Sixteen Decades on East Stegall Drive
First Baptist Church of Robinson has stood at 104 East Stegall Drive in the small city of Robinson, Texas, since 1866, making it one of the oldest congregations in the area. From that long foundation, the church describes itself today as "all about connections": connecting people to Jesus Christ, to one another, and to small groups and resources that help them grow. The congregation has grown into a multi-generational church that pairs expository preaching with a theologically rich worship style, while remaining rooted in its Southern Baptist identity.
First-time visitors can find a friendly overview of what to expect on the I'M NEW page.
A Sunday Morning Built Around Connection
The rhythm of a Sunday at First Baptist Robinson is built to weave newcomers into the life of the church before the service even begins. Adult Life Groups, BLAST for middle and high school students, and Kid's Sunday School for children all meet at 9:00 AM across the Education Wing and Kid's Wing. At 10:00 AM the Fellowship Hall opens for coffee and conversation, giving the whole church a half hour to visit, meet new faces, and reconnect with ones they have not seen in a while. The 10:30 AM worship service typically runs about seventy-five minutes.
Visitors arriving for the first time will find reserved parking spaces near the front entrance, a Welcome Center just inside with friendly people ready to answer questions and a small gift for first-time guests, and a Kids' Check-In station to the left of the main entrance that makes it easy to register children through sixth grade for age-appropriate care and Bible teaching during the service.
Worship That Honors Christ with Heart and Mind
The Sunday gathering is built around prayer, praise, Scripture, and the preaching of God's Word. Music Minister Daryl Colyer weaves Christ-centered hymns, both modern and traditional, with contemporary worship songs, Scripture readings, and prayer. The result is a blended service, casual in attire - shorts, jeans, slacks, or a tie all show up - and theologically rich in its music. The congregation observes the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper together. Children in fourth grade and below are dismissed to their own classes prior to the sermon.
Children from the Nursery Through Fourth Grade
The children's wing of First Baptist Robinson is one of the most carefully structured parts of the church, with three Sunday morning environments serving children from birth through fourth grade.
The Nursery, directed by Kate Truax and her team of caregivers, is set up for children from birth through age two with hands-on activities that introduce even the youngest to God's love. The Junction Jr., for ages three and four, uses Bible stories, singing, and crafts before children are dismissed from the worship service. The Junction, directed by Lisa Fowler, a former elementary school teacher, teaches children in kindergarten through fourth grade in an environment designed to be both exciting and safe. Jordan Helfer supports the entire children's ministry with training and encouragement for every teacher.
On Wednesday evenings during the school year, IGNITE Kids takes over. Director Susan Loftice leads a weekly program that begins with dinner at 5:45 PM, then moves through lively music, engaging Bible lessons, interactive games, and a time of reflection until 7:30 PM. The night is built around the conviction that learning about God should be genuinely enjoyable.
BLAST Youth for Seventh Through Twelfth Grade
BLAST is the church's ministry to junior high and senior high students, with the goal of partnering with parents to build up the next generation of leaders who seek, serve, and share Christ. James and Angela Dodd create a caring, safe environment where students encounter Jesus through worship, relevant Bible teaching, and plenty of activity. BLAST meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM alongside the adult Life Groups, and then again on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:30 PM. Wednesday nights begin with a balanced meal at 5:45 PM, followed by games, music, and a Biblical message. Students arrive between 5:30 and 5:45 at the Youth Activity Center at 104 South McLendon Drive. Every leader and volunteer has completed a background check.
Re:generation: Twelve Biblical Steps Toward Freedom
One of the most distinctive ministries at First Baptist Robinson is Re:generation, a twelve-step, Christ-centered discipleship program directed by Joey Estrada. The program works through biblical steps within community, giving participants a place to be one hundred percent honest about sinful patterns and brokenness. Re:gen meets on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, takes about twelve months to complete, costs nothing for the program itself (only eighty dollars total for workbooks), and welcomes anyone, including those with questions or doubts.
Re:gen participants often share what the program has meant to them. Nathan says Re:gen reminded him that "God desires intimacy with me" rather than performance. Vicky says it "equipped me with the tools and community to help hold me accountable for each day in my walk of Jesus."
Life Groups and Adult Bible Studies
Beyond the Sunday morning options, FBCR offers a wide network of small groups and Bible studies for men, women, and mixed adults. Sunday morning Life Groups meet at 9:00 AM in rooms across the Education Wing: the Curry group in Room 201 (mixed), the Uzzel/Loftice group in Room 205 (mixed), the Lowry group in Room 206 (mixed), and the Herod group in Room 210 (ladies). Two evening groups, "Forever Young" in the Fellowship Hall and "Skunks & Turtles" in the Youth Center, both meet at 6:00 PM on Sundays.
Pastor Steve Thomas leads a four-week evangelism class that combines Scripture, practical tools, and dramatized gospel conversations. The class meets Tuesday evenings in Room 207 when in session.
Men and Women Growing Side by Side
Men of the church have two main touchpoints. The IRONMAN Men's Breakfast gathers at 8:00 AM on Tuesdays at the Rocket Cafe in Robinson, with first-time guests treated to breakfast on the church. Scott Hudson leads the seasonal men's Bible study on Tuesday evenings, walking the group through books of the Bible such as Romans.
The women's ministry is equally active. The Ladies Brunch Bunch meets at 10:00 AM on Tuesdays at Launchpad Espresson & Bakery in Robinson, and the Heart 2 Heart Ladies Fellowship gathers on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM for food, devotions, community projects, mission focus, testimonies, and prayer. Mary Thomas leads a seasonal women's Bible study through books like Philippians, the so-called "Epistle of Joy." The church hosts an annual summer women's retreat built around a fresh theme each year, and the women's ministry has supported efforts such as PACK of HOPE, a volunteer-run organization that provides weekend food for children in McLennan County, and the SBTC's Girls of Malindi, Kenya hygiene initiative.
Music That Magnifies the Lord
The Worship and Music Ministry exists "to magnify the Lord through music, as the people of God gather to exalt His Name together." Daryl Colyer arranges and develops the church's worship scores, blending traditional and modern hymns, contemporary worship songs, Scripture, and prayer. As a professional guitarist, Colyer leads both vocally and instrumentally, and the ministry is open to anyone who wants to serve. The church calls its people to make worship a lifestyle, not just a Sunday event.
Walking Through the Recommended Reading
First Baptist Robinson keeps a curated reading list organized as a stepped journey for disciples. Step 1, the Gospel, points to Timothy Keller's "Prodigal God." Step 2, Christianity, walks through Stephen Smallman's "The Walk." Step 3, Spiritual Disciplines, uses Donald Whitney's "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life." Step 4, Church Membership, turns to Thom Rainer's "I Am a Church Member." Step 5, Theology, features Wayne Grudem's "Christian Beliefs." Step 6, Evangelism, leans on Rebecca Pippert's "Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World." Step 7, Finances, ends with Randy Alcorn's "The Treasure Principle." Additional resources cover humility, relationships, parenting, anxiety, decision making, women's issues, men's issues, and time management.
What the Church Believes
First Baptist Robinson subscribes generally to the doctrinal statement of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000. That confession shapes both the preaching and the practice of the church, from the expository style on Sunday mornings to the lay-led evangelism classes that equip members to share their faith.
Deacons and Pastoral Leadership
The pastoral staff is led by Steve Thomas, who grew up in southeastern Iowa and has served in pastoral and musical leadership for more than twenty-five years. He holds a degree in Biblical Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College, and a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Louisiana Baptist University, and has continued with post-graduate doctoral work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific, and Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Mary share a love of travel, landscape photography, and biking. The deacons of the church, drawn from the New Testament word for servant, include Brian Curry, Richard Deas, James Dodd, Carroll Hudson (chairman), Chris Johnson, Roy Krumnow, Buddy Shavers, and Jim Uzzel.
Rooted in Robinson Since 1866
From the nursery door to the senior adult fellowship, from Monday Re:gen groups to Wednesday BLAST youth, the rhythm of First Baptist Robinson continues in this Central Texas community just as it has since 1866. The church family opens its doors every Sunday morning at 104 East Stegall Drive, inviting the next generation of disciples to walk through the same door that has welcomed generations before them.