About Us

Who We Are

Established in 1899 and numbering about 900 members, First Baptist Church is an evangelical Southern Baptist congregation which is best described as theologically conservative, being neither moderate nor fundamentalist. Our vision is to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). We believe that consistent biblical exposition and application are the keys to spiritual transformation and are committed to such an approach. We also believe that evangelism and discipleship are two sides of the same coin. Thus, our philosophy of ministry incorporates preaching, teaching, and ministering so as to lead the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the first half of our vision, and preaching, teaching, and ministering so as to lead the saved into a disciplined “followship” of Jesus Christ as absolute Lord, the second half of our vision.

As to music, our target is a blended worship style characterized by a 40 percent emphasis on traditional hymns and 60 percent emphasis on relevant, contemporary Christian music. We want doctrinally sound, edifying music which enhances one’s worship experience without compromising or cheapening what we believe worship of our Lord Jesus should be.

Summarily speaking, we believe the following components are at work at FBC Pryor:

(1) Competent biblical exposition

(2) Blended worship style

(3) A genuinely friendly fellowship of faith

(4) A commitment to reaching out to all ages and races, not targeting only the young and never forgetting the old, for a church with no youthful enthusiasm found alongside the wisdom of gray hair is in trouble

(5) A clear doctrinal identity characterized by commitment to the Word of God as inspired, infallible, and inerrant, and an embracing of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message (a simple, biblically-based confessional statement adopted by Southern Baptists originally in 1925)

(6) An unambiguous denominational identity defined as commitment to the Southern Baptist Convention’s agencies, entities, and missions boards – the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board (FBC is big on missions!)

(7) A commitment to the congregational form of church polity where the priesthood of the believer is taught and practiced regarding church decisions