Church History

        First Baptist Church was constituted on July 1, 1855, which for forty-six years was called "The Lumberton Baptist Church."  The church was given the name "The First Baptist Church of Lumberton" on July 26, 1911.  In 1955, it formally took the name "First Baptist Church of Lumberton, North Carolina."
        The first church building of the Lumberton Baptist Church was built in 1854.  According to the deed, it was located "near the Town of Lumberton--beside Temperance Hall lot," which is on the north side of Tenth Street, west of Elm Street, and east of Water Street.  In 1879, the church was authorized to sell the building.  The church was sold and remodeled into a residence located at 104 West 10th Street.
        The first services were held in the new church on March 27, 1881.  Our church services continued in this building for twenty-nine years.  It was sold on December 16, 1917, and was converted into the McLean Apartments at the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets.  It was later torn down, and the land was converted to a parking lot for employees of BB&T, as well as church members.
        The present church, which is located on 7th and Walnut Streets, was constructed in 1910.  The first services were held on Thanksgiving Day, 1910.  The church was remodeled in 1954 because seating capacity needed to be enlarged.

Beliefs

          Since its beginning, our church has followed the teachings of the New Testament in connection with the baptism of believers and the observance of the Lord's Supper on the part of these baptized believers.  Our church has continuously attempted to carry out the missionary purpose of Christ.

Church Covenant

          We do now in the presence of God, angels and men, without any known reserve, devote ourselves to God, and choosing Him as our portion forever, promising most solemnly to make His Word the rule of our faith and practice.
          We engage, therefore, to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, and walk together in Christian love.
          We do engage diligently to perform the duties enjoined upon us and each of us in the Holy Scriptures and we do hereby adopt the New Testament as our rule of practice.
          We do, hereby, engage severally and collectively with each other, and with our Saviour to observe and to do whatever is enjoined upon us and to avoid with scrupulous care all things forbidden by our Saviour in His Holy Word.
          We do further engage that, when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church of like faith and order, where we can, and where we will, as we have engaged to do here, carry out the spirit of this Covenant and the principles of God's Word.

Articles of Faith

          We believe that the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction and that it constitutes a true guide in all matters of faith and practice, and we do hereby adopt the Holy Bible as our Rule of Faith and Practice.

Purposes of First Baptist Church

1.  To advance and promote the worship of God;
2.  To engage in and promote the study of the Holy Scriptures and Christian doctrines.
3.  To advance the gospel of Jesus Christ by preaching, evangelism, teaching and the administration of the ordinances of the church;
4.  To create and sustain Christian fellowship as a nurturing and discipling function of the church;
5. To promote the biblical principles of justice and righteousness in personal, social, community and national life;
6. To carry on the work of the church in all its spiritual, benevolent, educational, philanthropic, civil and social aspects and activities;
7.  To promote the spiritual welfare of all persons and to disseminate the Word of God to all people of all nations through evangelistic, educational and charitable missions;
8.  To organize and maintain such ministries and divisions, including but not limited to, schools, daycare centers, relief programs and social services and other programs authorized by law which will promote and advance the religious purposes set forth herein.