A Downtown Church Formed in a 1942 Revival
First Baptist Church sits on Watson Boulevard in the heart of downtown Warner Robins, Georgia, where it has occupied the same block since the mid-1940s. The congregation describes itself as a multi-generational body of believers who want to see Houston County transformed by the Gospel, and the church frames everything around two biblical anchors: the Great Commandment to love God and love others, and the Great Commission to make disciples of every nation.
The story began in April 1942, when a group of believers formed a new church following a revival service and took the name Wellston Baptist Church. They first met with a local Methodist congregation in a building at the corner of Watson Boulevard and Fourth Street known as the "lodge." Growth came quickly, and within a few years the church had renamed itself First Baptist Church of Warner Robins, purchased land on Watson Boulevard, and built a chapel at its present location. Through the late 1940s and 1950s, the church was marked by revivals and a steady stream of new families moving into the booming community around the Warner Robins Air Force base. A new worship center and education building were added to keep pace, and Pastor Harold Moore shepherded the church through its longest season of growth, serving for twenty-four years before retiring.
Since then, the church has known both victories and difficulties, but the founding passion has never changed: to reach the growing community of Warner Robins with the Gospel. Members describe that calling in plain terms, saying they want to be "a downtown church looking to impact our neighbors" through believers who love God, love others, and actively make disciples.
Sundays at FBC Warner Robins
The weekly rhythm at First Baptist is built around two Sunday gatherings. A worship service begins at 9:00 AM, followed by Bible study for all ages at 10:15 AM. The worship gathering centers on the exposition of Scripture, with preaching that walks through books of the Bible verse by verse so that the text itself sets the agenda. Music is led by a worship team, band, and choir, and the church deliberately blends modern songs with older hymns so that every generation in the room has something to sing.
After the service, the building fills again for small-group Bible study. The church believes the deepest growth happens in smaller settings, where adults can study the Bible together, pray for one another, and build the kind of friendships that carry through the week. Some of those groups continue to meet during the week as well.
Come as You Are
First Baptist makes a point of welcoming first-time guests without pressure. Most of the parking sits behind the church building, and a row of guest spaces painted bright teal and staffed by smiling welcome team members sits just outside the main entrance. Once inside, the atmosphere is friendly and unhurried. The building itself is older, but the décor, lighting, and media have been refreshed, so members describe the look as "a modern blend to an antique space."
People come dressed across the spectrum, from jeans and t-shirts to business casual and suits. The church's own welcome line is "Come as you are, and be open to God's work and leading in your life." Everything else - dress, background, where you are in your faith journey - is treated as secondary to the simple desire to worship Jesus and grow in knowing Him more.
Grow and Go Kids: Children's Ministry
The children's ministry, branded as Grow and Go Kids, exists to lay a Gospel-centered foundation from the nursery through fifth grade. Every leader who serves with children has gone through a background check and safeguarding process, and the church treats the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of children as a top priority.
On Sunday mornings, Grow and Go Kids offers classes for all ages beginning at 9:15 AM, where children study age-appropriate truths from God's Word, memorize Scripture, pray, and play together. Children's Worship runs alongside the main worship service starting at 10:30 AM. Children from birth through four years old can be checked in directly at the Grow and Go Kids welcome desk, where parents receive a matching security ticket to use at pickup. Children in kindergarten through second grade start the worship service with their families and are then escorted by a leader to the children's hall just before the sermon begins. Greeters stationed at the welcome desk and outside the building are happy to point families in the right direction when they arrive.
A medical waiver is required for participation in special events, and parents can pick up the form online before they come.
Students and Young Adults
The student ministry at First Baptist exists to reach, develop, and send out middle and high schoolers. Leaders describe the ministry as "building and changing" as they work to stay relevant in the lives of teenagers and engage everyday situations with the Gospel. The student ministry focuses on three pillars: worship, discipleship and connection, and fun. Students meet for Bible study on Sundays at 9:15 AM, and a medical release form signed by a parent or guardian is required for participation in off-campus events.
The Young Adults ministry gathers adults in the next stage of life with an overarching mission to love, invest in, equip, and disciple others so that each person becomes more like Jesus and makes Him known in the community. The group meets on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM for Bible study and has been working through a teaching series on foundational Christian truths. Both groups are intentionally multigenerational in their welcome, and visitors are invited to step in at any time.
Adults, Small Groups, and Bible Study
Adult discipleship is treated as the backbone of the church. Leaders believe that in order to make disciples of all nations, adults must grow deep in their faith and deep in relationship with one another, so each group and Bible study centers on the Word of God with an emphasis on understanding Scripture in its context and applying it to daily life.
The church's small groups are organized by life stage and meet in homes and around Warner Robins throughout the week. They serve as the primary place for accountability, prayer, and growth, and they double as a creative space for figuring out how to reach neighbors and coworkers with the Gospel. Parents in particular are encouraged to join groups that will help them lead their families well.
Keenagers: Senior Adults in Community
First Baptist has a long-running senior adult ministry called the Keenagers, and the church makes a point of honoring the faith and faithful service of its oldest members. The Keenagers focus on fellowship and time together, and they gather once a month for a noon lunch and program on the first Monday of the month at the church. Visitors are welcome at any of those lunches. Throughout the year the group also takes trips around the state to deepen community and give senior adults a chance to enjoy time together outside the building.
Music That Connects Every Generation
Worship through music is a priority at First Baptist. The church believes congregational singing is theologically rich and Christ-centered, and that excellence in music serves the people in the pews. Each Sunday the music is led by a team that includes a band, choir, and worship leader, supported by a media team that runs the lighting, slides, and sound. Because the congregation spans every age, the music intentionally bridges modern worship songs and older hymns, so that the youngest child and the oldest grandparent can both find something to sing together.
Anyone with a heart for music or media is invited to join the worship arts team. Band, choir, and tech slots all play a critical role in leading the church to worship each week.
What First Baptist Believes
The church's statement of faith centers on the Bible as God's written revelation to humanity, written by divinely inspired authors and without error in its original manuscripts. The Bible is treated as the sole and final authority for faith and life.
First Baptist affirms one true God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each fully and equally God. God the Father is described as the eternal, unchanging, all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign Ruler and Sustainer of the universe. The church confesses that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death on the cross, was buried, rose again, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father as representative, intercessor, and advocate. He is coming again to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit is confessed as a person who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, who regenerates and baptizes believers into the body of Christ, indwells and seals them, fills those yielded to Him, gives spiritual gifts for the edification of the church, and empowers a life free from sin's dominion. Human beings are made in the image of God for worship, service, and fellowship, but fell into sin and are utterly unable to save themselves. Salvation is offered as the free gift of God by grace, received through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ whose blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins.
The Christian life is lived for Christ through the power of the indwelling Spirit, growing in obedience to the Word and becoming more like Jesus. The church is described as the body and bride of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head, marked by love, harmony, and unity. First Baptist believes in the autonomy of the local church under Christ as Lord and recognizes believers' baptism and the Lord's Supper as scriptural ordinances for the church.
Getting Involved: Membership, Reading Plans, and Giving
Visitors who want to put down roots at First Baptist are invited to learn about membership and fill out a connection form so that staff can help them find a small group, a Bible study, or a place to serve. One practical way to engage with the church right away is the Bible Reading Bookmark program, which prints a custom reading plan on a series of bookmarks so that the whole church can read through Scripture together over the course of a year. The bookmarks are free and can be picked up at the church.
Online giving is available through both ACH and credit card, with options to direct gifts to Tithes, the Building Fund, or the Serve the World (Missions) fund. ACH is encouraged because the transaction fee is smaller; credit card givers can choose to cover the fee themselves or let the church absorb it. Specialty offerings can be given during the worship service or through the church office.
From a revival service in 1942 to a multi-generational church on the same corner of Watson Boulevard today, First Baptist Church of Warner Robins continues to center its life on the Word, the table, and the call to make disciples of Jesus in Houston County and beyond.