is devoted to the prayer needs of the congregation, and prayer requests may also be submitted through a private online form. The church office is open Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Children's Ministry
FBCP Children's Ministry gives young members several ways to grow in their faith and knowledge of God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Children's Church happens each Sunday during the pastor's message, led by an experienced children's ministry leader and a well-trained team. All volunteers are fully trained, background-checked, and live-scanned in compliance with California AB-506. Several members of the church's leadership also work with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), which runs outreach programs at local elementary schools on the Ridge. Vacation Bible School is offered as a seasonal children's outreach event during the year.
Young Adults on the Ridge
The Young Adult Ministry welcomes those between the ages of 18 and 25. A small group meets on Saturdays, alternating between locations including the church, with Heather Walker as the contact for details. The ministry teaches that the Lord has an exciting calling for this generation of young adults and encourages them to listen to the Lord's leading, trust Him, and obey. Members value the fellowship of same-age friends who can encourage one another in the walk with the Lord, and find that following Jesus, while sometimes hard, is always rewarding.
Feeding the Community
The food pantry is one of the most visible ways the church serves Paradise. It opens Fridays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, offering a wide selection of dry and canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and frozen meat, eggs, and milk. Commodities are distributed on the third Tuesday of each month from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Food and cash donations are always welcome, and volunteers are needed. Current pantry needs are listed in the weekly bulletin. Biblical counseling and prayer are also available through the church office.
Pastoral Leadership
Pastor Samuel Walker has served as Senior Pastor since November 2010, when he accepted the call to First Baptist Church of Paradise. He graduated from Colorado Christian University with a degree in Biblical Studies emphasizing Hebrew and Greek, has been in Christian ministry leadership since 1989, and has served on short-term missions in several countries. He and his wife, Heather, met on a short-term mission trip while both exploring their Jewish roots and how those insights fit with their faith. They have six children and four grandchildren. Heather serves as the church's Administrative Assistant.
Pastor Dave Bruns serves as Pastor of Care. He has been in full-time pastoral ministry for 42 years, including 13 years at Paradise Alliance Church. He holds a bachelor's degree in pastoral ministries from Grace College of the Bible in Omaha and a master's in Christian Ministries from the International School of Theology with Campus Crusade for Christ. He and his wife, Ginny, have been married 45 years, have four grown children, and four grandchildren. His passion is visiting people in hospitals and skilled care centers and making home visits.
What the Church Believes
The church holds to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and teaches the Bible as the inspired, authoritative, and infallible Word of God, the sole rule of faith and practice and the standard by which all human conduct and creeds should be tried. There is one true and living God, existing in three eternal and coequal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Humankind was created in God's image but fell into sin through Adam and is in need of redemption. Forgiveness and justification come solely by God's grace through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, who died for sinners and rose again. Regeneration, or the new birth, is the work of the Holy Spirit; those who are born again are commanded to be baptized by immersion as a sign of union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
The church, in its visible form, is a local body of baptized followers of Christ who covenant together to worship, observe the ordinances, and evangelize. Jesus Christ will return visibly, raise the dead, and judge all people; His followers will enjoy eternal blessedness, while unbelievers will experience eternal separation from God. The church has been called to minister to the total person, addressing both physical and spiritual needs through acts of compassion, advocacy for social justice, and the sharing of the gospel. Marriage, in the church's teaching, is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.
Getting Involved
Members and regular attenders can find a place to serve in several ministry areas. The music ministry has a growing worship team and offers seasonal opportunities with the church choir. The men's and women's ministries welcome new ideas and fresh help. The food pantry always needs volunteers and welcomes donations. The Building and Grounds Committee cares for the property with painting, minor repairs, and grounds work. The prayer ministry supports the church through the prayer chain and Sunday evening prayer time. Tithes and offerings can also be given online.
Knowing Jesus
The church teaches that anyone can begin a personal relationship with Jesus through admitting sin, repenting, and receiving the free gift of salvation by grace through faith. The congregation encourages new believers to grow through prayer, reading the Bible, and fellowship with other believers, trusting that the Holy Spirit dwells within them as a guarantee of the good work God has begun.