First Baptist Church of Edmond, known locally as Edmond's First, sits on the southwest corner of 33rd Street and Bryant Avenue in Edmond, Oklahoma. The building is identifiable by its address and by its purpose. The congregation describes itself as "a Family of Faith, Passionately Connecting People to Christ, His Church, His Word, and His Mission for His Glory." That four-fold statement frames everything happening inside and outside the building: worship shaped by the Word and the Spirit, a wide network of age-graded Connection Groups, a full midweek program built around a free dinner, and a missions strategy that stretches across Oklahoma, North America, and the world.
The address is 1300 East 33rd Street, Edmond, OK 73013. Abundant parking is available from either 33rd Street or Bryant Avenue, and visitors who stop by the church office enter from the north side of the campus. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 405-341-0253, and prayer requests can be submitted online. After-hours emergencies are handled by an on-call pastor.
Sunday Mornings in the Worship Center
Beginning Sunday, August 16, the church gathers for one unified worship service at 9:30 AM in the Worship Center. The service is described as blended, drawing on a long Baptist heritage of congregational singing supported by a full orchestra and choir. Worship is led by the Celebration Choir, the Celebration Orchestra, the Worship Band, and the Praise Team. The Celebration Choir and Orchestra present major productions during Christmas and Easter, and choir is open to anyone high school age and up without audition. Orchestra requires a brief audition, and university students may be eligible for the Celebration Orchestra scholarship program.
Worship services are livestreamed, so members who are traveling, ill, or otherwise unable to attend in person can still follow the sermon and the music. Wednesday evening Bible teaching is also livestreamed. Recordings of past sermons are posted in a YouTube library, and a five-day weekly devotional tied to the current sermon series runs Tuesday through Saturday so the Sunday message carries through the rest of the week. The current teaching series, "The Church Christ Is Building," invites the congregation to look again at what Jesus means when he speaks of His church, moving from what Scripture teaches about the church to what that means for worship, service, love, and mission.
Connection Groups: From Birth to the LIFE+ Years
The church's small-group ministry is called Connection Groups, and the term recurs everywhere on campus. Sunday Connection Groups meet at 8:15 AM for LIFE+ adults (55 and up) and at 11:00 AM for everyone else. Preschool Connection Groups are organized by age; school-aged children's groups are organized by grade; and adults are encouraged to visit several groups before choosing one that fits.
The LIFE+ ministry alone has thirteen active groups. The Cruse Connection Group is a women's class with an average age of 84; the McElvany Connection Group is co-ed with an average age of 77; the Ray Connection Group averages 73; the Lujan, Clifton (women, average age 79), Edelen, Prescott, Fitzpatrick, Gourley, Sammons, Stephens (women, average age 83), and Coe groups round out the LIFE+ schedule. Adults 40-65 have a wide selection as well, including the Adams, Bruza, Common Ground, Ellis, Emerson, Harney, United In Grace, Nance, and Wheatley groups. Young adults aged 18-40 can choose the Hernandez, Moore, or Womack groups. Newcomers are encouraged to visit a Welcome Desk in the Main Foyer on Sunday mornings or call the church office.
Wednesday Nights: Dinner, Formations, and the Harvest Service
Wednesday evenings at Edmond's First are built around a free dinner and a choice of Bible studies, children's programs, and a new worship service. From 4:45 to 5:45 PM, a Wednesday Fellowship Meal is served in Fellowship Hall. No pre-registration is required, and visitors are welcome. Enter from the east Fellowship Hall entrance.
At 6:00 PM, four tracks run simultaneously across the campus. The Harvest Service meets in the Worship Center and is designed to encourage and equip the church to share the Gospel with the surrounding community. Adult Bible studies, called Formations, include a women's study in Room 108, a men's study in Room 110, a co-ed study in Room 201, and a college-and-career study in Room 206. Students meet in the Student Life Center on the second floor above Fellowship Hall, with snacks and games beginning at 5:30 PM. Children's TeamKID meets on the second floor of the Children's Wing, and Preschool TeamKID meets on the first floor. WorshipCare is available for infants birth through one year on the first floor of the Children's Wing. At 7:00 PM, the Celebration Choir and Praise Team rehearse in the Choir Room.
On Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, an interactive study on the early church meets in Rooms 106B and 106C of Fellowship Hall, with childcare provided for children birth through 3 years. The Emmaus Road Institute also gathers men in Room 108 on Sunday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00 PM for systematic training in Scripture, theology, ministry, discipleship, and godly character. The spring 2026 curriculum, "From Apostles to Church History," traces the apostolic witness, the spread of the early church, and the major developments of Christian history.
Preschool and Children's Ministry
The Preschool Ministry serves children from birth through kindergarten and meets on the first floor of the Children's Wing. Preschool Minister Erin Ramirez, who came to faith at age 20 after her husband Trent invited her to church, leads the work. Worship Care is provided during the 9:30 AM worship service so parents can attend while their youngest children are cared for in a Christ-centered environment. Preschool Connection Groups meet at 11:00 AM, with classes organized by age.
The Children's Ministry serves first through fifth grades and meets on the second floor of the Children's Wing. Children's Pastor Christian Lloyd, who grew up at Edmond's First and returned after serving at First Baptist Church Lawton, leads the work. KIDS is an acronym for Kingdom, Intimacy, Discipleship, and Service. Children's Connection Groups meet at 11:00 AM, with classes organized by grade. Children's Church is offered during the 9:30 AM worship hour. On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM, elementary children gather for TeamKID: All In, a high-energy discipleship experience built around prayer, worship, Scripture memory, service, and missions.
Parents with infants through one year can drop off at Worship Care on Wednesday evenings, and the Sunday evening interactive study offers childcare for birth through 3 years. Families needing weekday care can enroll children three months through pre-kindergarten in the Parents Day Out program, which uses the Wee Learn curriculum and follows a schedule of circle time, craft time, Bible story, playground, free play, and rest time. Each class has at least two teachers so the ratio stays well below allowable limits. Children bring their lunch from home; snacks are requested by the teacher as needed. Parents may choose one, two, or three days per week, and the registration fee for the 2026-2027 school year is $95. Classes continue through the summer.
Student Ministry (6th-12th)
Student Ministry serves sixth through twelfth graders and is led by Students Pastor Blake Sanders, a Newcastle, Oklahoma native who was led to faith by his father during a family Bible study on the Fruit of the Spirit and later answered a call to ministry at Super Summer. Sanders graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies.
Students meet for Connection Groups at 11:00 AM on Sundays, with classes broken out by middle school, high school, and gender. On Wednesday evenings, the Student Life Center on the second floor above Fellowship Hall opens at 5:30 PM for hang-out time, snacks, and games. Midweek Worship with music and Bible teaching runs from 6:00 to 7:15 PM. Students can text STUDENTS to 51909 to receive text updates.
College and Career, Young and Median Adults
The College and Career ministry, led by Steve and Kristin Morrison, gathers college students and young working adults aged 18-25. On Sunday mornings, College and Career Connection Groups meet at 11:00 AM in Room 206. On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM, Revive meets in Room 206 for worship, teaching, and discipleship. Updates are available by texting COLLEGE or CAC to 51909.
Young and Median Adult Connection Groups (the Moore, Womack, and related classes) currently meet at 11:00 AM because childcare is not available during the 8:15 AM hour. The Adams Connection Group, directed and taught by Andrea Holland, offers a women's discussion-based space at 11:00 AM in Room 223.
LIFE+ (55+)
The LIFE+ ministry serves adults 55 and older. The name stands for Love, Invest, Fellowship, and Evangelize, and the fellowship shared each week is described as building strong relationships as the group experiences the good things God has in store. LIFE+ Connection Groups meet at 8:15 AM and at 11:00 AM, with thirteen active groups listed on the Connection Groups page. Keith Haygood, the Executive Fine Arts and LIFE+ Pastor, oversees this ministry alongside the music and worship ministry.
Men's Ministry
The Men's Ministry, directed by Mike Morris, gathers men for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. A weekly Tuesday morning Bible study and prayer group meets from 6:00 to 7:00 AM in Fellowship Hall with coffee and donuts. Enter from the east side of campus under the covered entry. On the first Tuesday of each month, the men host a Big Breakfast from 6:00 to 7:00 AM with bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, milk, orange juice, and coffee for $2.00 per person, followed by an inspiring message. On Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, men gather in the Light Tower for a prayer meeting focused on revival. Men can text MEN to 51909 for text updates and sign up for the periodic men's newsletter online.
Women's Ministry
The Women's Ministry, led by Andrea Holland, offers several regular gatherings throughout the week. A women's prayer group meets Tuesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in Room 105. A weeknight Bible study called Names of God meets Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Room 108. A weekday morning study called The Way of Wisdom meets Wednesdays from 9:45 AM to 12:00 PM in Room 108, with childcare available through Parents Day Out for children birth through 4 years. The Wednesday evening Formations study for women, called "More Than Enough," is an eight-session verse-by-verse walk through 2 Corinthians led by Christine Hoover and facilitated by the Women's Ministry Team. A Hope Pregnancy Center prayer group meets on the second Monday of each month at 9:00 AM. Ladies can text WOMEN to 51909 for updates and sign up online for the periodic email newsletter.
Fine Arts: An Audience of One
The Fine Arts Ministry exists to glorify God by connecting people to Christ, His Church, His Word, and His mission through the arts. Keith Haygood has led Edmond's First as Fine Arts Pastor since 2008, after spending nearly six years with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. A published composer and arranger, Haygood holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Much of the music heard at Edmond's First was written or arranged by him.
Haygood's vision is to encourage every musician to be a worship leader. The Celebration Choir and Orchestra lead the 9:30 AM worship service each Sunday. The Celebration Choir and Praise Team rehearse in the Choir Room every Wednesday at 7:00 PM, and the Celebration Orchestra and Worship Band rehearse in the Worship Center every Sunday at 8:15 AM. The Sunday Modern Service Worship Band is an auditioned ensemble of acoustic, electric, and bass guitars, keyboard, drums, and vocalists who lead modern worship music and Scripture.
Bridges Ministry for Special Needs
The Bridges Ministry serves individuals with special needs and their families by providing a safe, Christ-centered environment where they can experience God's truth and build meaningful relationships. Volunteers serve as Buddies during the 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM Connection Groups and in the Bridges Room during the 11:00 AM hour. Anyone prayerfully considering the calling can text BRIDGES to 51909 or fill out a sign-up form online to learn more.
Missions: From Edmond to the Ends of the Earth
Edmond's First is on mission locally, nationally, and internationally, supporting church planters across North America and around the world. The church's church-planting strategy focuses on cities and unreached people groups.
Active church plants include Everlasting Church in New York City, pastored by Jordan Sauceda; The Church at Estrella in Phoenix, Arizona, pastored by Charles Scheffe; Iglesia Bautista in Central Encarnación, Paraguay, pastored by William Reversat; First Bangla Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, pastored by Alfred Biswas and Jason Munshi; and India Church Planting in multiple locations. Previously supported church planters have included Cody Deevers (Valley Life Church in Phoenix), Nick Tarter (New Covenant Fellowship in Oklahoma City), Adrian Jordan (The Refuge in Portland), Keith Baldridge (The Living Stone in Denver), and Ray Strauss (Community Church in Edmond).
Locally, the church partners with Hope Pregnancy Center through a monthly prayer group and supports Operation Christmas Child each year through shoebox collection. A Street and Community Ministry is accessible by texting STREET to 51909, and the church refers members to Christian Counseling of Edmond for professional counseling. Giving to support missions, the building fund, and the general budget is available online, by text at 405-276-2151, by mail to 1300 E 33rd Street, Edmond, OK 73013, or in person at the Reception Desk in the Church Office.
Beliefs and the Vision of Edmond's First
Edmond's First organizes its vision around four connections. Connecting to Christ means following Jesus' command and example to make disciples of all nations, leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing what He has done in their lives. Connecting to His Church means becoming part of a family of faith, fellowshipping with other believers, worshiping together, serving each other, and serving the community, because the church grows through the connections its members make. Connecting to His Word means reading, listening to, studying, living out, and teaching the Word of God, growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Connecting to His Mission means going across the street and around the world to share the gospel, telling the good news that Jesus came to pay the penalty for sin so that the broken relationship between people and God could be restored.
The church follows a Baptist confessional heritage and partners with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. The pastoral staff hold degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Oklahoma Baptist University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. Senior Pastor Blake Gideon holds an undergraduate degree in Theology from Southwestern, a Master of Religious Education, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from New Orleans Theological Seminary.
Staff and Pastoral Leadership
Dr. Blake Gideon serves as Senior Pastor. He and his wife Kelly have four children, and he came to faith in Christ on April 14, 2000, after years of relying on religious motions without surrender. He enjoys bass fishing, hunting, CrossFit training, and reading Christian classics, and has written several books available through the church's Learning Center.
Steve Morrison serves as Interim Executive Pastor. Ashton Wright serves as Executive Spiritual Formations Pastor and oversees the Connection Groups ministry. Andrea Holland serves as Executive Assistant to the Spiritual Formations Pastor and leads the Women's Ministry. Blake Sanders is the Students Pastor. Christian Lloyd is the Children's Pastor. Erin Ramirez is the Preschool Minister. Keith Haygood is the Executive Fine Arts and LIFE+ Pastor. Mike Morris directs the Men's Ministry. Steve and Kristin Morrison lead the College and Career ministry. Jackie Kramer is the Parents Day Out Director. Crissy Pollitt is the Financial Director, and Amanda Jennings is the Executive and Financial Assistant. Stuart Holland directs Communications. Kevin Gilmer and Caleb Gideon serve as Facilities Assistants. The Church Office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 405-341-0253, and visitors can plan a visit online or stop by a Welcome Desk in the Main Foyer on Sunday mornings.