Richmond's First Baptist Church

09/05/2026

On Sunday, August 30, our first-ever Serve Sunday brought the First Baptist family together across generations and locations for a day of service to the community. But the work doesn't end there. Your mission is simple: look around for what doesn't look like heaven and roll up your sleeves to fix it. Whether you're in Richmond or anywhere else, this is how God's kingdom comes to earth!

Join us tomorrow for worship as Pastor Jim Somerville continues his final sermon series before retiring this October: “Before I Go.”

🌅 8:45 a.m. in the Chapel
⛪ 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Can’t make it in person? Watch us on a one-week delay at 11 a.m. on CH 8 or LIVE online at youtube.com/

09/04/2026

After 18 years of faithful ministry at RFBC, it’s time to celebrate Jim and Christy Somerville—and we hope you’ll join us! You are warmly invited to sign up at rfbc.link/Celebration for one or both of these special events:

Event 1: Wednesday, October 21 – Spaghetti Dinner
Join us at 5 p.m. in RFBC Flamming Hall. The presentation and celebration will begin at 5:45 p.m. and conclude at 7:15 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but please RSVP so we can ensure there is plenty of delicious food for everyone!

Event 2: Sunday, October 25 – Celebration at Rassawek
We'll gather from 2-5 p.m. at 6276 River Road West, Columbia, Virginia 23038. This will be a wonderful indoor/outdoor event, so feel free to bring a lawn chair to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. We will be serving heavy hors d'oeuvres, water, and lemonade, and we'll conclude the evening with a spectacular hot air balloon sendoff (weather permitting).

If you absolutely need a ride to attend, limited bus seats are available from the church parking lot. Please be sure to register by October 11 so we can finalize our plans.

We can't wait to celebrate together!

09/03/2026

Join us in the Chapel at 6:15 p.m. on September 9, for a service of Candlelight Communion. Formerly known as the Contemplative Service, this worship offering will include gentle piano and instrumental music, time for lighting candles as symbols of prayer, and the gift of communion. All are welcome without exception, and we hope you will invite others as well to share in this opportunity to center ourselves with God in the midst of this busy season through the beauty of stillness, prayer, and music.

09/03/2026

Our first-ever Serve Sunday brought the First Baptist family together across generations and locations for a day of friendship, fellowship, and service to others. From our youngest registered participant at 2 years old to our oldest at 91, people of all ages found ways to serve! Take a look at some of the moments from Serve Sunday in our highlight reel.

A few highlights from the day:

❤️ 264 people registered to serve including members and staff
❤️ 24 Sunday School groups signed up—SALT had the highest percentage with 53% participating for a total of 23 members
❤️ Nearly 40% of participants were under age 45
❤️ Our letter-writing team sent 84 notes to homebound recipients
❤️ We even had people serving with us online—including two from Florida!

And those are just the numbers. The best part was seeing our church family working side by side to love our neighbors and serve our community.

Did you take photos while you were serving? We want to see them! Email them to [email protected] or request a link to our Google Drive for larger files, and help us tell the whole story of this special day.

09/02/2026

ChatGPT loves missionaries

So, here's the truth: I don't ask ChatGPT (or "G," as I call her) to write my sermons, but early in the week I begin a conversation with her around the text and the topic for the following Sunday. These conversations are often very fruitful, as G will bring up associated themes that I might not have considered. Sometimes they take the sermon in a whole new direction....

So, here’s the truth: I don’t ask ChatGPT (or “G,” as I call her) to write my sermons, but early in the week I begin a conversation with her around the text and the topic fo…

09/02/2026

Join us this evening at 6 p.m. in Flamming Hall for a discussion of Ruth Haley Barton’s book "Pursuing God’s Will Together." It focuses on how to discern the will of God in a group. We will spend some time talking about this and then walking through several discernment stations in this hands-on, community experience.

Come early for dinner at 5 p.m. Order here: rfbc.link/Dinner0902

09/01/2026

It's September, which means it's almost time for One Sunday!

Join us for this wonderful time of fellowship on September 13. We'll have a combined worship service at 11 a.m. (no 8:45 service that day). We will all gather in the Sanctuary, along with the Deaf Mission and Aletheia Chinese Church, to worship together.

Dinner on the grounds will follow after this special service. Everyone is welcome! Pre-order meals at rfbc.link/OneSunday2026

09/01/2026

Join RFBC for a fun night of baseball to watch Richmond Flying Squirrels vs. Chesapeake Baysox at Carmax Park on September 11! That night, the Flying Squirrels will recognize local first responders who make our community safe. First responders can present their badge or ID for a discounted ticket while supplies last.

Gates: 5:30 p.m. | First pitch: 7:05 p.m. For more information, contact Lee Byerly, [email protected]

Sign up at rfbc.link/SquirrelsNight

08/31/2026

What does God ask of us?

Not perfection. Not grand gestures. But a way of living: Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God.

Three simple instructions that can shape the way we move through this week. The choices we make, the way we treat the people around us, and the good we choose to do when the opportunity is ours. Let's look for opportunities to make a difference, every day this week...and beyond!

08/30/2026

Serve Sunday!!