A Church on the Causeway
Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church sits at 601 Causeway Drive in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, the barrier island town that looks across the Intracoastal Waterway toward the city of Wilmington. The congregation describes itself as "a family of imperfect people, united by Jesus with a passion for sharing His message of hope, grace, and transformation. Not a building, but a community of people worshipping God, loving people, and making disciples." Its vision is "Disciples hungry for JESUS, faithful to His Word, and equipping the body of Christ to reach the world." Three things run in sequence each Sunday morning: a traditional service at 9:00, Sunday small groups at 10:00, and a contemporary service at 11:00.
Two Services, One Message
The 9:00 traditional service features hymns and a choir. The 11:00 contemporary service features guitars, drums, and modern worship songs. Both services share the same message, so a visitor can attend either and not miss the sermon. Lead Pastor John McIntyre preaches at both. Sermons are posted to the church's YouTube channel for those who want to watch later.
Sunday Mornings for Adults, from Birth Through the Fifties and Up
At 10:00 on Sunday the building fills with Bible study. Adults gather in Rooted (ages 25 to 50), Expedition, the Fellowship Class, and the Red Door Class. Senior adults (50 and up) join the Expedition class and a Nifty Fifties fellowship, with other classes open to everyone. Small groups also meet throughout the week at various homes and locations across the Wilmington area, in different ages and study styles. A small group interest form helps newcomers find a fit.
Coastal Kids: Birth Through Fifth Grade
Coastal Kids serves children from birth through fifth grade during both Sunday services. Children's Director Aleisha King oversees a program built around safety and security. Every volunteer is background-checked and trained, a check-in and check-out system tracks who comes and goes, and the kids center is curated to be free of common allergens. Parents can drop off with confidence, and children learn about Jesus in a comfortable, exciting environment.
Dwell and Hangtime: Middle and High School
Middle schoolers meet through Dwell. Lori Massey leads an approach built around three commitments: come ready to have fun, find a community that cares, and learn about Jesus. Hangouts include games and special trips like laser tag.
High schoolers meet through Hangtime, led by Miriam Griffin. Hangtime adds dinners and the same kind of trips. Both student ministries go through scripture at every gathering, walking through what it means and how it applies to life.
Gather and The Table: College Through the Thirties
College students and young adults find community through Gather. Gather runs large-group meetings, small groups, worship nights, and social events, with locations and times announced through its own Instagram (@wb.gather). The Table focuses on adults in their twenties and thirties. It meets Wednesdays at 6:30pm at the church building. Childcare is provided, with children learning about Jesus in their own group while parents gather. Before The Table begins, the church serves a church-wide dinner at 5:15pm. Both the meal and The Table are open to anyone who wants to come.
What Wrightsville Beach Baptist Believes
The church adheres to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the confessional statement of the Southern Baptist Convention. The church teaches that God exists eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and that Jesus Christ was virgin-born, sinless, crucified for sinners, bodily raised from the dead, and coming again personally and visibly to reign as Lord. The Holy Spirit is a person who indwells every believer, seals them at salvation, fills them when they surrender, and intercedes for them.
The Bible is described as the Word of God, divinely inspired, without error in the original manuscripts, and the sole authority for faith and life. Salvation comes through repentance of sin and trust in Jesus Christ alone, and the true believer is eternally secure, though a believer can lose joy and bring the Father's loving discipline through sin. Two ordinances are observed: baptism by immersion, which symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and communion, which remembers His death and anticipates His return.
Distinctive practices shape the daily life of the church: the Bible as the sole authority for decisions, the priesthood of every believer (every member is a minister), baptism by immersion, spirit-led living, cheerful and generous giving, and personal sharing of the Good News with those God brings into a believer's path.
Local Missions Across the Coast
The church's missions heart reaches outward in every direction. Locally, the church partners with First Fruits, NourishNC, the Wilmington Prayer Room, Living Hope Day Center, 86 Hunger Now, and Christian Surfers. Each partner brings a different expression of mercy, from food insecurity and homelessness to prayer and surf ministry.
Wells, Pastors, and Children in Uganda
Internationally, the longest-running work is in Uganda. One Thirst Project is dedicated to combating the global water crisis by providing clean water wells in rural communities where clean water is almost non-existent. To date, 25 wells have been completed, serving more than 20,000 Ugandans.
Deuteronomy 1:8 Partnerships extends the work with a home for every child, education for the next generation, sustainable food solutions, and Biblical training for rural pastors. Two classes of 35 pastors have completed the training school. Partner boarding schools in Butande and Bulende serve primary-aged children, including children awaiting adoption. Scholarships support high school students and children in the village of Buwunga.
Visiting Wrightsville Beach Baptist
Visitors will find a friendly, come-as-you-are atmosphere where anyone can attend at their own pace. A Connect Table in the foyer offers a free gift for first-time guests. The church meets at 601 Causeway Drive in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. James Connolley serves as NextGen Pastor, Sam Hatch leads worship, Tom Columbus heads media, and Taylor Sanderson oversees production. The pastoral team gathers around the conviction that imperfect people united by Jesus are still a family worth joining.