When we gather up what remains of our worship together, we prepare to go out into the world beyond the walls of our sanctuary. We are a community of faith that believes that when our worship together ends, our service truly begins.

Mission Trips
First Baptist Church is actively engaged in the pursuit of being Christ’s witnesses at the local, national, and global level. In the years 2007 and 2008, the congregation has committed to several exciting mission initiatives that include focused study and hands-on service.

Currently a steering team is working to plan and prepare for the church at-large to participate in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s “It’s Time!” missional church study. Beginning in January of 2008, this two-month emphasis will be incorporated into our Sunday school, worship, and Wednesday evening gatherings. To learn more about the missional church, please click here.

In the quest to live as a more intentionally missional community, First Baptist members are committed to embodying our faith in Christ. With Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 as our mandate – “Truly I tell you, just as you did to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” – we are forging partnership relationships with local social service groups in Danville along with others beyond our region. Recently we approved a plan to serve as volunteers with our city’s homeless shelter, took part in a three-day mission partnership with HopeTree Family Services in Salem, VA, and have begun exploring the needs for a team to serve in Canada in the summer of 2008.

The church is striving to go beyond its walls in ways that embody the hope that we celebrate in Christ when we gather to worship. We believe that when our worship together ends our service truly begins!

Mission Friends
Mission Friends is a learning community for children ages 3-5 that meets on Wednesday evenings September through May. Each month a different country or region of the world is studied, along with a missionary family that is serving in that area. Through stories and hands-on activities, children learn about the culture and customs of the part of the world they are studying and they get to know the members of the missionary family serving there. The ultimate goal is that our children’s horizon’s be widened and they discover some of the many ways in which the love of Jesus is being shared in our world.

Kids on Mission
Kids on Mission is an active learning experience designed for children in grades 1-5 that meets on Wednesday evenings September through May. Each month the children focus on mission needs and opportunities that exist in our community. They learn the biblical foundation for their response to those needs and then plan, prepare, and carry out the mission action needed to address the opportunity identified. Music is also incorporated as an element of this creative learning experience.

Women on Mission
The members of the Women on Mission meet the first Monday of each month during the months between October and May. Each gathering features times for small groups to share conversation, a general session and presentation, followed by a luncheon. The goal is to learn more about missions together and to explore ways to actively engage in mission activities.

First Baptist Missions Offering
Each year First Baptist Church receives a single offering to support the many mission partners the church backs. During the months of February, March, and April the Missions Committee leads the congregation to an expanded awareness of the needs that exist in our community at home as well as in our state, nation, and world.

Some of the organizations that are designated as recipients of our gifts over and above the regular mission offerings given through our ministry support plan are: Baptist World Alliance, Baptist World Aid, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Pittsylvania Baptist Association, the Danville Homeless Shelter, DOVES, God’s Storehouse, Hope Harbor, and Klothes 4 Kids.