First Baptist Church Mascoutah - FBCM for short - stands at 816 West Church Street in Mascoutah, Illinois, about five miles south of Scott Air Force Base. Tucked into the Metro East region and just minutes from the base's main gate, the church has built its identity around one sentence: Helping families find and follow Jesus. Its doors open to lifelong neighbors from Mascoutah, O'Fallon, and Shiloh, as well as to military families who rotate in and out of the area and are looking for what the church calls a "Home Away from Home." The tagline that runs across everything FBCM publishes is direct: a Bible-teaching family church near Scott Air Force Base.
Pastor Ronnie Tabor: From Chief Master Sergeant to Senior Pastor
The man in the pulpit, Pastor Ronnie Tabor, brings 28 years of U.S. Air Force service into his ministry. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant, and that career shaped how he understands the rhythm of military life - the deployments, the transitions, the family stress - that so many of his neighbors now live every day. Pastor Ronnie surrendered his life to Christ at age eight and began preaching in his late teens. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Liberty University and to complete postgraduate studies at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained at Wright Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, in 2015.
His ministry experience stretches across churches in Illinois, Florida, California, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Most recently, as Senior Pastor of Crossroads Church, he led a revitalization that grew average attendance from 40 to 230, celebrated 280 baptisms, and built record volunteer engagement. Now he and his wife Carrie, who grew up in nearby Granite City, have returned to the Metro East with a vision for reaching every corner of Mascoutah and the base. The Tabors are proud parents of two sons and their spouses, and doting grandparents to two grandsons and a granddaughter. Pastor Ronnie is described as a gifted storyteller and communicator who moves audiences between laughter and tears, always working to remind people they are not alone in their journey. He publishes a regular blog - Ronnie's Blog, also called the Pastor's Desk - where he works through the same Scripture passages he preaches about with the same conversational warmth he brings on Sunday mornings.
Sunday Mornings at FBCM
The Sunday rhythm at FBCM is built around three gatherings that flow into one another. The day starts at 9:15 AM with ConneXion Groups, the church's Sunday school and small-group hour. At 10:15 AM, everyone is invited to Food & Fellowship outside the kitchen - a chance to grab coffee, eat a bite, and chat with other churchgoers before the service. Then at 10:45 AM, the Worship Service begins.
The worship service is intentionally intergenerational and gospel-saturated. The congregation sings together - a blend of timeless hymns and fresh, gospel-rich songs - prays bold prayers, reads Scripture aloud, and opens God's Word together. Teaching is described as straight from Scripture, with honest, real-life application for the week ahead, and a stated commitment to the gospel of Jesus as the center of everything. Worship Director April Sturgill curates songs that are gospel-rich and Scripture-saturated, drawing from centuries-old hymns as well as brand-new ones. Her stated goal as worship leader is that every note and every moment would fix eyes on Jesus and bring Him all the glory He deserves.
First-time visitors are told to come as they are. The language on the visitor page is plain: jeans, coffee stains, kids in tow, questions and all. Children are always welcome in the worship service - the noise, the wiggles, the crayons under the chairs all belong. For parents who would like a break, safe and loving childcare is offered for birth through preschool. Dress runs the full spectrum; casual jeans and sneakers are perfect, and so is a suit and tie.
On the last Sunday of each month, members, guests, and visitors are invited to stay for First Step in the Fellowship Hall right after worship. It is a relaxed introduction to FBCM with pizza and an open Q and A. Anyone considering joining the church can take a Membership Class that meets in the Fellowship Hall and walks through the steps to become a member.
Finding the Building
FBCM is easy to spot at 9th and Main Streets. There is plenty of parking on Main Street. Visitors who park on the street can walk straight through the front door off Main, which the church calls the welcoming heart of the building. Those who use the lot off 9th Street should enter through Door C, marked with giant Visitor flags. The address is 816 West Church Street, Mascoutah, IL 62258. The office phone number is (618) 566-2195, and the general email is fbcm@fbcmascoutah.org.
ConneXion Groups: Small Groups for Every Age
ConneXion Groups meet every Sunday at 9:15 AM and are organized so that everyone - from the nursery to the senior adults - has a place. The structure covers every stage of life:
- Birth through Pre-K: Loving nursery care during the 9:15 hour so parents can attend worship and other groups worry-free.
- Kindergarten through 5th Grade: Hands-on Bible study using The Gospel Project curriculum from Lifeway, designed to show how every Bible story - from Genesis to Revelation - points to the good news of Christ. Lessons are gospel-centered and built to lay faith foundations early.
- Middle and High School: Dynamic, video-based studies from RightNow Media, tackling real-life questions about identity, relationships, and following Jesus in a changing world. The environment is described as honest discussion, prayer that hits home, and a safe space to grow bolder in faith.
- Multigenerational Adults: A relational Bible study that mixes generations. Adults work through extended Bible reading plans together and gather around coffee and conviction to share stories and form lasting friendships. Six-week book studies and longer discipleship courses cycle through the year.
- Willing Witness Class: A senior women's group (ladies 55 and up) using Bible Studies for Life from Lifeway, with occasional additions from RightNow Media. The class is described as a circle of wisdom, laughter, and unwavering support.
Visitors interested in joining a group can simply show up around 9 AM on a Sunday, and the church will help them get connected. Those who feel led to lead a group can reach out to Pastor Ronnie for training and resources; the church provides ongoing support for small-group leaders. In addition, short-term women's and men's Bible studies run for a focused number of weeks at a time, with topics designed to speak to where people are in life.
Lighthouse Preschool: A Christian Day School Since 2012
Lighthouse Preschool has operated at First Baptist Church Mascoutah since 2012 and is open to every family, regardless of church affiliation. Director Heidi Pierce has led the program for 13 years. She grew up in the pews of FBCM, came to faith as a young child, and was baptized right in the church. What started as a God-given vision has grown into a thriving ministry where little ones hear about Jesus every day. Assistant Lori Graf has been loving on the preschool children for the same 13 years and is known as Mom and Gigi to many of the children who pass through.
The preschool serves potty-trained children ages 3 and 4 - those who turn 3 or 4 by September 1 and are not yet eligible for kindergarten. Class is held Monday through Thursday from 9:00 to 11:30 AM, with tuition options for two-day, three-day, or four-day attendance at $135, $165, and $195 per month respectively. A non-discrimination statement on the preschool page affirms that students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin are admitted, and all activities and policies are conducted in accordance with the church's statement of faith.
The curriculum thoughtfully blends the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards, guidelines from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and biblical truth. Daily activities include group time for songs, Bible stories, prayers, and calendar and weather discussions; art projects; block and dramatic play; pre-literacy and early math centers (letter recognition, phonics, counting, shapes, patterns); science and nature exploration; and music and movement with worship songs. Special enrichments - pumpkin patches, nature walks, and guest visitors - are added throughout the year. Tours and registration forms are available by emailing Director Heidi Pierce.
The Team Behind the Ministry
FBCM is led by a tight team of pastors, deacons, and ministry directors, and the church is candid about being a growing, gospel-centered Baptist family that wants to reach every neighborhood around Mascoutah and the base.
Kevin Hutchison has been an active member of FBCM since 1986 and was ordained as a Deacon in 1987. He serves as chairman of the Deacons and chair of the Personnel Committee, and he leads a small group. He retired in 2015 as Executive Director of the St. Clair County Health Department after a 40-year career in public health, and he is deeply committed to promoting the spiritual and physical well-being of children and their families. His wife Pam serves as Assistant Treasurer, Ladies Night Out coordinator, and Choir Director. The Hutchisons have been married for more than 50 years and have four children and eight grandchildren.
Rich Sturgill is a lifelong Mascoutah resident who has been part of the church since 2010 and now serves as a deacon. He surrendered his life fully to Christ in 2012 while recovering from cancer surgery and says the gospel of grace has shaped everything since. The passage he keeps closest is Romans 3:23-24: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." His wife April Sturgill is the church's Worship Director, a role she has held since 2018. She teaches middle-school special education, chorus, and drama by day, and her stated goal as worship leader is that every song - whether a 200-year-old hymn or a song written last year - would fix eyes on Jesus. The Sturgills have been married 23 years and have three sons.
The church is also openly hiring for an Administrative Assistant, with the role described as the calm, capable, behind-the-scenes champion who keeps ministry moving forward. The posting calls for someone who loves Jesus and His church, is naturally warm and welcoming, is highly organized, is comfortable with technology including Planning Center, Google Workspace, Canva, Squarespace, and Quickbooks, and ideally has either lived the military life or worked in a fast-paced office.
Oasis Community Meal and Local Outreach
On the second Thursday of every month, FBCM opens its doors to the wider community for the Oasis Community Meal. Held from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, the meal is free, home-cooked, and open to anyone - whether they need a meal, need some company, or simply want to meet the church family. The church sees it as a practical expression of being a neighbor to Mascoutah and the surrounding area. Any and all are welcome to come around the table, share God's blessings, and enjoy good food together.
Each August, FBCM runs Mission Mascoutah, a focused two-week season when the church intentionally reaches out to homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods in and around Mascoutah. The framing comes from Acts 1:8: the mission field is not only across the ocean but also across the street. The church believes the power of the Holy Spirit is available to every believer willing to be a witness right where they live, and Mission Mascoutah is the church's way of putting that conviction into practice.
Every December, the church joins the broader Southern Baptist family in the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Week of Prayer for international missions. The offering supports the work of the International Mission Board among more than 2.8 billion people who have little or no access to the gospel. FBCM sees the offering as a way for their members to participate in getting the message of Christ out to the nations.
Women's ministry gathers monthly for Ladies Night Out, an evening of fellowship, food, laughter, and spiritual refreshment for women of all ages - longtime members, newcomers, and military spouses looking for connection. The Fellowship Hall is also the regular gathering spot for Puzzle Nights and other community events throughout the year.
A Heart for Military Families
Scott Air Force Base is woven into the daily fabric of FBCM. Pastor Ronnie's own Air Force career, the steady rotation of military families in and out of the area, and the church's stated goal of being a spiritual home port for those who serve shape everything from the nursery to the small groups. Newcomers can plug into ConneXion Groups to find community quickly, and military spouses are warmly welcomed in women's ministry and the Lighthouse Preschool community. Pastor Ronnie's preaching regularly addresses the unique challenges of military service - deployments, transitions, family stress - with the same practical warmth he brings to every sermon. The church is built around the conviction that the gospel of Jesus changes everything, and that message is offered freely to anyone who walks through the doors, whether they wear a uniform or not.
What We Believe
FBCM affirms the Holy Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God and the sole and final source of all that it believes and practices. The church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention, while recognizing that the confession itself does not exhaust the extent of their faith - the Bible remains the ultimate authority. Everything the church teaches and does is meant to flow from Scripture alone, which is sufficient, authoritative, and trustworthy in all matters of faith and life. The church's stated goal is to know Christ and to make Him known, living out these convictions together in Mascoutah, around Scott Air Force Base, and across the Metro East community.
Worship Services Online and Around the Building
Worship services are shared on the church's YouTube channel, where past sermons and live broadcasts are available. Ongoing updates, photos, and announcements live on the church's Facebook page. Visitors with questions can email the office at fbcm@fbcmascoutah.org, or stop by on a Sunday morning at 10:45 AM. The building stands at 816 West Church Street, Mascoutah, IL 62258, on the corner of 9th and Main, with the front door off Main Street and Door C off the 9th Street lot.