904 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Our church is a member of the American Baptist Churches USA. We value:
Community over Institutionalism,
Relationships over Programs,
Servanthood over Consumerism,
All while loving God and others.
Active Caring: We value compassion and justice for all people that is expressed in action, not just words.
Worship: We value worship that is heartfelt as we honor the living God.
Freedom: We value our Baptist heritage of freedom expressed through Soul Liberty, the priesthood of all believers, the autonomy of the local church, and separation of church and state.
Diversity of Thought: We value the variety of views and perspectives that enriches our life together.
Missions: We value both local and global missions, and we express that value through prayer, learning, giving, going, partnering and serving.
Women in leadership: We elect men and women to vocational Christian ministry, as pastors, deacons, and other leadership roles.
First Baptist is designated as a Heritage Church founded in October of 1871 during the Washington Territorial period of 1853 to 1889.
Our traditional worship service is currently being held virtually on Facebook Live. Look for Olympia First Baptist Church in Facebook Groups to join us! For more details, visit Events page.
At 10am we have our Worship Service in the Sanctuary, which is currently being live streamed through Facebook.
Look for Olympia First Baptist Church in Facebook Groups to join us! For more details, visit Events page.
You will see people in everything from blue jeans to suits on Sundays. Our concern isn't what's on the outside, but what's on the inside.
Come as you are.
How will I find a Bible Study or a Small Group? Visit our CLASSES & SMALL GROUPS page and if you have any additional questions, click on the button below to get in touch.
Born in Texas, raised in Arizona, Mark has a B.S. Degree in Political Science from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, KS, where he also received the Franklin Lorenzo Streeter Award, for Excellence in Biblical Interpretation, in 1991. Mark has served as American Baptist Campus Minister at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS and as the United Ministries of Higher Education Campus Pastor at Western Washington University, in Bellingham, WA. Additionally, he has served as the Associate Pastor at the First Baptist Church of Bellingham, WA and has served as the Associate Pastor at Olympia First Baptist Church for the last 23 years.
Pastor Mark was called to be the Senior Pastor on March 1, 2020.
Mark is married to Kathleen and they have 2 Adult children, 7 grandchildren and 2 rescue pups. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar, listening to music from the Avett Brothers to U2, reading and Baseball, Go M’s! He has an affinity with the ocean and all things water and loves Camp Bethel in Hoquiam, WA.
After retiring from her career as a Registered Nurse, Caroline began her seminary studies. She was ordained and joined our church staff in 1996. Her caring nature makes her a wonderful Visitation Pastor. She is a member of our Chancel Choir and she leads the Cancer Support Group.
Lela came back to work for OFBC in August of 2018. She feels wonderfully blessed to serve the members and community here as the Church Secretary. Lela uses her creativity with graphic design & an administrative background to produce bulletins, calendars and newsletters.
Her husband works for Lawyer Nursery as the technical support administrator. Her daughter is a dental hygienist in Portland and her son is a brass musician who tours the country with the March Fourth Marching Band.
Stephen has his Doctor of Music from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, where his major was in Organ Performance, with a minor in Music Theory. Stephan is currently the Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow and Artist in Residence in Organ at the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!). Stephan also brings experience as a church organist, having served part-time at four different churches the last five years as he worked on his degree program, and as the full-time Associate Director of Music/Organist at the First United Methodist Church, San Diego, California from 2015-2017.
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