About Us

First Baptist Downtown Fort Myers is a warm and caring fellowship of believers who have accepted the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We value ALL PERSONS recognizing that we are all made in God's image, and that we are all sinners saved by the love and grace of our Lord.

Our MISSION is to reflect the life and work of Jesus Christ by glorifying God through the sharing of the Gospel, meeting people's needs and building up the Church.

Our VISION is to be a church:

of disciples striving to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ
that nurtures the faithful providing for spiritual maturity
that looks beyond the walls of the church and ministers among our neighbors in the community
that promotes spiritual values of love, grace, forgiveness, acceptance and welcome
that has open doors to all who seek fellowship with God and with his children
that is forward and progressive in advancing the Body of Christ

First Baptist Church is committed to practice HISTORIC BAPTIST PRINCIPLES

AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE - The Bible is the final autority for the individual and for the local church. Baptist have no creeds apart from the biblical record.

PRIESTHOOD OF THE BELIEVER - Every believer has the right and the right and responsibility of being a priest. We are to interpret Scripture for ourselves under the leaderhsip of the Holy Spirit and act as priests to each other.

AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH - Each local congregation is free to choose its ministers, worship as the congregation determines, and ordain whomever it believes to be called by God for ministry and leadership. The church is a democracy in which each member has equal rights, privileges and responsibilities. No other Baptist organziation has authority over the local congregation.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY - Baptist have never believed in religious "toleration," but in religious liberty. No person, civil government or religious system has the right to come between God and human beings. All religions, as well as the freedom to believe in no religion or to refrain from worship, are equal before the law.

SOUL COMPETENCY - Perhaps the most "Baptist" belief undergirds all the other principles above. Sould competency excludes all human interference in religion. Religion and faith are personal matters between the individual soul and God.

AFFILIATIONS

As an autonomous congregation we freely choose with whom we affiliate for the purpose of expanding our ministry and mission impact beyond our own community and into the world. First Baptist Church of Fort Myers is a part of the COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP (www.thefellowship.info) and FLORIDA COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP (www.floridacbf.org). In addition, members may designate state and national mission giving through the SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION (www.sbc.net) the FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION (www.flbaptist.org).