Pastor of Youth & Community Candidate Visit

June 6-7

We are excited to share that we will be hosting Hayden Dennis for the position of Pastor of Youth and Community here at First Baptist Church the weekend of June 6 and 7. Hayden will be visiting with various groups over the course of the weekend. In particular, youth and their parents are invited to dinner on Saturday, starting at 5pm in the Fellowship Hall. Childcare is available Saturday night. Please email Pastor Brittany names and ages no later than Wednesday, June 3 to reserve childcare.

Hayden has been in ministry for over a decade serving in various churches in Oklahoma. He is married to his wife Emily and they have 2 dogs named Dion and June B. Hayden loves creating safe places for students to wrestle with their faith and partnering with parents and guardians as they navigate life with teenagers. His hobbies include playing video games, spending time with Emily and their dogs, and watching basketball. Hayden's resume will be available in worship on Sunday.

We want to take a moment to thank the members of the interview committee for this candidate: David Chang, Becki Forsee, Lillian Hoell, Sophia Kim, Bill Lautenschlager, Sydney Ludwig, Lexi Simmerman, Rachel Wolpert, and Randy Wyatt. 

-Rev. Kristin McAtee, Senior Pastor

-Noah Hartsfield, Personnel Committee Chair

Church Business Meeting

June 7 

We will hold a business meeting Sunday, June 7, following the Faith Formation hour. At 11:15 am, we will gather in Fellowship Hall. There are currently two items on the agenda. One, we will be presenting a candidate for Pastor of Youth and Community. They will be with us that weekend. More details will be given soon! Two, we will vote on certifying Pastor Kristin McAtee as a member in good standing. This will allow her ordination to be recognized by the American Baptist Church, one of our denominational partners. If there are any additional items, please notify the Church Moderator, David Wallace.

Brenda Rice

Conference Reflections

Montreat, North Carolina

At the beginning of May, I had the privilege to attend a wonderful art conference called Re: Create - Arts, Recreation, & Worship - Flipping Tables in Today's Topsy-turvy World. This was an opportunity given to me in honor of my 20-year anniversary with First Baptist Church.

The conference was fantastic and offered a full agenda. During the conference, the alternative ways people can experience the fullness of the Spirit through various forms of art were discussed at great length. They explained how often we don’t think of the church’s overall appearance as something that helps people experience God. We discussed the impact of the building's décor, cleanliness, and overall upkeep. These things show that the space is cared for, making people feel welcome, safe, and comfortable so they can open their hearts and minds to God.



This feeling extends to everyone who enters the building, whether for Worship Services or other reasons. I found it reassuring when they talked about caring for the church grounds and celebrating nature and its beauty as ways of experiencing God. I feel that the members of First Baptist Church do a wonderful job of this, and I hope our community experiences it too.

Reflecting on all of this, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend this inspiring conference and for the privilege of contributing to this church in Arts in worship and many other ways.

-Brenda Rice

First Baptist Game Night

May 29

Calling all board game enthusiasts! Join us each month at 6:00 pm in the parlor for our Board Games Night. Whether you’re a strategic mastermind or a casual player, this event is for you! Come and indulge in an evening filled with laughter, friendly competition, and memorable moments. Grab your favorite board game and challenge your friends to a thrilling match. From classic favorites to modern gems, there will be a wide variety of games available for all tastes and skill levels.

Ice Cream Social

Sunday, June 7

Join us in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, June 7 at 4 pm for an Ice Cream Social! We will provide the ice cream and invite you to bring your favorite toppings (please no peanuts) to share as we enjoy some good treats and fellowship. After enjoying some ice cream, stay a while and help us prepare for Journey Together, our Family Vacation Bible School happening the following weekend. There will be options for the least and most skilled decorators among us. For those who stick around a little longer, we will be ordering pizza around 6 pm. Thank you in advance for helping us make Journey Together an immersive experience! 

Summer Worship Series

During last summer's combined worship, we learned the joy of being together. With summer travel our worship spaces can feel empty. The time we spent together made both worship services better. It made our community better.

As we worship together this summer, we’re creating space not just to gather in one room, but to truly experience the different ways First Baptist worships and connects with God. Each service will reflect the unique rhythms, music, and traditions of its worship community, offering all of us the opportunity to learn from and appreciate one another more deeply. It’s one small way we practice being a church shaped by unity without uniformity. 

This summer we will combine, but with a twist. During June, our worship will be at 9:15 am in the Awakening Space, led by the Awakening Team. The exception will be on June 12 when we celebrate Journey Together in worship.

In July, we will worship at 11:15 am in the Sanctuary, led by the Traditional Team. The exception will be brunch worship on July 5 at 10:15 am in the Fellowship Hall. 

We look forward to a wonderful summer of worship, Journey Together, Unidiversity, and so much more!

Worship Calendar

June 7 - 9:15 am in Awakening

June 14 - 11:15 am Journey Together worship, in Awakening

June 21 - 9:15 am in Awakening with Jonathan Ray preaching

June 28 - 9:15 am in Awakening

July 5 - 10:15 am Brunch Worship in Fellowship Hall

July 12 - 11:15 am in Sanctuary

July 19 - 11:15 am in Sanctuary

July 26 - 11:15 am in Sanctuary

Together on the Way: A Family Sunday School Experience

Begins June 7

This summer, First Kids is trying something new for Sunday School!

Beginning June 7 in the Children’s Suite, children and their adults are invited to join us for Together on the Way, a Family Sunday School experience focused on learning and growing in faith side by side.

Over the course of the summer, we will explore themes of the Spirit, discipleship, the church, and prayer through hands-on activities, conversation, storytelling, and shared practices designed for all ages. Along the way, we will collect mementos on carabiners as reminders of what we are discovering together.

While this experience is designed with First Kids families in mind, we also believe the church is strengthened by intergenerational experiences and relationships. Because of that, we want to extend the invitation beyond families as well. Adults of all ages are welcome to join us as we learn and grow together in community.

Part of the vision behind Together on the Way is creating space for relationships across generations and recognizing that faith is something we nurture best in community. Whether you come with children or come on your own, there is a place for you in the journey.

We hope you will join us beginning June 7 as we journey together through the summer to August 16. 

Journey Together: Connect (June 12–14)

First Kids is excited to announce that registration is now open for Journey Together: Connect!

Join us for this intergenerational faith formation weekend where children, youth, and adults come together to explore what it means to belong to one another and to God.

Throughout our time together, we’ll hear stories from scripture that invite us to practice connection in meaningful ways - making room for others, staying connected, listening well, and opening our hearts. Through worship, storytelling, hands-on activities, and shared experiences, we will discover how our lives are woven together and how we can grow in faith as a community.



This year also includes Wayfinders: Making Sense of the Pieces, a space for 5th and 6th graders to explore their faith more deeply through questions, conversation, and reflection.

• Food registration deadline: June 1

We hope you and your family will join us as we build relationships, grow in faith, and experience the joy of connection together.

For more information or to register visit fbc-columbia.org/together

We Want to Pray for You

At First Baptist, we believe community is stronger when we support one another in prayer. If there’s something on your mind, a concern, a hope, or a celebration, our pastors would be honored to hold it in prayer with you.

Your prayer requests are kept private with our pastoral team. Share your request anytime through our Prayer Request page, and know that you are held in prayer. Because we are better together, your joys and burdens matter to us.