At the corner of Warwick Boulevard and City Center Boulevard on the Virginia Peninsula, First Baptist Church, Newport News has been a steady presence since 1881. The brick sanctuary with its welcoming columns faces south toward City Center, while a back entrance across from a ball field and playground serves the children, youth, and education wings that ring the property. Three Sunday services fill that sanctuary in succession, two in English and one in Spanish, and on Wednesdays the same building hums again with small groups, choirs, and the laughter of kids moving, shaking, and learning about the Bible.
Three Sunday Mornings in One Sanctuary
The rhythm of the church is set by its three Sunday worship services, all held in the main sanctuary. At 8:30 a.m. the traditional service opens the day, with hymns of the faith, stately organ chords, choral anthems, and congregational singing. At 11:00 a.m. the contemporary service replaces the organ with guitar riffs and drums, drawing a more laid back congregation that the church describes as a safe place for people not used to church or who appreciate a non-traditional worship experience. Both English services are also streamed online, with the 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services available on Facebook and through live stream pages.
At 12:30 p.m. the Spanish-language service of Primera Iglesia Bautista de Newport News takes the same sanctuary, with drums, guitars, and singers leading musical worship and sermons focused on applying the Word of God to the real life issues of Hispanic individuals and families on the Peninsula. Children of all ages are welcome in any of the three services; nursery care is available during the 8:30 and 11:00 services, and Children's Worship bags can be checked out during any service on request.
What to Wear, Where to Park, and Where Children Go
First Baptist describes itself as a multi-generational church with people of all ages, which makes for a variety in styles of dress. Generally speaking, the 8:30 a.m. worshipers tend to dress in more traditional church apparel, while at 11:00 a.m. many people come in jeans, golf shirts, and other casual styles. The Spanish service carries a similarly wide variety. The church's own guidance is simple: dress how you will be most comfortable.
On Sunday mornings the building has two main entrances. The sanctuary entrance, marked by brick columns, faces south toward City Center Boulevard. The children and youth ministry entrance sits at the rear of the building across from the playground and ball field. Guest parking spaces are available at both, and families registering nursery, preschool, and elementary children are encouraged to park near the children's entrance. Nursery and preschool-age children are on the first floor inside that back entrance, grade school children are on one side of the second floor, and youth in sixth through twelfth grade are on the other side of the second floor.
The Hispanic Congregation of Primera Iglesia Bautista
More than fifteen years ago First Baptist built upon a growing Hispanic ministry and started a full Hispanic congregation. Today Primera Iglesia Bautista de Newport News is pastored by Juan L. García, who came to the role after earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Divinity from the John L. Leland Center for Theological Studies. García is a native of Puerto Rico and leads a multicultural family of faith drawn from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and the United States.
The congregation's vision is to reach the next generations for Christ with love, service, and commitment. Members gather for Bible study at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays and for a worship service at 12:30 p.m., then meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for prayer, Bible study, and programs for children and youth. Around the city the congregation also runs Grupos VIDA (LIFE Groups), a network of small groups that meet during the week in different parts of town. The acronym captures the idea: Vivir in worship and fellowship, Incorporar the Word of God into daily life, Disponerse to care for and serve one another, and Alcanzar the community for Christ.
Children of the Hispanic congregation are served by Misión Kidz, which meets on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. for stories, games, music, and crafts under the direction of Sandra Soledispa. Each summer the church also runs a free Soccer Training and Formation Program for boys and girls ages six through fourteen, held on the church field in the evening.
A History Built from Twelve Members
First Baptist Church, Newport News began as Newport News Baptist Church in 1881. On June 14, 1883, the congregation organized with twelve members and called Rev. L. R. Milbourne as pastor, holding its first worship services in Union Chapel alongside several other groups. In 1888 Rev. Isaac Gates donated five lots at the corner of 29th Street and Washington Avenue, with the stipulation that the Baptists erect a structure comparing favorably with any other religious building in town. The congregation responded with a brick building dedicated on November 23, 1890.
By 1901 the church was already planning a larger building on the middle of the 29th Street block. The first service in that new structure was held on December 20, 1903. Fifteen months later, on January 27, 1906, the building was gutted by fire. Within fifteen months the congregation had rebuilt it using the same design and materials, and on May 12, 1907, services resumed. A spacious fireproof three-story education building was added in 1930.
After World War II the church flourished, setting records in Sunday school enrollment, attendance, and mission giving. It also gave rise to what would become Orcutt, Ivy Memorial, Calvary, Hilton, and Riverside Baptist Churches, and the church and city grew together until the mid-fifties, when residents and businesses began moving to the suburbs.
A Midtown Move and a Modern Sanctuary
In 1976 First Baptist began a satellite ministry on Warwick Boulevard while continuing to operate its downtown location. The midtown property was purchased in July 1977, and the first suburban unit was completed in October 1979. Over time the suburban campus became the home base of the congregation. Father's Day 1999 was a landmark day as the first worship service in the new sanctuary was held. By 2004 the church body authorized a master plan for further expansion, and in July 2006 the next phase was completed, including specialized areas for the preschool, children, and youth, along with Leland Seminary and fellowship space.
The Three E's: A Mission Statement That Frames Everything
The congregation describes its mission as "The Three E's": Embracing God, Equipping Christ-Followers, and Engaging Our World. Members embrace God through corporate worship, personal prayer, and learning to experience God in day-to-day circumstances. They equip Christ-followers through excellent teaching, small group Bible studies, spiritual leadership development, and the practice of servanthood. They engage the world through service, generosity, participation in local mission action, investing in neighbors, and short-term mission trips.
The church's core beliefs are represented by the Baptist Faith and Message Statement of 1963, and members value diversity in how they interpret the Bible and listen for God's voice in community with one another. Under the calling of the Holy Spirit, First Baptist ordains both men and women to serve as deacons and clergy. The congregation welcomes a variety of musical expressions in worship, from traditional hymnody to contemporary praise, and believes that growing to spiritual maturity is the normal expectation for every follower of Jesus. Members are also encouraged to use their spiritual gifts to encourage other believers and to extend grace and compassion, with a stated preference for listening and loving over judging when relating to people who are not followers of Jesus.
Children from Newborns to Fifth Grade
Children's ministry at First Baptist spans from newborns through fifth grade and is shaped by Sharon Hertzler, Director of Children and Preschool Ministry. On Sunday mornings children are invited into graded Sunday school classes that walk through a Bible story and related activities each week. During the 8:30 and 11:00 worship services, Extended Session provides care for children from birth through four-year-old preschool, while Children's Worship bags are available for older children to use in the sanctuary.
On Wednesday evenings from September through June, KMotion (Kids in Motion) runs from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., with children moving, shaking, dancing, and singing as they learn about God through music enrichment and missions education. The program introduces missionaries from around the world and ties those stories to local mission projects. Nursery care for infants through two-year-olds is provided at the same time so that parents can attend Adult Spiritual Formation groups. Throughout the year the children's ministry also hosts an Easter Family Gathering, summer camps, a Family Christmas Eve Service, and other family activities.
Safety policies are detailed and consistent: two adults are present in every classroom, workers must be members for three months before serving, paid nursery workers anchor Sunday and Wednesday nights, and all leaders fill out a volunteer screening and background check form. Check-in is computer-based, with matching parent and child security badges, and a security team member stations the entrance to the preschool hall. Children who appear ill or have been ill in the preceding 24 hours are not accepted, and teachers are not permitted to administer medication.
Youth on the Second Floor
Middle and high schoolers find their home on the second floor of the education wing, in the youth room reached through the back entrance near the ball field. On Sunday mornings RISE! gathers at 9:45 a.m. for large group worship, games, and teaching, then breaks into small groups for sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade, and high school. Each small group is led by two adults.
Wednesday nights bring the high-energy middle: youth meet from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for worship led by the Impact Youth Praise Team, preaching from the Word, and games. The night is described by the church itself as doing LIFE TOGETHER. Once a month BARF, which stands for Bring A Real Friend, opens the doors wider, giving youth a chance to bring churched and unchurched friends alike for an evening designed for guests. Impact rehearses on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Room.
Young Adults Around the Table
Young adult ministry at First Baptist is described as learning to follow Jesus in the transitions of life between eighteen and forty. The church values questions and authenticity and finds belonging, community, and healing around tables together. On Monday nights at 6:00 p.m., the Baptist Campus Ministry meets across from Christopher Newport University at Panera for anyone eighteen to twenty-five, whether or not they are in college. At 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, young adults gather at Tradition Brewery for Pub Theology, an informal discussion of questions or practices of spiritual formation that anyone is welcome to join.
Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., young adults participate in an Adult Bible Study in room 143, working through the Bible chronologically and looking for the overlap between the faith narratives and their own stories. A year-long intergenerational Investing in Next Generations (ING) Discipleship Cohort has also explored the themes of Personal Spiritual Formation, Incarnational Community, and Transformational Witness.
Adults, Singles, and the Swingin' Singers
Adult ministry offers Sunday morning Bible study for every age and stage, Wednesday night Spiritual Formation groups, and a network of small groups that meet in homes and on campus. The Ladies Bible Study meets on Wednesday mornings during the school year and works through books by writers such as Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer. Women's Mission Circles, called circles, meet monthly in members' homes or at the church for devotion, prayer, refreshments, and a mission of the month chosen by each group. The Sunday Evening Group meets at 6:30 p.m. at a church member's home, an intergenerational gathering that studies, prays, and grows in deep friendship together.
Young Singles meet off campus every Monday at 7:15 p.m. for worship, prayer, Bible study, and time to socialize through a ministry called The Bridge. Senior adults are honored as a vital part of the church, and adults who have retired find places of service, small group connections, and friendship. The Swingin' Singers, a choir open to anyone fifty-five and up whether or not they attend First Baptist, rehearses at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays and brings music and friendship to nursing homes, senior adult centers, and convalescent centers throughout Hampton Roads.
Music: From Organ to Amplifier
Music is treated as central to church life. The Sanctuary Choir, a non-auditioned adult choir, rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and leads worship in the traditional service, with special Christmas programs and other events in the year. Transformed, the praise band, was formed in 2001 to provide music for what was then a youth worship service and has since become the praise band for the 11:00 a.m. contemporary service; it rehearses on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. under the leadership of Lesley Spitzer.
The Joan Monroe Handbell Choir leads music twice a quarter in the traditional service and at special services throughout the year, rehearsing Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the music suite. For youth, Impact rehearses Thursday evenings and leads music for the Wednesday night youth service. Beyond volunteer ensembles, the church runs the Performing Arts Studio in partnership with the Christopher Newport University Music, Theater, and Dance Department, offering one-on-one lessons in brass, vocal, piano, woodwinds, and percussion to students in sixth grade through adults on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays the building fills with three generations at once. Adults move into short-term Spiritual Formation small groups, which run in six-to-eight-week cycles and often coincide with KMotion for kids and youth ministry for students. Youth gather upstairs for worship and teaching. KMotion children move, dance, and learn on the first floor, and nursery care is open for the youngest. A Wednesday Night Dinner at 5:00 p.m. gives the church family a chance to eat together before programming begins.
The Wednesday approach is also visible in the church's short-term topical small groups: some meet on campus, others off site, and each cycle introduces new studies that the congregation can try without long-term commitment.
Missions Across the Peninsula and Beyond
First Baptist is intentional about local and global mission engagement. Locally, the congregation hosts the Virginia Peninsula Mobile Food Bank in its parking lot on the second Thursday of each month. Each winter the church participates in PORT (People Offering Resources Together), a LINK program that houses homeless individuals in the church facilities for one week. Members also volunteer with THRIVE Peninsula, partner with the Peninsula Baptist Association on initiatives such as racial dialogue and friendship between Black and white congregations, and walk across the street to support Yates Elementary School with campus beautification, school supply drives, faculty breakfasts, and backpacks and supplies for children in need. Through its relationship with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the church partners with fourteen hundred other churches in seventeen states and several nations.
Global partnerships have shaped the church for a quarter century. For nearly twenty-five years First Baptist has partnered with Hungarian pastor Veress Ernő and Camp Hargita, a Christian camp in the Transylvania region of Romania. Every other year a team travels to work alongside those partners. In July 2017 a group participated in a mission immersion experience with Iglesia Bautista Metropolis in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Each Advent season the church invests in the themes of Advent Conspiracy: worship fully, spend less, give more, love all. In 2015 that approach helped fund six wells in Andhra Pradesh, India and supported THRIVE Peninsula's computer system; in 2018 the church partnered with International Cooperating Ministries to build a church in Romania, collected diapers and baby items for Alcove Health, and gave to Lottie Moon and Global Missions offerings.
First Baptist Preschool
On the same campus, First Baptist Preschool meets from September through May, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., under the direction of Lindsay Rew. The preschool is a long-standing ministry of the church and an early touchpoint for many Peninsula families, with information available through the preschool's own site at fbcnnpreschool.org. The 2006 expansion created specialized preschool space and made the program an important part of the church's weekday life.
Pastoral Leadership
Senior Pastor Randy Shepley came to First Baptist in March 2015 after seven years as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Tucker, Georgia. He holds a BA in History and Christianity from Mercer University, a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Doctor of Ministry from the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer. He has published a Bible study, Sessions with Ezra-Nehemiah, and serves on the Missions Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. His wife, Alice, teaches Spanish at Menchville High School, and they have three children, James, Samuel, and Elizabeth.
Juan García, Associate Pastor for Hispanics, has been described above. Lesley Spitzer, Associate Pastor for Worship and Creative Arts, joined the staff in 2012 after several years of lay leadership with Transformed. A former elementary music teacher, she earned a Bachelor's in Music from Virginia Tech and a Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by First Baptist in 2019. John Irving serves as Director of Choral Ministry. Sharon Hertzler directs Children and Preschool Ministry, Beth Tomassetti serves as Organist, Wendy Buck as Pianist, and Clara Prillaman serves as Ministerial Intern.
Giving and Legacy
Online giving is available through the church's giving portal, with additional options including mail, online bill pay through personal banks, and stock contributions. The church also maintains a planned giving program that includes an Endowment Fund, bequests, and IRA contributions for those seventy and a half and older, with workshops offered periodically to walk members through legacy decisions.
The Building and the Week
First Baptist's campus sits in two wings joined by the sanctuary, with the sanctuary entrance facing south toward City Center Boulevard and the children's, youth, and education entrance at the rear, across from a playground and ball field. The building hosts worship in three languages of the heart (English traditional, English contemporary, and Spanish), weekday preschool, Wednesday night dinners and small groups, music rehearsals, and the food bank's monthly parking lot distribution. Members describe it in their own words as a place where they have created a mini family through their Sunday school class, where people who have been attending for thirty-six years still call it home, and where the congregation has faithfully obeyed God's commission to teach His Word and share His love locally and abroad.