Downtown Fayetteville's Oldest Congregation
First Baptist Church of Fayetteville has stood at the heart of downtown Fayetteville since November 25, 1837, when 28 charter members organized the congregation. The present sanctuary was begun in 1906 and dedicated on Sunday, May 1, 1910, and over more than a century the church plant has grown to include educational spaces, the first church gym in the city, and parking areas serving its many programs. The congregation was instrumental in starting twelve other churches in the area, and ecumenical relationships with other downtown churches strengthen the congregation's shared ministry to the wider community. Today the church supports its "downtown friends" - neighbors who come seeking assistance - and makes its facilities available for other organizations to meet.
A Fellowship of Radical Invitation
First Baptist describes itself as "a fellowship of believers in Christ offering radical invitation and tangible grace while honoring and using the gifts the Holy Spirit has provided us to build the Kingdom of God in this city and this world." Its vision is to be "a people in whom Christ's hope flourishes within this broken world." Five shared beliefs frame the congregation's life together: All Are Welcome, All Are Ministers, All Are Loved, All Are Neighbors, and All Are Able to Be Forgiven. The church is affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, and was instrumental in the founding of twelve other churches in the area over its long history.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School and Worship
Sundays center on three gatherings on the church campus. Sunday School begins at 9:45 AM, with classes for every age from preschool through senior adults meeting in classrooms across the building. The morning worship service follows at 11:00 AM, with a deaf interpreter translating the service throughout the morning for members of the deaf community. After the service concludes, the Youth Group gathers at 12:15 PM for games, conversation, and growth in faith.
Hymns and the Sanctuary Choir
Music is central to Sunday worship at First Baptist. The Sanctuary Choir is a mixed ensemble drawn from youth through senior adults and serves as the primary choir for worship, providing anthems, choral responses, and offertories that span a wide variety of musical content. The choir also leads special programs and cantatas throughout the year. Mendee Daniel serves as organist and Deborah O'Neil as pianist for Sunday services.
A Class for Every Stage of Life
Sunday School at First Baptist is treated as a vital part of the worship experience, with small-group settings for every age. Children ages 4 through kindergarten experience a Montessori-based approach called Godly Play, exploring the Bible through story, wondering, and play. Classes for grades 1-3, taught by Kathy T. Olsen, move from Scripture through activities that help this age group understand the accounts of what has happened and what is to come. The grades 4-5 class, taught by Allene Horne, uses the Bible as source and guide and encourages children to ask questions as they learn Scripture together. Youth in grades 6-12 meet with Susan Taylor in a guided discussion format. Adult offerings include The Lighthouse, a three-year study through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation led by Sharon Duke, with coffee always on; the Fidelis Multi-Generational Class led by Helen Carter; the Parables Class led by Sue and Al Aycock and Eileen and Tom Hatch; and the Sacred Shards Class, taught by Jason Brown, an intergenerational class that learns stained-glass techniques together while discussing theological questions submitted by class members.
Family Night on Wednesdays
From September through June, Wednesday evenings are a highlight of the week at First Baptist. Family Night begins at 5:00 PM in Williamson Hall, the church's Multi-Purpose Room, with a catered dinner from Kinlaw's Welcome Grill at $8 per plate. The meal ends with a time of prayer for missionaries, church members, and other prayer concerns. Reservations are requested by Tuesday at noon. At 6:00 PM, Bible study for all ages begins, with adults studying under Rev. Mari Wiles and youth classes meeting elsewhere, while the church nursery and toddler room remain staffed. The evening closes at 7:00 PM in the Music Suite with Sanctuary Choir rehearsal.
Missions to Downtown Friends
First Baptist has long-standing ministries directed at its neighbors in downtown Fayetteville. The Clothing Closet opens twice each month to distribute clothing to those in need, with volunteers needed to organize donations and assist during distribution. Through its daily Benevolence ministry, neighbors come to First Baptist seeking assistance, snacks, water, and prayer - a tangible expression of the church's commitment to its downtown neighbors. Every other month, the congregation serves breakfast at Fayetteville Area Operation InAsMuch, a local nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness in Fayetteville. Each week, altar flowers from Sunday worship are arranged into small vases and delivered by volunteers to homebound members of the congregation.
Children and Youth
The Children's Ministry nurtures the spiritual and emotional growth of children, preschoolers, and their families through Sunday School at 9:45 AM, a Children's Time during the 11:00 AM worship service led by one of the ministers, and a staffed nursery and toddler room for children from birth through pre-K. Children are encouraged to learn to minister to the needs of others, following the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40. Youth Ministry meets in three weekly settings - Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:30, Sunday afternoons from 12:15 to 3:00, and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 - for activities, Bible discussion, and service opportunities in the community and beyond. Youth also participate in outreach and missions activities at other times during the month.
Women on Mission for Christ
Women and girls gather on the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM for Women on Mission for Christ. The group focuses on missions - praying for missionaries and mission works, learning about mission activities in the community, the nation, and the world, and supporting the church's outreach to those in need.
A House of Prayer
Prayer is taken seriously at First Baptist. The Prayer Chapel is open any time the church office is open or activities are underway, and Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 9:45 AM are specifically set aside for individual quiet time and silent prayer. A scripture reference and short devotional comment are placed at the entrance to the chapel by the Prayer Coordinator each week. The Intercessory Prayer Group meets at 12:00 PM in the Prayer Chapel every Monday except holidays, led by the Prayer Coordinator or a member of the church staff. The Prayer Coordinator also maintains email and telephone prayer chains made up of teams of six or seven members each. When a request comes in, team leaders activate their chains immediately so that every member of the team is informed and praying within minutes.
Pastor and Staff
Rev. Mari Wiles is the pastor of First Baptist. A native of Maine who grew up in various places along the East Coast, she graduated from Summerville High School in South Carolina, Mars Hill University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. First Baptist ordained her to the Gospel Ministry in 1989 when she served as Minister to Youth and Activities. She has since served congregations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, including as Campus Pastor and Administrator for Chowan University, and has led more than 65 missional experiences for congregations and universities both locally and around the world. Susan Taylor serves as Youth Director and Deaf Interpreter. Jerry McLean coordinates the Prayer Ministry and oversees the email prayer chain.
Visiting First Baptist
First Baptist Church of Fayetteville is at 201 Anderson Street in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina. Sunday School begins at 9:45 AM and the worship service begins at 11:00 AM, with a deaf interpreter translating throughout the service. Attire ranges from casual to dressy, and visitors are welcomed as they are. Two free church parking lots serve visitors - a paved lot at the corner of Old Street and Burgess Street and a grass lot at the corner of Maiden Lane and Anderson Street - and Fayetteville city parking is also free on Sundays. Services are livestreamed on YouTube for those who wish to follow along from home. Support for the church's ministries may be given through the offering plate on Sunday mornings, by mailing a check to 201 Anderson Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301, or through Zelle using the church's phone number 910-483-0477.