Our Vision

First Baptist Church of Bethlehem has a legacy of ministry from its Baptist roots which are expressed theologically and practically in ministry.  These roots can be seen in our present vision for ministry as we have a commitment to the Bible as God’s Word.  We have no creed other than the Word of God and our desire is to see its teachings lived out individually and corporately as a Christian community of faith.  This Word implanted in us leads to discipleship as we endeavor to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We prayerfully seek to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and to call others to lives of growing discipleship.  The outflow of this growth leads us to lives of service and mission locally, regionally and around the world. All that we do through our various ministries of worship, fellowship/hospitality, teaching and care are done through the lens of this ministry vision – Reaching – Connecting – Growing – Serving.

Reaching

FBC responds to the call of Christ to go and make disciples. We strive to be a missional people who share the Gospel inviting all to the love of God through Jesus Christ and the empowerment of His living Spirit. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. We join Him in this process of “disciplevangelism” wanting all to know the promise of abundant and eternal life. We want to invite people to join us for worship, fellowship and study, but our greatest desire is that they would come to know God and to find life in Christ. Led by the Spirit we seek to take this message of Hope outside our walls.

Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 19:10, 2 Peter 3:9, John 3:16:17

Connecting

FBC is a community of faith which actively seeks to connect people to God and one another. In our fragmented world our desire is to connect people to the Lord through meaningful encounters of worship, prayer and transformative study of God’s Word. Through this community of faith we seek to connect people to one another in healthy, vital and loving relationships. As a Christ-like community we seek to welcome, encourage, care and establish bonds of mature Christian relationships.

I John 4:12, Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 2:1-2, Hebrews 10:25

Growing

FBC is a body of believers which seeks to grow – spiritually, in devotion to Christ and His Kingdom, and numerically. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we seek His empowerment to grow. Programs come and go as tools for ministry, but the work of God through the Word and the Spirit are the constants that enliven us for growth. We desire to grow in love and wisdom deepening our passion for and knowledge of God. We seek to be growing as disciples of Christ to full maturity of faith.

Colossians 2:6-6, Matthew 4:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 1:9-11, 2 Peter 1:3-11

Serving

FBC is a Christian Community with a missional purpose. We seek to serve one another in Christian love and to take this Christ-like love to the Lehigh Valley, our region, and globally around the world. We are concerned with issues of physical need and spiritual struggle. We are called to share the Gospel of Christ into issues of justice, the needs of the poor and those going through times of great need or suffering. We pray and seek God’s resources of justice, peace, forgiveness and restoration. We also endeavor to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the various contexts of ministry to which we are called to serve. We desire to live out our mission in word and deed, faith and action.

Micah 6:8, John 12:26, 1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:9-13, Matthew 20:25-28