First Baptist Church in Redwater, Texas, gathers at 105 Redwater Boulevard East around a shared mission: to unite people in one body of Christ through the Holy Spirit, reveal, experience and share the Gospel to an ever-changing community and world. Two Sunday worship gatherings, age-specific Bible study and a full Wednesday program of meals, children’s ministry and youth worship shape the church’s regular rhythm.
United in One Body Through Christ and the Holy Spirit
First Baptist Church’s purpose is explicitly tied to this shared life in Christ: through the Holy Spirit, the church seeks to reveal the Gospel, experience it together and share it beyond its own fellowship. The church says it is centered on relationships and is committed to sharing the love that comes from God with the community. Together, members are encouraged to accomplish more for the kingdom than they could alone.
The church’s teaching places redemption, purpose and calling at the center of human life. People are fallen but redeemed by God, and under Christ’s leadership they can enter a new life. The church also describes Christ as knitting the good and the pain of life together into a message for the rest of the world. These themes give its membership, teaching and service a common frame.
A person joins by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and following in believer’s baptism, or by transferring membership from another church. The church emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus and provides guidance through a minister so each person can understand salvation, baptism and church membership.
Two Sunday Gatherings at Redwater Boulevard
Sunday worship celebrations take place at 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at 105 Redwater Boulevard East. The general Sunday morning Bible study is at 10:10 a.m., with children’s classes beginning at 10:00 a.m. The two services and the class between them create a straightforward rhythm for worship, teaching and fellowship. Lead Pastor Corey Calicott leads worship and works with both the choir and worship band, while Associate Pastor Mike Powell leads Sunday School and discipleship programs.
The 11:00 gathering is also the anchor for children’s programs. Families can keep children in the nursery and preschool rooms during the service, and older children may remain with their parents. Activity sheets are available at the back of the sanctuary, and activity bags in the preschool wing help children participate in worship.
Children Learn to Worship at Every Age
At 10:00, children’s Bible study uses age-appropriate material for nursery through sixth grade. The goal is to make the Bible come alive and help children seek the Kingdom of God for a lifetime. The Children’s Ministry also oversees Vacation Bible School, Children’s Camp and Music Camp, extending its teaching and worship emphasis beyond the regular Sunday and Wednesday rhythm.
During the 11:00 service, Extended Session serves children from nursery through age four in an atmosphere designed for them to learn to worship God. WOW, short for Worship Our Way, serves children age five through third grade and begins just before the sermon. Children in WOW take part in a worship service created for their age group. The combined schedule runs from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Wednesday: Homework, Meals and Kingdom Kids
WASP, the church’s Wednesday After School Program, is free for PreK through sixth grade and runs from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Children are picked up by bus from Redwater Elementary and Middle School. They receive a free meal, homework help and age-appropriate activities, making the afternoon a mixture of care, learning and activity. The program serves children from PreK through sixth grade and connects with the church’s other student ministries.
From 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., Kingdom Kids continues the Wednesday schedule for PreK through sixth grade. It uses The Story for Little Children Bible to help children learn the biblical story from the beginning, worship God, rotate through small groups and take part in Bible study, activities, Bible drill and gym time. PreK children must be fully potty trained for Kingdom Kids. Adult volunteers are supported by IMB child-protection training and a child-protection exam.
Common Word, Work, Play and Place
Common Word, the youth Sunday Bible study at 10:10 a.m., uses a six-year plan to help students know God and understand what they are to do with that knowledge. Its eight essential truths are that God is, the Bible is God’s Word, people are God’s treasure, Jesus is God and Savior, the Holy Spirit is God and Empowerer, salvation is by faith alone, the church is God’s plan, and the future is in God’s hands.
Common Work meets Sunday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for discipleship in an intimate setting. Its sessions combine video-led teaching, small groups, discussion and service projects, all designed to teach students what it means to follow Christ. The youth ministry aligns its annual theme with the six-year plan so messages, discipleship, Bible study and other activities reinforce the same emphasis.
On Wednesday, Common Play provides a safe place for students who cannot get a ride back for the 6:00 p.m. gathering. It runs from 3:30 to 5:45 p.m. Drinks and snacks are available at low cost, and the Food Ministry provides a meal at 5:00 p.m.
Common Place follows from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. It is the youth weekly worship gathering, with contemporary worship, small-group time, media presentations, videos and messages from God’s Word directed toward understanding God’s purpose for life. The structure gives students both corporate worship and personal teaching.
Man Up is a Friday morning Bible study for the guys in youth ministry. It meets from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. at the Family Ministry Building and addresses relevant issues and what it means to be a man, including stepping up to a God-given purpose in following Christ and leading others.
Loaves and Fish: Food That Serves
The Food Ministry, also called Loaves and Fish, uses food to advance the kingdom of God. Each Wednesday it prepares a no-charge meal for students in WASP and Common Play, people who attend Adult Bible Study, and volunteers serving in WASP, AWANA and youth ministry. The meal makes the midweek activities a shared table rather than a set of separate programs.
The ministry also partners with Harvest Texarkana to distribute food boxes each month to Redwater residents in need. During transition times in church life, such as deaths, surgeries and births, the Food Ministry steps into the gap by delivering paper goods, organizing church members to prepare meals or serving a meal at the church. Food Ministry Coordinator Connie Gregory oversees the kitchen, purchasing, meal preparation, pantry and food-box distribution.
Ladies Ministry Projects for Children and Families
The Ladies’ Ministry is a mission-oriented organization within the church and the Redwater community. It encourages women to participate in projects and activities, while also giving people a practical way to share God’s love and the Gospel locally and around the world.
Projects include Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, school supplies for local students whose families cannot afford them, replacement clothing and undergarments for PreK through third-grade students after accidents, and the Angel Tree, through which church families adopt children and provide stockings. The ministry also prepares hygiene bags for families visiting the Telford Prison Unit. Each bag contains personal-care items such as a washcloth, towel, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, soap, shampoo and conditioner, along with a Gospel message.
Funding comes from sausage and biscuits sales on Sunday mornings, desserts to go, a chili cook-off, luncheons and individual donations. Together, these projects let the Ladies’ Ministry support children, families, students and people connected to the prison unit while giving its members concrete ways to serve.
Damascus Home’s Recovery Ministry in Redwater
First Baptist Church Redwater supports Damascus Home of Redwater, a Christ-centered approach to drug and alcohol rehabilitation for men. Its faith-based program includes a 90-day recovery period and relapse-prevention services, with the goal of helping participants find meaning and purpose as God transforms them into men of honor and integrity. The church hosts Damascus Home’s annual homecoming and fundraiser and has directed community giving toward the organization.
Calicott, Powell and Ministry Coordinators
Corey Calicott has been on staff since 2000 and full time since 2002. As lead pastor, he oversees youth ministry for grades seven through twelve, leads worship, works with the choir and worship band, coordinates maintenance needs and assists with pastoral duties.
Mike Powell has served as associate pastor and minister of education since 2010. He leads Sunday School and discipleship, oversees homebound and senior adult ministries and assists with pastoral work.
Connie Gregory leads the Food Ministry, while Naomi Larey coordinates the Children’s Ministry, including WASP, Vacation Bible School, Children’s Camp and Music Camp.
Connecting Through Church Center and RightNow Media
Church Center provides a digital way for members to stay connected with church life. Families can also register for WASP and children’s activities through it, while the monthly newsletter and prayer list keep people connected with regular communication. The RightNow Media library gives members free access to more than 3,000 Bible-study videos for use at home, work and around the world. Online giving supports the church’s work, and worship livestreams are available through the church’s YouTube channel.
The church also maintains a Facebook presence for the congregation and a separate Instagram account centered on its youth ministry. These channels complement in-person gatherings with online messages, teaching resources and ways to participate.
First Baptist Church Redwater brings worship, biblical teaching, shared meals and practical service together in one fellowship. From two Sunday celebrations to children’s learning, youth discipleship, adult Bible study, food-box distribution and recovery support, the church continues to pursue its purpose of revealing, experiencing and sharing the Gospel in Redwater and beyond.