At the corner of Davis and Alamo in Vacaville, California, sits First Baptist Church of Vacaville, an intentionally multi-cultural Baptist congregation that introduces itself with the tagline "All Different, All Together, Altogether Different." The church's doors open each week to people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who gather around the Word, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and a shared call to "love God, love others, and make disciples together."
A Sunday Morning Built Around Three Rhythms
The Sunday schedule at FBCVV moves in three deliberate steps that have shaped life at the church since a refreshed schedule launched in April 2024. Sunday School fills the first hour, beginning at 9:00 AM across several classrooms in Building C. At 10:00 AM, the congregation moves to Café Agape for a twenty-minute fellowship break, and at 10:30 AM everyone gathers in the Sanctuary for a worship service that typically runs until about 11:45 AM. The structure gives families with young children a way to settle in early and stay connected through every part of the morning.
Sunday School for Every Age
Three adult classes anchor the Sunday School hour in Building C. Coed Class #1 in Room 101 begins with a study centered on the Miracles of Jesus. Coed Class #2 in Room 104 opens with the Book of Hebrews. A Women's Class in Room 102 focuses on biblical topics that touch and shape the lives of women. Each class begins at 9:00 AM and is open to newcomers.
Children and youth have parallel offerings at the same hour. Preschool uses a "Grow" curriculum at 9:00 AM and again at 10:30 AM in Building B, Room B12. Children in first through sixth grade gather in Building C, Room 201, using Lifeway's Bible Studies for Life: Kids. Youth in seventh through twelfth grades use Lifeway's Bible Studies for Life: Students in Building C, Room 202. The nursery is available during the Sunday School hour so parents can attend an adult class without distraction.
The Café Agape Pause
Between Sunday School and worship, the church pauses at Café Agape for twenty minutes of fellowship. Members describe this as a brief but meaningful time to "break bread" together before moving into the Sanctuary. It is also a natural way for first-time guests to meet people without the formality of the worship hour.
Multi-Cultural Worship in the Sanctuary
The Sunday worship service is described as a "multi-cultural worship experience." Drawing on the picture in Revelation 7:9 of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne, the service intentionally gathers people from many backgrounds to worship the Lord together. The phrase repeated often is "Come as you are. Just come." Visitors are invited to dress comfortably and join in.
For those unable to attend in person, services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, and recordings can be watched at any time.
Children and a Renovated Nursery
Children's ministry at FBCVV aims to "create the spark within each child that will lead to a long-lasting relationship with Jesus Christ." Sunday morning options begin with the nursery, which underwent a major renovation in 2020 and is located in the single-story building immediately behind the main sanctuary. The nursery cares for children from newborn through age three in a clean, safe, age-appropriate space. All nursery workers are screened, fingerprinted, and background-checked by a third-party agency.
Children in first through sixth grade participate in Sunday School at 9:00 AM, and Junior Church meets the first three Sundays of the month during the 10:30 worship service. Children start in the sanctuary with the adults for worship and are then escorted to Junior Church after a brief announcement and prayer from the pastor.
Midweek, Junior Choir practice gathers children ages five through seventeen every Wednesday from 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM in Building A. The children's ministry also runs events throughout the year, and parents are encouraged to register through Church Center to stay informed.
Wednesday Nights for Youth
Junior and senior high students meet every Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in Building D for Bible study and fellowship. All youth in grades seven through twelve are welcome, regardless of church affiliation. Volunteers who work with youth must be screened members; those interested in volunteering can contact the church office to learn about the screening process.
Men's Ministry: Iron Sharpens Iron
Built around the verse "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another," the Men's Ministry helps men face the challenges of walking with Christ in a busy world. Two regular gatherings anchor the ministry: a Friday morning Bible Study from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM in Building D, and a monthly Men's Breakfast on the second Saturday of the month from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, also in Building D. Both are open to all men, regardless of church affiliation. The breakfast is free and typically includes a lesson aimed at the unique challenges men face.
Leadership for the ministry includes Roland Torrecampo and Pastor Edric Denis, who model what it means to be a faithful brother in Christ.
Women's Ministry
The Women's Ministry seeks to "support, build up, and empower women through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship." A weekly Women's Bible Study meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM, and all women are welcome regardless of church affiliation. The leadership team is led by Sharon Chambers as President, with Pamela Randall serving as Secretary and Janet Bunger as Treasurer.
Seniors: Lunch, Bingo, and Fellowship
Two monthly rhythms keep seniors connected at FBCVV. A Senior Lunch gathers on the first Saturday of most months from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Building D (the Family Life Center) for food and fellowship. On the second Friday of each month, Bingo Night runs from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Bingo is a fundraising event for the senior ministry, with a $20 cash cost that covers ten games, game cards, daubers, and light snacks. Play is for fun prizes, and the evening is reserved for adults.
Food Ministry: Serving Vacaville
The Food Ministry exists because hunger is a reality for many families in Vacaville and the surrounding area. The ministry provides healthy groceries and various sundry items to anyone in need, free of charge, "whether Christian or not, church members or not." The Food Pantry operates two days a week: Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Deacon Jay Hughes serves as the Food Ministry Director and welcomes donations and volunteers.
Beliefs and Core Values
FBCVV holds a shared set of core values rooted in Scripture. Prayer comes first, with the church seeking to dwell in God's presence before acting. God's Word is treated as the guide and authority for daily life. Members are committed to sharing the Gospel and obeying the call to "go and make disciples of all nations." Faith is described as continually walking by faith and following the movement of the Holy Spirit.
The church places strong emphasis on family and community, on reaching the next generation with the message of Christ, and on honesty and integrity in speaking the truth in love. Worship is understood as the central purpose for which God created humanity, expressed "in spirit and in truth," personally and corporately. Diversity is also celebrated as a reflection of God's image in His people.
Leadership, Deacons, and Prayer
Senior Pastor James Soy leads the congregation, supported by Church Administrator Begoña Maier, Youth Leader Jasmine Mickens, and Nursery Coordinator Tenika Finney. A board of seven deacons serves the church as servant leaders. Deacon Chairman Dick Swan, Vice Chairman Jay Hughes, and Secretary Laurence Maier head the team, alongside deacons Vic Chiles, Doug Hambright, Sean Redding, and Tommy Smith.
Prayer shapes the week at FBCVV through a Monday evening Prayer Meeting held from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The meeting is offered both in person and on Zoom so anyone in the community can join.
A Place to Belong
First Baptist Church of Vacaville sees itself as a family brought together by the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Whether someone arrives looking for Sunday School, a midweek meal through the Food Pantry, a children's program, a men's or women's Bible study, or simply a place to worship, the church invites them to come as they are and grow together with a community that believes being "all different" is part of what makes them "altogether different."