Sunday School
Sunday School at First Baptist gives members of all ages opportunities for fellowship and Christian education in a small group environment. A nursery is available for our youngest and graded classes are offered for preschoolers through high schoolers. Classes for adults allow participants to join with others of similar ages and/or interests for Bible Study and discussion of Christian discipleship as related to current and life events. The classes also respond to a wide variety of missional needs as they arise within the church community and beyond.
The Dee Dee Wester Class
This couples class was founded in the early 60’s and originally named Young Couples Class. It evolved into the Dee Dee Wester Class after a beloved teacher and co-founder. It was the first couples class at FBC and it meets on the third floor of the Lark Education Building. They use a variety of study resources including the Smyth & Helwys, Formations.
The Wanderers Class
This class is a group of 30-40’s young adults. The name alludes to the Israelites wandering in the Sinai: Moses couldn’t keep them on track any more than the class can keep itself on track at times. It tends to wander with discussion and sometimes with curriculum. The curriculum currently in use is following the lectionary studies found in Baptist Today led by alternating leaders from the class. The class is consistently engaged in conversations about faith, the church, the Bible, parenting, working, and the struggles that come with all of them. The class meets on the third floor of the Lark Education Building.
The JOY/Currin Class
JOY (Jesus, Others, You) and the Dorothy Currin Class were the last classes to have opening assembly each Sunday morning before the beginning of class. After the classes combined it continues that tradition. The group meets for hymn singing, announcements and a devotional at 9:30 on the hall across from the Leathers Chapel. They are intentional about keeping in touch with each other. They have a long held tradition of meeting any mission needs that arise. Their curriculum is the Smyth & Helwys, Formations which follows the lectionary.
The Laffman Class
The Laffman Class was begun the the mid 1970’s by Ed Laffman, an ordained pastor and a former director of the Cullom Baptist Association and a group of young professional couples. It was started with the idea of examining theology and scriptures from a modern everyday living perspective. The class is primarily devoted to progressive theological philosophy, which means that it examines morality through scriptures and through everyday experiences, and how those scriptures and experiences apply to our jobs, our families, our church, our community, and our interpersonal relationships. There is no established curriculum; rather, the class talks about issues “ripped from the headlines”, applying Biblical scripture and the teachings of Christian theologians/philosophers, and how we can learn from and apply Christian principles to everyday experience.
The Ruth Gardner Class
This class is named in honor of Ruth Carver Gardner, wife of the former pastor Dr. E. Norfleet Gardner. She was a vital force in the life of The First Baptist Church. She wrote lessons, stories, articles and other literature for the Sunday School Board. For more than fifty years, this group has been active and growing in numbers. Great lessons, many good teachers, exciting class discussions and participation have led to good works done in God’s name. Love and concern for one another, sharing our faith, having fun together makes this class special. The curriculum used by this group is Smyth & Helwys, Formations. They meet in a room behind the choir loft.
The Men’s Bible Class
Begun in 1934 as The Young Men’s Class, the name was later changed to The Clarence Greene Class in 1941. Mr. Greene along with several other members of the class served in the military in WWII. After the war, Mr. Greene resumed teaching the class. They met in the sanctuary until the Education Building was completed in 1957. They divided into two classes until declining membership forced them to combine. Membership of the combined class also declined and they combined with the Men’s Bible Class. They meet for breakfast regularly with other local denominations which serves as a reminder that they might be different denominations, but they serve the same God. Their classroom is located on the 3rd Floor of the Lark Education Building and they use the Smyth & Helwys, Formations curriculum.
Jane Fleming Class
The class is open to couples and singles and they use the Smyth &Helwys, Formations curriculum. They readily tackle mission opportunities as they arise both from within the FBC community and beyond. Many of its members are active in other areas of service to the church. The class meets on the 3rd floor of the Lark Educational Building. They meet for fun and fellowship outside the church several times a year. This class is named in memory of its long-time teacher, Jane Fleming, who was an active deacon, choir member, and servant.