About Us
What We Believe
The focus and goal of our faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the common bond we share with "all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:2). We are a church united by shared convictions, expressed in our confessional statement and characterized by a historic, evangelical, and Baptist theology. We believe that the authors of the Bible, not the readers, determine the meaning of it. Therefore, on matters of doctrine, we seek to understand the original intent of the Scriptures from the original authors. Our statement of faith is not an exhaustive explanation of our beliefs, but it highlights and summarizes beliefs we deem as essential to membership of this local body and faithfulness to our Lord. We hold this statement of faith to be authoritative for matters pertaining to church practice. We affirm the The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a faithful affirmation of basic Christian beliefs. We happily cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention, N.C. Baptists, and the Mt. Zion Baptist Association to advance Christ's Kingdom, evangelize the lost, and strengthen and plant churches.
Read The Baptist Faith and MessageChurch Covenant
We believe that the church is not a building but a family of born-again, baptized believers who gather together as we are united in our love for Christ and one another. Our love for Christ moves us to grow together as disciples of Jesus. Our church covenant expresses this desire and provides a framework to grow together, support one another, and pursue Christ as members of First Baptist Church.
Read Our Church CovenantWe're a family of believers seeking to be Christ-centered and biblically faithful. Because of this, we organize our church according to what we see laid out in Scripture. This means we are 1) led by a team of pastors, 2) served by a team of deacons, and 3) empowered by an active congregation who is joyfully using its gifts to build up the church and further its mission.
In other words, Pastors lead the ministry, Deacons facilitate the ministry, and the Congregation does the ministry!
Our Pastors
Justin Stevers
Lead Teaching Pastor
Justin joined the pastoral team in January 2024. He, his wife Lizzy, and their two sons - Haddon and Alistair - love being a part of our church family. Justin is from Virginia where he received his degree in Church Ministries from Liberty University. He had the joy of serving at his home church, overseas in Guam and Poland, then became a student pastor in Kannapolis, NC before being called to Haw River. Justin is excited to preach God's Word and serve His people at FBC.
Email Justin
Derick McKinney
Pastor of Student Ministry
Derick joined the pastoral team in 1999 and he and his wife, Marcie have been faithfully pouring into the lives of the next generation ever since. Derick is an Alamance County native where he grew up before joining the Marine Corps. He has been a faithful member of FBC since 1993 before stepping into this role. He has a deep love for student ministry and the members at First Baptist.
Email Derick
Jonathan Jenkins
Pastor of Discipleship & Education
Jonathan joined the pastoral team in 2014. He and his family - Meris, Mackensie, and Kaleb - have been a blessing to our church. Jonathan holds degrees from Fruitland Baptist Bible College, Liberty University, and Shepherd's Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor in western NC before being called to Haw River. Jonathan is currently serving as the Dean of Students at Burlington Christian Academy.
Email Jonathan
Michael Guiton
Pastoral Intern
This summer, we're excited to welcome Michael Guiton as our Pastoral Intern. Michael is from Salisbury, NC and is currently studying for ministry at Liberty University. He'll be getting hands-on experience in ministry and the day-to-day life of our church. We're grateful to have him with us at FBC Haw River this summer and ask that you welcome him and keep him in your prayers!
Email MichaelDeacons
- Derek Hunter
- Danny Nielsen
- Matt Garner
- Toby Isley
Support Staff
Felicia MasseyMusic Leader
Mary Jane CrowderLead Accompanist
Holly HunterMinistry Assistant
Our History
Early Beginnings
The First Baptist Church Haw River has a rich history intertwined with the development of our town. Haw River, nestled along the banks of the Haw River, was initially settled by people of German descent. While very little of the early history of the First Baptist Church is known, we cherish the legacy of those who came before us. Our first known gathering took place in a one-room schoolhouse near the old Methodist Protestant Church. This humble space served as our meeting place until 1892 when, under the leadership of Reverend J.C. Hocutt, a dedicated group of Baptists embarked on a building campaign.
The First Church Building
Reverend Hocutt, a remarkable minister and organizer, guided the purchase of land from Mrs. Deal McCracken on Durham Road (now Main Street) for the sum of $50. On this site, our first church building was erected—a testament to the vision and dedication of those early members. Constructed from heart pine timber, this sturdy structure served our congregation faithfully for many years.
The Present Sanctuary
In 1954, our current colonial-style sanctuary was built, and it was dedicated on June 26, 1955. The original church building was relocated to the back of the new sanctuary and renovated to provide a modern educational facility. This commitment to education has continued throughout our history, with further expansions to our educational building in 1974. Today, First Baptist Church Haw River continues to be a beacon of faith and community in our town. We are grateful for the legacy of those who came before us and remain committed to sharing the love of Christ with future generations.
