A Place to Call Home on Wolflin Avenue
First Christian Church stands at the corner of Wolflin Avenue and Church Avenue in Amarillo, Texas, just off Interstate 40 and Paramount. The brick sanctuary with its doors numbered 3 and 4 has welcomed worshipers from across the Texas Panhandle for generations, and the church's own mission says it plainly: "Taking God's love and grace to all and bringing all to Christ's Table." Senior Minister Brett Coe sums up the heart behind that mission with a single line that runs through every page of the congregation's life: "We believe that God wants to do great things through you."
FCC, as members call it, is one of the churches that make up the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement the congregation describes as "a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world." Within that wider family, First Christian Church of Amarillo keeps a close and personal feel. The team describes it as a place where there is no awkward first visit, no judgmental church people, and where guests can wear whatever they want and even carry coffee into the sanctuary.
Sundays at Ten on Wolflin
Worship is held every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m., the same hour whether someone joins in person or online. The in-person service takes place in the sanctuary at 3001 Wolflin Avenue, and doors 3 and 4 lead straight into it. Anyone watching from home can pull up the service live on Facebook or YouTube at the same 10:00 a.m. hour, and replays remain on those platforms for later viewing.
Families worship together for the first part of the morning. After the children's sermon, children in kindergarten through fifth grade are dismissed to Children's Church for the rest of the service. Kids' check-in opens thirty minutes before worship begins, and families can pre-register their children online through the Plan Your Visit form. Online viewers do not need to miss out either, since the children's team provides online lessons and family resources for those who join remotely.
Communion is part of every Sunday service. For those joining online, the church suggests gathering something for that moment, whether crackers and juice, cookies and milk, or even chips and salsa. "Whatever works for you is great. It doesn't have to be bread and juice like we use in person."
Plan Your Visit: The VIP Tour
First Christian Church takes the awkwardness out of a first visit with a Plan Your Visit program that starts the moment a guest pulls into the parking lot. When someone fills out the online form, the church will reserve a parking spot, meet them at the front door, give a tour of the building, save a seat in worship, introduce them around, help check their kids in, and make sure they meet Pastor Brett and his wife Julie. Coffee is waiting in the coffee house before worship, and guests can carry their cup into the service.
The team is matter-of-fact about what guests should expect. "We don't judge. We don't care if you have tattoos. We don't care how you dress. We don't care if you have a past. We just want to meet you." The whole point, they write, is to make the first visit as smooth and easy as possible and "actually take time to get to know you and your family."
Wednesdays Together: Meal, Communion, and Classes
Wednesday night is the second weekly gathering point at First Christian Church. Wednesdays Together begins with a free meal for everyone, followed by a brief communion service and then age-specific classes for children, youth, and adults. It is the church's midweek chance to share a table, share bread, and stay in community between Sundays.
For adults, the evening includes a regular study option; for families, it is one of the easiest ways to plug into the life of the church alongside their kids and teens. The Wednesday schedule also includes the Sanctuary Choir rehearsal at 6:30 p.m., which is open to all singers with no audition required.
FCC Kids: Newborn Through Fifth Grade
Children are one of the church's highest priorities. The First Christian Church Kids program welcomes children from newborn through fifth grade and is led by Tye Jackson, the Minister to Children, Youth, and Young Adults. In-person guests are met by a friendly VIP host who shows the family to the Kids Check-In, checks the children into their classes, and answers any questions parents might have.
The children's ministry centers on a clear goal: "raising up world-changers who understand who Jesus is and how that changes their lives." Lessons are age-appropriate, interactive, and use multiple approaches so that different kinds of learners can engage. Children's Church includes fun services, engaging music, age-appropriate Bible lessons, games, and snacks.
Safety is taken seriously. Every volunteer in FCC Kids is screened with a background check, is CPR certified, and the kids area is monitored by security personnel and security cameras. Online families are not left out either. Online services are family friendly, with upbeat worship and easy-to-understand preaching, and the children's team offers online resources for families to use at home.
FCC Youth: Wednesday Nights at Six
FCC Youth is the church's ministry to students in grades six through twelve, and it gathers at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights. The ministry is led by Tye Jackson and his wife Courtney, and it has a clear vision: every middle school and high school student should experience the grace, hope, and purpose of the gospel.
The youth group fosters a love of Christ in its members and empowers them to extend that love to their families, friends, and community. Throughout the year the group takes part in camps, retreats, local service projects, movies, hiking, bowling, and other outings. Students regularly serve alongside the congregation, including serving communion on Sunday mornings and feeding the homeless on mission trips.
Music and Worship at FCC
Music is central to the life of First Christian Church, and the ministry is led by Rev. Dr. Jacob Miller, Associate Minister for Worship and Care, with Jennifer Akins serving as pianist. Two groups rehearse in the middle of the week, and both welcome new members.
The Sanctuary Choir sings in worship every Sunday and presents special programs throughout the year. There is no audition; any member can join. Rehearsals are held every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and the church describes them as "a mix of work, fun and worship." Members often find that the choir becomes a small-group community of its own.
The Carillon Handbell Choir carries on a craft the congregation likes to point out is one of the only types of music born out of the church. The handbell choir is open to anyone who can count to four and tell their left from their right hand; reading music is not necessary. The ensemble aims to play in worship at least once a month and, at the end of the season, takes a short trip to an assisted living facility to give a mini concert.
Throughout the year, special music features musicians of all kinds, including instrumentalists who want to play for worship. Anyone proficient on an instrument can reach out and the team will find a date for them to play.
Senior Adults, Men, and Women
FCC maintains three ongoing adult fellowships that meet outside the main Sunday and Wednesday schedule. J.O.Y., which stands for "Just Older Youth," gathers the church's senior adults for lunch and a program on the first Tuesday of every month. Disciples Men brings men together on the third Tuesday of each month for a meal, a special program, and time to build friendships. Christian Women's Fellowship rounds out the trio for women in the congregation. Together, these groups keep the community close across generations and stages of life.
The Pastoral Team
First Christian Church is served by a small pastoral team and a wider support staff.
Rev. Brett W. Coe is the Senior Minister. He came to Amarillo in February of 2020, just one month before the pandemic began, and his greatest passion is preaching and teaching the Word of God.
Rev. Dr. Jacob Miller serves as Associate Minister for Worship and Care. He leads the music ministry and brings an "amazing heart for Jesus and the sincere desire to help those in our community in as many ways as possible."
Tye Jackson is the Minister to Children, Youth, and Young Adults. His heart for young people drives the kids and youth ministries, and he wants to see the gospel of Jesus Christ lived out in the lives of the church's children and teens.
Jennifer Akins is the church's pianist, supporting the choir and the broader worship ministry.
Supporting the team behind the scenes are Business Manager Kelley Farris, Bookkeeper Stacy Davis, Housekeepers Patricia Gomez and Jessica Moreno, and Property Manager Alfredo Moreno, all of whom keep the day-to-day operations of the church running.
Vision, Values, and Measures
The congregation has named a long horizon. Through the year 2030, the church says, it will see First Christian Church "flourishing like a tree planted by streams of water and yielding ripe, mature fruit that does not wither" (Psalm 1:3). To see that prosperity, the church is strengthening its spiritual roots, developing a strategic discipleship process, exploring new forms of ministry, and building a culture of generosity.
Six values shape daily life at FCC. The church is Christ-Centered, with everything grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It practices Acceptance, welcoming and celebrating all people for who God has created them to be. It centers Prayer, turning to God in all things. It builds Relationship, seeking to be in community with one another as God is in relationship with us. It calls members to Service, actively and enthusiastically serving others. And it prizes Authenticity, offering true selves to God and to one another and letting go of selfishness.
Four measures help members put those values into practice. Worshipful Living asks whether Monday life mirrors Sunday worship. Extravagant Love asks how members serve others out of what they have been given. Joyful Obedience asks where bold surrender leads. Fervent Prayer asks whether members take time to be silent and listen for God, pray quickly for others, and seek guidance in every aspect of life.
The Disciples of Christ Connection
First Christian Church is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement the church describes as "a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world." As members of the one body of Christ, Disciples welcome all to the Lord's Table as God has welcomed them. The welcome table, in fact, runs through much of the church's preaching and identity. Series like "Six Stone Jars: The Economy of Jesus," "Come to the Table," "At the Table of Grace," and recurring sermons such as "The Table Where You Belong" and "The Table Is Bigger Than We Think" keep that image in front of the congregation week after week.
Sermons and Teaching
Teaching is a major part of the church's life, and the sermon archive goes back many years. Recent series include "Wrestling With God," "Rooted: Living the Kingdom," "Spirit Rising," "Come to the Table," and "Abundant Life," with preaching shared between Senior Minister Brett Coe and Associate Minister Jacob Miller. Series often move through the church calendar, walking through Lent, Easter, and the seasons that follow. An "Everything [in] Between" series walked through Lent by pairing supposed opposites, faith and works, rest and growth, grief and hope, and inviting the congregation to find God in the gray areas instead of forcing choices between them.
The sermon archive can be searched by series, topic, scripture, or speaker, and visitors can catch up on past messages anytime.
Giving, Prayer, and Staying Connected
Online giving is available, and the Giving team frames tithes and offerings as acts of worship. "God provides for the ministry of our church through your tithes and offerings, and your gifts are honored with faithful stewardship, ethical business practices, and accountability." Members and friends can also submit prayer requests through a confidential form, and the church's prayer team, led by Pastor Brett personally, commits to praying for every request received.
First Christian Church can be reached at 3001 Wolflin Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79109, by phone at 806-355-6526, or by email at fcc@fccama.org. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time. The congregation streams live on Facebook and YouTube, posts regularly on Instagram, and keeps an active online presence so that anyone in Amarillo or far beyond can stay connected to the table that First Christian Church sets every week.