Let Us Be Your Second Family
First Baptist Church Springtown sits at 500 North Main Street in the heart of Springtown, Texas, with its Family Life Center and offices just across the way at 505 North Avenue B. The congregation describes itself with a phrase that doubles as a warm invitation: "Let us be your second family." Its mission, drawn from Matthew 28, is to glorify God and make disciples by following Jesus, strengthening families, and transforming lives, and members are known for greeting first-time guests with the same easygoing warmth they extend to longtime friends.
What to Expect on Sunday Morning
Worship at First Baptist Springtown is a blend of old and new. The Sunday morning gathering begins at 10:50 AM and lasts about an hour and ten minutes. The congregation sings a variety of songs from the past and today, prays together, reads Scripture aloud, and hears a message from one of the pastors. Attendees are free to stand, sit, kneel, clap, or raise their hands, and worshipers are encouraged to respond in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. The lead pastor, Bobby Cates, typically preaches in jeans, and the dress across the room runs the same range: suits and dresses on one side, jeans and t-shirts on the other.
Before the service, Sunday School and Bible study groups meet at 9:30 AM for every age and stage. Young Adults gather in Room 308 of the Family Life Center, Young Families in Room 306, and mixed adult groups in the Reception Hall, the Choir Room, the Sanctuary, and several other rooms. There is a women's class in Room 304B and a senior adults (65+) class in Room 110. On Sunday evening, a deeper Bible study walks through the Old Testament at 6 PM in Room 306 of the Family Life Center.
First-time guests find reserved parking spots marked "Guest Parking" just off Highway 51 at the base of the church sign. From there, the main entrance sits behind the white pillars and under the steeple. Greeters are waiting inside.
Midweek on Wednesday Night
Wednesdays are a full evening at First Baptist Springtown, and the church has built its midweek around a shared meal and age-appropriate groups. From 5:00 to 5:45 PM, a family meal is served in the Family Life Center ($5 for adults, $3 for children ages 4 to 13, free for kids 3 and under), with kids and youth volunteers eating at 4:45. Registration is required by 4 PM on Mondays.
At 6 PM the programming splits. Children in Pre-K through 4th grade gather in the Children's Wing for Midweek Kids, a rotation of upbeat worship, age-appropriate Bible teaching, games, crafts, and small group time. Fifth and sixth graders head to the Merge House for Merge, a high-energy preteen ministry built around live worship, Bible study tailored to their questions, and team-building games. Students in grades 7 through 12 meet for their own midweek worship, which weaves in fun, student-led praise music, and biblical teaching. For adults, a Sanctuary Bible Study and Prayer Gathering examines the doctrinal distinctives of the church's statement of faith, while a parallel study walks through the Book of Acts in Room 306.
Kids, Preteens, and Kingdom Kids Preschool
Children's ministry at First Baptist Springtown stretches from nursery through sixth grade. A nursery serves children ages 0 to 3 during the morning service, and Children's Church offers dynamic music and engaging Bible stories for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Families are encouraged to arrive about ten minutes early for a smooth check-in, and all children's workers are background checked.
The church also runs Kingdom Kids Preschool, a faith-based weekday program for children ages 2 to 4. School meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from mid-August to mid-May, 9 AM to 2 PM, with early drop-off and late pick-up available. Tuition is $185 per month, with a one-time $30 registration fee, a $50 per-semester supply fee, and $5 per use for either Early Birds or Later Gators. The preschool combines solid early academics with biblical truth, and enrollment opens each February for the following school year.
Students and Senior Adults
The student ministry covers 7th through 12th grade and is led by Collan Finley, Minister of Students & Recreation. In addition to Wednesday worship, students meet for small group Bible study at 9:30 AM on Sundays and gather again at 6 PM on Sunday evenings for an in-depth study that runs about an hour.
Senior adults (60+) belong to J.O.Y. Ministry, which stands for Just Older Youth. The ministry's purpose is to develop the spiritual, emotional, social, and physical well-being of senior members and to encourage them to minister across generations. Programming centers on a JOY Council that plans events throughout the year, including JOY Singers, family care seminars, a monthly JOY Luncheon, and a Widow's Banquet. The group's theme verses come from Psalm 71, with a particular call to proclaim God's might to another generation.
Upward Sports
Upward Sports is one of the most visible ministries at First Baptist Springtown, drawing families from across Parker County. The program operates on two goals: fostering a greater love, knowledge, and appreciation for God, and a greater love, knowledge, and appreciation for the game. The church currently runs basketball, soccer, and volleyball leagues, with flag football and cheerleague on the way.
Upward Basketball serves children ages 4 through 6th grade. Upward Soccer welcomes players from Kindergarten through 6th grade, with once-a-week practices and Saturday games in Springtown. Upward Volleyball is for boys and girls in 4th through 8th grade. Each league relies on volunteer coaches and referees, all of whom go through background checks.
Music and Worship Arts
The music ministry at First Baptist Springtown is rooted in Colossians 3:16 and is built around three principles: balance, variety, and focus. The Celebration Choir sings during Sunday morning worship and at the church's Christmas, Easter, and other special musical presentations throughout the year. The Orchestra includes woodwinds, brass, keyboards, guitars, and drums and supports both weekly worship and seasonal events. An Adult Praise Team helps lead congregational singing and introduces new songs, while a Youth Praise Team leads worship for the student ministry on Sundays and Wednesdays.
GriefShare
For those walking through loss, First Baptist Springtown hosts GriefShare, a 13-week nondenominational grief recovery support group built on biblical principles. Sessions meet on Mondays at 6 PM in Room 306 of the Family Life Center (enter on the south side under the portico). Each week includes a video seminar from leading grief recovery experts, small group discussion, and a workbook with personal study exercises. The $15 registration covers the workbook, and topics range from sadness, loneliness, and anger to fear, anxiety, regrets, grief and relationships, and hope and resilience.
Beliefs
First Baptist Springtown affirms the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The church holds to the full inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, to one true God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to the creation of humanity in God's image and the entrance of sin through human choice, and to salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is practiced as the immersion of a believer, and the Lord's Supper is observed as a symbolic memorial of Christ's death and anticipation of His return. The church teaches that every follower of Christ is called to make disciples of all nations, that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day, and that Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly to judge all in righteousness. Marriage is defined as the lifelong covenant union of one man and one woman, and the family is upheld as the foundational institution of human society.
Missions and Giving
The missions ministry partners with the North American Mission Board, the International Mission Board, and Southern Baptists of Texas, alongside local efforts such as the Eagle Mountain Pregnancy Help Center in Azle, Grace House in Weatherford, The Vine Church and The Vine en Español in Mt. Pleasant, and direct assistance for utility bills and groceries for those in need. Giving supports more than 3,600 international missionaries, 2,400 North American missionaries, and 3,700 chaplains, as well as the weekly ministries that serve children, preteens, students, young adults, families, and senior adults in the Springtown community.
Vacation Bible School
Each summer, First Baptist Springtown hosts Vacation Bible School for children from Pre-K through 6th grade. Recent themes have included the immersive Emerald Crossing adventure, with evenings running from 6:00 to 8:45 PM. VBS is volunteer-driven, and the church welcomes storytellers, craft leaders, and games leaders to join the team.
A Place to Serve
Serving is woven into the life of the church, and there is no shortage of opportunities. Sunday School teachers, Children's Church teachers and helpers, nursery volunteers, Midweek teachers, student ministry sponsors, Upward Sports coaches and referees, Angel Tree coordinators, audio/visual volunteers, Operation Christmas Child leaders, GriefShare facilitators, safety team members, and welcome team greeters are all needed regularly. Volunteers in the safety team serve without carrying firearms, and the team is open to men and women 18 and older.