Who We Are

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.

  CLICK HERE   to see the complete Baptist Faith and Message.

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. 

We believe that the church is more than just a building; it's a family of born-again, baptized believers 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 our desire and gives us a framework to grow together, support one another, and pursue Christ as members of First Baptist Church.

  CLICK HERE   to see our church covenant.

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.

We're a family of believers seeking to be Christ-centered and biblically faithful. Because of this, we want to organize our church according to what we see laid out in Scripture. This means that 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 using its gifts to build up the church and further its mission.