About Us
Brief history of the church
In 1957, a group of people interested in being part of a brand new church began meeting in what is now the H&R Block building in East Monticello. In 1959, they officially became an American Baptist congregation. By 1966, the church had relocated to a new building on South Beach Drive and is there yet today. For over 50 years now, the people of First Baptist have been welcoming others to join them on the journey of faith.
First Baptist is affiliated regionally with the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky and nationally with the American Baptist Churches USA. If you’d like to know more about who American Baptists are and what they believe, please click here.
Our campus 
The campus of First Baptist Church is located just off the beaten path on a few quiet, partially wooded acres directly across from Musall’s Lawn and Garden Center on South Beach Drive. Our property includes a large lawn with a backstop and ball diamond. We also have a quarter-mile walking trail through the woods, which was made possible by a grant from the White County Community Foundation. God has given us this beautiful campus to share with others, so please feel free to come enjoy it any time.
Sports teams We welcome youth sports teams who would like to use our facilities for practice. In the past, baseball, soccer, and football teams have practiced here. If you are interested in reserving time for your team to practice on our grounds, please contact the church office.
WeddingsIf you are interested in holding your wedding at First Baptist, please review our Wedding Guidelines and the Pastor's Wedding Policy first. If you would like more information, please contact the church office.
5 Facts about American Baptists
1. American Baptists believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God that serves as the final written authority for living out the Christian faith.
American Baptists celebrate the fact that belief in Jesus Christ assures salvation and eternal fellowship with a loving God. The events of the first Easter week are the cornerstones of our faith: the death of Christ, in which He took upon Himself the sin of the world, and the Resurrection, which gave proof of His triumph over sin and death. Holy Scripture always has been for American Baptists the authoritative and trustworthy guide for knowing and serving the God who is revealed as Creator, Savior and Advocate.
2. For American Baptists the local church is the fundamental unit of mission in denominational life.
Baptist roots date back four centuries to a people seeking the opportunity to worship God as individual members of freely organized and freely functioning local churches. Baptists always have maintained the need for autonomous congregations, responsible for articulating their own doctrine, style of worship and mission.
3. American Baptists partake of two ordinances: believers’ baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
Baptism, an act of full immersion following Christ’s example, is undertaken by those spiritually mature enough to understand its profound, symbolic significance: resurrection to new life in Christ. Through The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, the bread and cup that symbolize the broken body and shed blood offered by Christ recall God’s great love for us—just as they did for the disciples on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion.
4. American Baptists believe that the committed individual Christian can and should approach God directly, and that individual gifts of ministry should be shared.
American Baptists hold that all who truly seek God are both competent and called to develop in that relationship. They have rejected creeds or other statements that might compromise each believer’s obligation to interpret Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and within the community of faith. American Baptists also celebrate the special gifts of all believers, testifying that God can use each of us in ministry.
5. American Baptists take seriously the call to evangelism and missionary work.
American Baptist worldwide mission work is a response to Christ’s call to “make disciples of all nations.” Through the efforts of our missionaries in partnership with others, ministries of evangelism, healing, education and development have made Christ’s love known in the U.S. and around the world.