On a quiet block in downtown Wallingford, Connecticut, the white-steepled home of First Baptist Church has anchored the corner of North Main Street for more than two centuries. Locals know it simply as FBC Wallingford, and its self-description - Seeking Jesus - captures both the congregation and the town it serves. From its 114 North Main Street address, the church runs a Sunday worship service, a steady calendar of small groups, a Vacation Bible School each summer, and a far-reaching missions program born in the Dominican Republic in 1990.
Three Rhythms: Worship, Small Groups, Serving
FBC Wallingford organizes its ministry around three everyday rhythms: Sunday worship, small groups during the week, and service to others. The church's motto, "Seek Jesus. Find Belonging. Live with Purpose," sits at the center of those rhythms. Senior Pastor Lubin Beaucejour often says that "there is no unemployment at FBC Wallingford," reflecting how every member is encouraged to put gifts to work inside the church, across Wallingford, or on mission trips to La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Pastor Lubin Beaucejour and a 200-Year Story
Lubin Beaucejour became FBC Wallingford's senior pastor on August 4, 2024, after an enthusiastic membership vote and a unanimous recommendation from the church search committee. Many in the congregation already knew him from his long partnership with FBC's DR Mission Team and his mission work in Haiti. He brings an enthusiasm for Jesus and His church and a passion for helping people develop a personal relationship with the Savior. Pastor Lubin and his wife, Abbi, live in Cheshire.
The congregation he leads now has more than 200 years of impact in Wallingford. That longevity shows up in the church's role as one of the town's longest-running institutions, and in the way its members describe themselves as a family-oriented community church rather than a program-driven one.
What FBC Wallingford Believes
The church's statement of faith spells out a classic Baptist evangelical position in plain terms:
- The Bible. The Old and New Testaments are the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God, the final authority for faith, doctrine, and Christian living.
- God. One true God exists eternally in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - equal in power and glory.
- Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true man: virgin-born, sinless, crucified and risen, ascended to the Father's right hand, and personally returning.
- The Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts of sin, regenerates, indwells, sanctifies, and empowers believers for holy living and service.
- Humanity and sin. People were created in God's image but fell through disobedience, leaving every person in need of salvation.
- Salvation. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
- The Church. The Church is the body of Christ, and the local church is called to worship, proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and serve the world.
- The Ordinances. Two ordinances mark the church: baptism by immersion as a public testimony of faith, and the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Christ until He returns.
- Christian living. Believers are called to holy, Spirit-empowered lives that bear witness in word and deed.
- The return of Christ. Jesus will return personally and visibly; the dead will be raised, the judged, and the redeemed welcomed into eternal joy with God.
Sunday Mornings at 114 North Main
Worship at FBC Wallingford is designed to feel comfortable for first-time visitors. The service includes powerful and energetic praise music and a practical, Christ-centered message grounded in Scripture, led by Pastor Lubin and supported by a worship team. "You will be fed with powerful and energetic praise music, a practical and Christ-centered message based on Scripture, and people just like you," the church explains. "They don't have things figured out for sure, but they are seeking Jesus."
The Sunday service begins at 10AM and runs both in person and online. Live streams are available through Facebook Live on the church's Facebook page and through YouTube Live on its YouTube channel, so anyone unable to attend in person can join from home.
Sunday mornings are also when the church's discipleship classes meet. These classes - geared for believers of all ages - run concurrently with the main service, giving adults a deeper teaching option while children and teens go to their own classes.
Small Groups and Discipleship
Small groups are described as "the heart of FBC Wallingford." The church hosts mid-week Connect Group Bible studies across town, with options for men, women, youth, and children, plus prayer meetings. A weekly men's group gathers for coffee and Bible study, and a women's Bible study meets weekly over Zoom. Laurel Geist, the church's director of discipleship, helps newcomers find the right fit.
The goal of these groups is straightforward: deeper relationships, deeper Scripture knowledge, and a place where every member can be known. Small groups are also the primary on-ramp for people exploring membership or baptism.
A Heart for Kids and Youth
Children and teenagers sit at the center of FBC Wallingford's ministry. On Sundays, a safe and secure nursery cares for the youngest children, while Sunday School classes are offered for every age. Middle and high school students have their own Bible study and youth group that meet mid-week.
Each summer the church runs a Vacation Bible School for children from age 4 through 5th-grade graduates. The program runs Monday through Friday from 9AM to noon and costs $20 per child (with a $40 family maximum). The 2026 VBS is set for August 10 through August 14, with registration handled by Gabrielle Butler, the church's VBS and children's ministry coordinator. A promotion flyer and online registration form are posted on the church's site.
Men's and Women's Ministry
FBC Wallingford's men's ministry centers on a weekly coffee-and-Bible-study gathering, while the women's ministry hosts regular fellowship events and a weekly Zoom Bible study. Both groups are open to newcomers; interested women and men can reach out to the office for current meeting details.
The DR Mission Team: 35+ Years in La Romana
Perhaps the most distinctive mark of FBC Wallingford is the Dominican Republic Mission Team, which the church itself founded in 1990. Now in its fourth decade, the DR Mission Team sends volunteers to La Romana twice a year - a winter trip in January and summer trips in June and July - to serve alongside long-standing partner ministries. The team is coordinated by John and Aimee Powers, both well-known to the FBC congregation.
Volunteers support the Joe Hartman School, mobile medical clinics, food distribution through the Fulfilling Smiles program, the El Buen Samaritano Hospital, and the Centro de Protesis prosthetics clinic. Sponsorship opportunities are available for those who want to support the work financially. The summer 2026 trips are scheduled for three separate weeks of service from June 26 to July 18, and a deposit is required to hold a spot.
The DR Mission Team is also deeply connected to FBC's Haiti mission work. Pastor Lubin's longstanding Haiti ministry led him into partnership with FBC well before he became senior pastor.
Local Outreach: Master's Manna and the Emergency Shelter
Beyond its overseas work, FBC Wallingford invests heavily in its hometown. The church supports Master's Manna, a local food pantry that serves more than 400 Wallingford families each week. Non-perishable donations can be dropped off at the church's Fellowship Hall, and Cindy Holland-Toftness coordinates that effort.
FBC also partners with the Wallingford Emergency Shelter, where church volunteers help prepare meals for people in need. Sandy Drozd serves as the contact for anyone wanting to serve with this ministry. Together, Master's Manna and the Emergency Shelter represent FBC's commitment to Wallingford itself.
GriefShare: Walking Together Through Loss
For those grieving the death of a loved one, FBC Wallingford hosts GriefShare, a Christ-centered, 13-week adult grief recovery support group. Each Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30PM, participants meet in the FBC Community Room for a video-based study, group discussion, and mutual encouragement. Groups meet seasonally; registration is handled through griefshare.org.
Water Baptism as a Next Step
Water baptism by immersion is one of the two ordinances FBC practices, alongside the Lord's Supper. For anyone who has trusted Christ and is ready to make that faith public, the church treats baptism as the natural next step. Those interested are invited to speak with Pastor Lubin or to contact the church office, which will help arrange a baptism Sunday.
Giving and Staying Connected
FBC Wallingford offers multiple ways to give. The church's preferred method is Zelle to administration@fbcwlfd.org; additional options include an online credit-card donation through the church's giving page, Venmo (@FBCWallingford), PayPal (office@fbcwld.org), and checks mailed to the church at 114 North Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. The site also keeps visitors connected through its calendar, a pastor's blog, and weekly news updates.
RightNow Media is a free resource offered to the FBC Wallingford family, providing streaming Bible studies, family content, and teaching for all ages.
Visiting FBC Wallingford
First Baptist Church sits at 114 North Main Street in Wallingford, between the downtown historic district and the residential neighborhoods to the north. Sunday service begins at 10AM, with doors open well beforehand to help visitors find their way. Parking is available on site. Anyone with questions before visiting can call the church office at 203-269-4796 or email office@fbcwlfd.org. For those ready to explore membership, baptism, or a small group, the office is the starting point and will connect visitors to the right person.