First Baptist Church of Flora sits on Jackson Street in the small town of Flora, Mississippi, just north of Jackson in Madison County. The congregation was formally organized on Sunday, March 27, 1887, under the leadership of Dr. J.B. Gambrell, with 32 charter members and Brother B.D. Gray as its first pastor. From the very start, members voted to divide mission offerings four ways, to Foreign Missions, Home Missions, State Missions, and Mississippi College, and that four-direction outward focus still shapes the church today. By the summer of 1889 the congregation had paid off its debts and dedicated its first building. The church's stated vision is to be a people and a place of GRACE where anyone can meet Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him.
Two Sunday Services, One Mission
Worship on Sunday morning comes in two distinct expressions. The Traditional Service begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary and features timeless hymns, classic worship elements, and congregational singing led by the Adult Choir. The REFUGE Service, the church's contemporary gathering, meets at 11:00 a.m. in the Christian Life Center and is led by the REFUGE Band and Praise Team. Between the two, at 9:45 a.m., the entire church gathers for Life Groups, the small-group Bible study hour that runs across every age and stage.
Wednesday nights add a third weekly service called REFRESH, a blended worship experience that combines contemporary and traditional elements and meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All three services are broadcast on CSpire TV, YouTube, and Facebook Live, and the Sunday morning service is also carried on WYAB radio at 103.9 FM. Sermons are later uploaded to Spotify.
Life Groups for Every Age
Life Groups are the small-group engine of the church and meet across multiple buildings on the FBC Flora campus. The structure spans babies through senior adults.
- Babies through 1st grade meet on the first floor of the CEC building.
- 2nd through 6th grade meet on the second floor of the CEC building.
- 7th through 12th grade meet at "The Well" on the second floor of the CEC building.
Adult options cover young adults, median adults, single adults, and seniors. Examples include a College and Career class for the 18 to 30 range led by Ryan and Abbye Winters and Mark and Cyndi Smith in Main Building 101, a Young Adults Co-Ed group for the mid-20s to 40s led by Derek and Michelle Jones in Main Building 206, and a "25-30 Something" class led by Dante and Lynda Fontenot in CEC 203. Median-age classes include "The Mix" (30 and up, taught by Ron Mumbower in CEC 202) and groups for the 30s, 40s, and 50s taught by Jeffrey Lewis, Russ Chandler, Tim Stewart, Andy Creel, Mike Green, and Randy Cotton. A Single Again class for women 21 and up is taught by Cathy Bailey and Suzanne Hardy in Main Building 105. Senior Adult classes include the "Open Door Class" (60+, Bill Breeden in CLC 104), a senior co-ed group (60+, Bill Copeland in Main Building 102), the "Friendship Class" for senior ladies (Becky Richardson in Main Building 203), and two senior men's groups taught by Fred Grogan and Randy Quattlebaum.
Preschool and Children's Ministry
The Preschool Ministry introduces babies through kindergarten to foundational concepts such as God, Jesus, the Bible, Creation, Church, People, Family, Community, and World, laying the groundwork for salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit that is then built on in the Children's Ministry. Cindy Sansing has served as Minister to Preschool and Children since October 2015 and oversees the Preschool and Children's Life Groups, missions organizations, Vacation Bible School, Children's Choir, CentriKid Camp, and the Preteen Retreat.
The Children's Ministry, for 1st through 6th graders, has a threefold purpose: to know Jesus, to love Jesus, and to serve Jesus. The ministry verse is 2 Corinthians 3:18, about being transformed from one degree of glory to another. Jordyn Barrett serves as Children's Ministry Associate and helps coordinate Extended Session, Children's Choir, Missions, Vacation Bible School, camps, and seasonal events while pursuing a Master's in Clinical Mental Health at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. On Sunday mornings, 3rd through 6th graders take part in Bible Drills at 5:00 p.m. in the CLC, and on Wednesday nights, Children's Choir meets at 6:00 p.m. followed by RA's (Royal Ambassadors for boys) and GA's (Girls in Action for girls) at 6:30 p.m. Annual highlights include the Winter Preteen Retreat, CentriKid Camp at Timber Creek in Pulaski, Mississippi, an Easter Family Picnic and Egg Hunt, Vacation Bible School, Trunk or Treat, and Christmas caroling. All Preschool, Children's, and Youth volunteers are required to pass a background check through Protect My Ministry.
Youth Ministry
The youth ministry at FBC Flora aims for students in grades 7 through 12 to know Jesus Christ and find their ultimate joy and satisfaction in Him. Anchored in Luke 2:52, the ministry encourages teenagers to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people. Michael Nanney has served as Minister to Students and Single Adults since August 2020, with Brody Thompson serving as Student Ministry Intern since February 2023.
Weekly rhythm for students includes Sunday morning Life Groups at 9:45 a.m. in "The Well" and The Well Bible Study on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. The youth calendar also includes a year-round slate of trips and retreats. FUGE Camps challenge students to grow in their faith each summer. DNOW (Disciple Now) is a weekend retreat for 7th through 12th graders centered on focusing hearts and minds on Christ. Older students in 10th through 12th grade have the opportunity to serve with Mission Arlington in Texas. Other annual events include a Fall Retreat, a youth Christmas party, and a youth breakfast rotation organized by parents and leaders.
Women's Ministry and Men's Ministry
Michelle Jones has led the Women's Ministry, themed "Ordinary Women, Extraordinary God," since 2015. A member of FBC Flora since 1993, Jones also teaches a Monday night Bible study and leads a Life Group for young couples. The women's ministry provides opportunities to study God's word, serve others, pray together, and grow in godliness, and welcomes women whether they are new to faith or have walked with God for years.
The Men's Ministry, often called Men in Motion, is led by retired Army Major Dante Fontenot, who chairs the deacon body. Activities include Bible studies and prayer meetings, accountability and discipleship groups, mentoring, retreats and conferences, fellowship events such as barbecues and game nights, evangelism and outreach, and service projects. Fontenot has also begun a prison ministry reaching men incarcerated at the Federal Prison in Yazoo. Other men's touchpoints include the annual Men's Steak Supper.
Music Ministry
Matt Hines directs the Worship and Music Ministry and has served since May 2024. A graduate of Mississippi State University with both a Bachelor's and Master's in Music Education, Hines oversees the FBC Adult Choir, the Children's Choir, and the REFUGE Band, and maintains the church's audio and visual equipment. His philosophy of worship holds that there is no separation between sacred and secular and that the heart is the most important component of worship. The Adult Choir leads worship at the 8:30 Traditional Service, the REFUGE Band and Praise Team lead at 11:00, and the Adult Choir rehearses on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m.
Missions: An Acts 1:8 Church
FBC Flora frames its mission engagement around Acts 1:8, praying, giving, and going so that people of all nations can hear the Word of God. The call begins in Flora and continues to the nations. Local mission efforts include a monthly Food Pantry that distributes food on the second Wednesday of each month; the Joyful Noise singing ministry, which visits assisted living and care facilities across the area; and Helping Hands, a monthly home repair ministry. Disaster Relief response is coordinated through the church as well.
Beyond Flora, the church has run medical mission trips to Pedernales in the Dominican Republic for several years. A team of about 20, including nurses, EMTs, and volunteers, runs a temporary clinic that has served more than 1,000 people, shares rice and beans with local families, and supports a partner church. The church partners with the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, Friends of Alcoholics, Redemption City Church in Fort Worth, and Hispaniola Mountain Ministry. Annual trips have included a Montana mission trip to Kila, Montana for children's VBS and camp, and Mission North Carolina for home reconstruction following Hurricane Helene.
What We Believe
The church teaches a confessional Baptist faith that closely follows The Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Members affirm that the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God and the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. There is one God, Creator of all, holy, sovereign, and eternal, existing in three equal Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is fully divine, virgin-born, sinless, crucified as a substitutionary sacrifice, bodily raised, ascended, and personally returning. The Holy Spirit is fully divine and personal, convicting of sin, regenerating, indwelling, sealing, sanctifying, illuminating, and comforting believers, and sovereignly distributing spiritual gifts. Humanity, created in God's image, fell through Adam and stands universally guilty before God. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, requires repentance, and is preserved by God's sovereign will to the end.
Senior Pastor and Leadership Team
Jon Daniels became Senior Pastor in March 2020 and provides overall leadership and vision with a focus on making much of Jesus. He also volunteers as a firefighter with the Flora Fire Department. Mark Sandifer serves as Executive Pastor of Discipleship and Missions and has been on staff since July 2021, with more than four decades of ministry experience. The deacon body, chaired by Dante Fontenot, includes Peyton Barnes as Vice-Chairman, Brock Thompson as Secretary, and deacons Harvey Bozeman, Justin Burgess, Russ Chandler, Derek Jones, Will Lawrence, Jeffery Lewis, Dwayne Moak, Trey Sandifer, Jamie Thrasher, and Ryan Winters. Janice Green has managed the church office since September 1988, and Charlotte Bailey serves as Ministry Assistant for Finance.
Immeasurably More Building Campaign
Because the church family is growing, FBC Flora has launched the Immeasurably More campaign to add a new building to the campus. The campaign reflects the conviction that the next chapter of ministry in Flora requires more space for worship, Life Groups, and ministry programming for every generation.
Visiting FBC Flora
Greeters are stationed at the doors to help newcomers find their way. Designated guest parking is available to the west of the main Sanctuary and to the west of the Christian Life Center. Clean, safe, and well-staffed childcare is provided during worship services for babies through kindergarten. Worship attire runs the gamut from jeans and a casual shirt to dresses and slacks. Online giving is available through Vanco, sermons stream on YouTube and Facebook Live and are archived on Spotify, and RightNow Media access is offered to the church family. A podcast of recent messages is available on Spotify.