Exalting the Savior | Equipping the Saints | Evangelizing the Lost
We’re a family on mission to worship Jesus, help each other know Him more, and point others to His Gospel whether they’re in our backyard, or across the world!
New to our church?
You might be wondering, what's it really like at First Baptist Watauga? Simply stated, at First Baptist Watauga, we’re a church that is made up of imperfect people with every kind of story imaginable, and we gather together to serve a perfect God whose story changed the world!
Want to know the best part? No matter what you've been through or what questions you might have about God and faith, our church is a place where you'll find the love, grace, and forgiveness Jesus gives to everyone.
How we got started
During the early Fall of 1939, four students from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary joined forces to hold a week of revivals in the Watauga region. During this time, guided by a shared sense of the Lord’s call, these four students and fifteen additional individuals felt compelled to initiate a new church right here in the heart of Watauga. With the leadership of Rev. Kelly Johnson as their pastor, the Watauga Baptist Church came into existence, marking the beginning of this church family, later to be renamed First Baptist Watauga.
Where we’re headed
Our mission at First Baptist Watauga is to bring glory to Christ and grow His kingdom by sharing the name of Jesus. We strive to achieve this by exalting the Savior, equipping the saints, and evangelizing the lost. Our goal is to be a family on mission for Christ, just as it was in our founding.
What does this mean for you?
Most importantly, you are always welcome at First Baptist Watauga. We have a seat saved just for you. We extend an invitation for you to join us on mission for Christ Jesus and to be equipped for the work of the ministry. If you sense the Lord's calling you here, we hope you'll feel like a part of our family, grow in your relationship with Christ, and be strengthened to engage the world with the Gospel.
I’m NEW TO CHURCH, and I’m wondering...
Am I going to feel out of place?
We hope not! Visiting a church for the first time can be awkward, uncomfortable, or even a little weird if you’ve never been in a church before. However, know that if you ever come in our doors, we want you to feel welcomed, loved, and cared for!
What should I wear?
Come as you are! You'll find a wide range of dress at First Baptist Watauga, from t-shirts & shorts to dresses and sport coats.
I don’t know what happens at church... What am I getting myself into?
Every Sunday, we come together to worship Jesus and study His Word. We open our services by reading the Bible and respond in song (sometimes with a full band, sometimes in a more laid-back setting). One of our pastors then teaches from the Bible verse-by-verse, to teach us about God and how the Bible applies to us. We wrap up our service with a chance for anyone to respond, where we have people ready to pray with you.
I’m A CHRISTIAN, and I’m wondering...
Are you guys serious about the Bible?
We’re incredibly serious! Our desire and aim is for every part of our church life, whether it's small groups, congregational worship, or sermons, to be firmly grounded in the infalable Word of God.
Aren’t Baptists all about rules and regulations?
We pray that we’re all about Jesus! As its been said by many, Christianity isn’t a religon, it’s a relationship with a very real and personal Savior. We don’t try to please God with a hope that He’ll accept us. Quite the opposite! We try to live lives pleasing to Him becasuse He saved us. Or as it says in 1 John 4:9, “We love because he first loved us.”
Do you sing hymns or contemporary songs?
The simple answer to that question is both! At First Baptist Watauga, we care less about the age of the song or the style, and more about these things: that what we sing is rooted in God’s Word, that what we sing is singable for God’s people, and that what we sing is ultimately for God’s glory.
We actually have a Spotify playlist with many of the songs and hymns we sing collectively as a church body. Feel free to check it out!
God’s Word: Our ultimate authority.
It's easy to talk a big game about our church, but when the rubber hits the road, what does our church actually believe? What are the core truths we stand upon?
For a complete breakdown of our beliefs, click the buttons below.
Meet our Staff
Click the button to meet our amazing team of Pastors, staff, and leadership that makes what we do possible.
Plan Your Visit!
Convinced about our church? Find out what to expect, and get all the info you need to plan your visit by clicking the button below!
Sister Churches
Perhaps we’re not the local church body to which God is calling you. Our heart’s desire is for you to be obedient to where the Lord is leading you. Let us know how we can pray for you as you seek His direction. And to help you as you search, here are just a few sister churches in our area that proclaim God’s Word.
Have questions?
Click the button below to drop us a message!
