A Blended Service Since 1960
Since 1960, Seminole First Baptist Church has gathered on Park Boulevard in Seminole, Florida. The church describes itself as debt-free and multi-generational, drawing 175 to 225 people in a typical week. It belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Florida Baptist Convention and adheres to the Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2000.
The Sunday morning service at 9:30am is shaped as a blended worship gathering, weaving contemporary and traditional elements together. The Worship Choir, which rehearses on Tuesday evenings, regularly presents specials and helps lead congregational singing in a wide variety of styles.
Sunday Mornings at Park Boulevard
Visitors who arrive at 9:30am will find the main worship service underway in the sanctuary at 11045 Park Blvd. The service is livestreamed on YouTube for those at home. After the service, the church moves into its Sunday morning Bible study hour at 11am, called Life Groups. These groups are open to all ages and are a place where minds are informed by the teaching of God's Word, hearts are transformed into the character of God's ways, and lives are conformed to His image. Guests are invited to stop by the Welcome Desk in the Fellowship Hall to be pointed to the right class.
Life Groups and Adult Discipleship
Life Groups are the heart of adult discipleship at the church. They meet at 11am each Sunday and run the full range of adult stages. Women's Ministry gathers women around three areas: discipleship, fellowship, and outreach. A Senior Adults ministry focuses on keeping older members active in service, drawing on their knowledge and experience. The Adult Ministries team, led by Andy Michael, Director of Family Life Ministries, encourages men and women to pursue God together through Bible study and community.
Students, Kids 180, and the Next Generation
The Student Ministry serves teenagers in grades 6 through 12. On Wednesday nights from 6pm to 8pm, students gather for a mid-week evening that opens with large-group games, moves into a teaching time, and then splits into small-group Bible studies divided by age and gender. On Sunday mornings at 11am, students meet in their own Life Groups for middle school and high school, with lively discussion and foundational Bible teaching. Monthly special events give students a chance to invite friends.
All adults working with minors at the church are carefully selected, screened, background-checked, and safety-trained before being cleared to serve.
For younger children, Kids 180 meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm and is designed for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
ESL Classes That Have Run for Twenty-Five Years
One of the most distinctive ministries at Seminole First Baptist is its free English-as-a-Second-Language program. For more than twenty-five years, the church has welcomed English language learners from Asia, Europe, Central and South America, helping them build conversational, colloquial, and formal written English. The classes run on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm and on Thursdays from 6:30pm to 9:00pm, September through May. They are taught by trained volunteers and are open to all, regardless of faith, race, creed, or belief. Many students have become friends of the church and American citizens along the way.
Worship Choir and Women's Ministry
The Worship Choir is a vital element of the blended worship services at SFBC. It rehearses on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 7:30pm and presents specials in many styles while helping lead congregational singing. Women's Ministry gathers women around three core areas: growth in discipleship, growth in community, and growth in outreach. The ministry aims to sharpen women in their God-given purpose and in their relationships with one another and with the Lord.
Going and Giving Across the Nations
Seminole First Baptist takes the Great Commission seriously. Students and adults take annual mission trips across the United States and around the world. The church participates in the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program, supporting nearly 9,000 missionaries in North America and internationally, and gives annually to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to support 3,700 International Mission Board missionaries.
From Ghana to Vanuatu
SFBC has a tradition of sending full-time missionaries to the nations through the IMB. Members William and Heidi Haun serve in Ghana in West Africa. The church also supports the Thompson family, who are working alongside Word of Life International Ministries as they enter the country of Vanuatu for the first time. The Thompsons have asked the church family to pray for them as they bring the message of the gospel to the islands of Vanuatu.
Operation Christmas Child
Each year the church participates in Operation Christmas Child. Items are gathered on a monthly rhythm: cups, bowls, silverware, fishing kits and flashlights in August; toys and games in September; and miscellaneous items like small flashlights, hammers, screwdrivers, nails, screws, fishing kits, sewing kits, cups, bowls, and water bottles in October. November brings the packing party. Donations of any items are accepted at any time.
Beliefs and Leadership
The church holds that the most important decision a person can make is what they believe about Jesus. SFBC teaches that Jesus Christ provides the only way to have peace with God and that men and women are reconciled to God not through works but by grace through faith in Jesus. The basic biblical beliefs of the church are explained in the Baptist Faith and Message, adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention on June 14, 2000.
The staff includes Scott Hooker, Pastor of Worship, Administration and Senior Adults; Andy Michael, Director of Family Life Ministries; and Jill Peek, who oversees the church's financial ministry. Matt Libby directs facilities and custodial services.
The church office is open during the week at 11046 Johnson Blvd., and the main building stands at 11045 Park Blvd. in Seminole, Florida. Giving is available online, and a sermon archive stretches through recent weeks on the church's YouTube channel.