First Baptist Church

I visited First Baptist Church at 706 N. Webster this Sunday (July 17th). Though they have a large sanctuary that seats about 750, they meet in the next door educational facility. This is because they have an average attendance of about 10, and so it costs to much to light and heat the large church building with it's beutiful sloped ceilings. (They have a few more members who are too old or infirm to attend.)

First Baptist Church claims to be the oldest church in Petaluma, forming in 1853. (The Catholic Church created the parish of St. Vincent de Pul in 1857.) I understand First Baptist Church at one time had near 700 attending members, and regularly filled their large sanctuary.

Rev. Don Phipps leads the small congregation, who associate with the General Regular Association of Baptists Churches (GARBC, though they just like to say GARB). GARBC formed in 1932 after withdrawing from the Northern Baptist Convention (now the American Baptists Church in American), by conservative and fundamentalist Baptists who were previously known as General Baptists and Particular Baptists (who later became Regular Baptists) who later joined with Separatist Baptists to become United Baptists, though they still use the term Regular Baptists.

Anyway, this is an aging congregation that could use prayers if they are to continue on. Rev. Don Phipps works a full-time job to support himself in addition to his pastoral duties.