A Church Built on Grace and Kindness
First Baptist Church of Massillon sits on the corner of 6th Street SE in Massillon, Ohio, and has been a steady presence in the city for generations. Its vision statement is short and unhurried: to show grace and kindness to all people through Jesus Christ. Everything at the church, from the way members greet each other in the parking lot to the way the building is opened up to outside groups, flows out of that sentence.
The church describes its mission in two parts. First, it seeks to reach others through kindness, echoing Romans 2:4, which reminds believers that it is the kindness of God that leads people to repentance. Second, it helps followers of Jesus grow through grace. To keep that second piece concrete, the church uses the word G.R.A.C.E. as an acronym for what it calls its Minimal Viable Involvement: Giving, Relationships, Attendance, Community, and Evangelism. Newcomers will hear those five words used often.
Pastor David Anderson leads the congregation. He also hosts The Wedding Chaplain Podcast and has written a book on marriage ministry, so marriage and family discipleship are themes that come up frequently around FBC.
Sunday Morning at FBC Massillon
Sunday is the center of the week. The main worship service begins at 10:00 AM and runs about 60 to 70 minutes. Worship is described as a blend of traditional and contemporary music, followed by a relevant, biblical message. Before the service, the Fellowship Hall is open with coffee, juice, and pastries. The dress code is simple: come as you are.
Worship is also carried online. The service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel on Sundays at 10:00 AM, so anyone who is traveling, homebound, or simply curious can join from wherever they are.
For those who like to arrive early, the Judson Class meets at 8:45 AM in the Carriage House for Bible study, conversation, and fellowship. At 9:15 AM, the Foundations Class gathers in the Parlor for newcomers and anyone wanting a closer look at FBC's mission, beliefs, and ministries.
Kids Kingdom: Children from Birth Through Fifth Grade
Children have their own world at FBC. Kids Kingdom meets every Sunday at 10:00 AM during the regular worship service and welcomes children from birth through fifth grade. The ministry is directed by Becky Evans, who oversees three classrooms upstairs: a nursery for children from birth through age 3, a preschool class for ages 3 to 5, and a school-age room for kindergarten through fifth grade.
The program runs on the First Look preschool curriculum and the 252 Kids Orange curriculum, both of which pair Bible lessons with videos, songs, skits, and games. Lessons are tied to what is being preached in the worship service, and parents are given resources to continue the conversation at home during the week.
Safety is taken seriously. Every adult who works with children has passed a background check. Parents check their children in at a welcome table, children receive a coded name tag, and only a parent with the matching code can pick them up. Parents are invited to stay with their child during the first visit; greeters will walk them upstairs and there is seating nearby if a child needs extra time to settle in. First-time families also receive a small welcome gift.
Special family events run throughout the year. The church hosts an annual Easter Egg Hunt, a Vacation Bible School, and the Trunk or Treat fall event, with candy, decorated trunks, and games on the church grounds. Child dedications can be arranged at any age, and the church practices believer's baptism by full immersion for older children who are ready to make that decision.
3:6Teens: Students in Grades 6 Through 12
Middle and high school students meet during the 10:00 AM service in the Carriage House. The youth ministry, called 3:6Teens, takes its name from Ephesians 3:6 and is led by a student ministry leader named Liza. Mornings include conversation about God, games, and the kind of small, talkable community that lets teenagers bring their actual questions. The program is designed to feel less like a classroom and more like a family that meets on Sundays.
Gather Groups and Bible Studies
FBC Massillon believes small groups are where deep friendships and lasting faith are formed. Its Gather Groups meet at the church, online, and in homes throughout Massillon, combining the structure of Sunday School with the intimacy of a smaller circle. Members and visitors are encouraged to be part of one.
Several specific groups meet on a regular weekly rhythm. Calling All Daughters, a women's Bible study, gathers on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 AM and has been journeying together through Hannah Hurnard's Hinds' Feet on High Places, pairing the allegory with Scripture and prayer. The Revelation Group meets Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall for a study through the Book of Revelation, with room for honest questions about its imagery and promises. During football season, a Fantasy Football group meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Carriage House for friendly competition and fellowship. On the third Saturday of each month, the Men's Breakfast brings men from the church and community together at 8:30 AM for food and conversation.
The Marriage Ministry
Marriage is a long-running emphasis at FBC. Pastor David Anderson has built much of his ministry around couples, and the church regularly offers a Marriage Retreat. A free Couples Workbook is available for download from the church's Resources page, and three retreat teaching sessions are posted on the church's YouTube channel so couples who cannot attend in person can still benefit. A 2026 Marriage Retreat is part of the church's ongoing rhythm of investing in relationships.
ARK: Acts of Random Kindness
The church's signature expression of its faith in everyday life is ARK Outreach, which stands for Acts of Random Kindness. ARK is built around the idea of servant evangelism: small things done with great love. Members are encouraged to hand a stranger a cold drink on a hot day, share a warm coffee on a cold one, or look for other simple, low-risk ways to show the kindness of God. The approach is described by the acronym SERVE: scriptural, effective, radical, visible, and easy.
The point is to win the heart before confronting the mind. A small act of kindness, the church teaches, often bypasses a person's mental defenses and nudges them closer to God. ARK cards are available at the church on Sundays, and a PDF of ideas for individuals and groups is offered online.
Community Partners in Stark County
ARK spills outward into named partnerships. FBC Massillon supports the Legacy Project of Stark, which connects identified Stark County students with high-quality mentors in collaboration with local school districts; church members are encouraged to sign up as mentors in the Massillon schools. The church partners with the Pregnancy and Parenting Center, which provides resources for life-affirming decisions and stronger families. FBC also has a long-standing relationship with the Family Living Center operated by CommQuest, a homeless shelter serving families with children, households without children, and single women; the church supports it with time, resources, and prayer. The Salvation Army in Massillon is supported financially at Christmas and throughout the year, and the church walks alongside missionaries Stacy and Tim Reese, who serve with International Ministries and the Baptist Churches of the Dominican Republic (IBAREDO) in Santiago de Los Caballeros.
Foundations: Next Steps for Newcomers
For anyone wanting to go deeper, the Foundations Class meets every Sunday at 9:15 AM in the Parlor. It is designed for newcomers and for long-time members ready to take a next step, covering the church's mission, beliefs, and ministries, and exploring ways to connect and serve. Through the class, participants can also learn about baptism and church membership. Baptisms at FBC are by full immersion, and the church offers both believer's baptism and child dedication.
Giving is supported through the Church Center platform, where members and friends can also join groups, sign up for events, and stay connected through the Church Center App.
What FBC Massillon Believes
FBC Massillon is a Christ-centered, Bible-based community. Its statement of beliefs is rooted in the historic Christian faith and reads as classic evangelical Baptist teaching. The church affirms one God, infinitely perfect and existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It confesses the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, who lived a sinless life, died as a substitutionary sacrifice, rose again, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. The Holy Spirit is honored as the divine Comforter who indwells, teaches, empowers, and gifts every believer.
The Bible, in its sixty-six canonical books, is held to be the infallible, all-sufficient Word of God and the rule of faith and practice. Humanity, created in God's image, fell into sin and is saved only by personal faith in the atoning work of Christ. Salvation is by grace through repentance and belief, and the church looks for the imminent return of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, and eternal life with Christ for those who trust in him.
Two ordinances are observed: baptism by immersion of penitent believers, and the Lord's Supper as a memorial ordinance until Christ returns. The church holds that marriage is a sacred covenant instituted by God, defined as the lifelong union of one biological male and one biological female, while also affirming the importance of grace, love, and compassion in all relationships.
Visiting FBC Massillon
FBC Massillon welcomes first-time visitors warmly. The address is 20 6th Street SE in Massillon. Look for the FBC Massillon logo on the glass doors; that is the easiest way to know you are in the right place. Sunday worship begins at 10:00 AM, with coffee, juice, and pastries beforehand. Dress is casual and comfortable.
Handicap-accessible parking is available near the main entrance, and elevators make the entire building accessible. Children can be taken straight upstairs to Kids Kingdom, and students in grades 6 through 12 can head to the Carriage House for 3:6Teens. Anyone interested in learning more is invited to schedule a casual Coffee with a Pastor meeting with David Anderson. The church office can be reached at (330) 832-1234 or churchoffice@fbcmassillon.org.