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First Baptist Church of DeKalb

349 South Third Street
815-758-3973

Our Purpose:
The purpose of First Baptist Church of DeKalb is to make disciples for Christ.

Our Mission:
-leading the unsaved to faith in Jesus Christ.
-encouraging Christians to consecrate themselves to God's purpose in their lives.
-providing a climate of loving fellowship in which personal spritual growth and worship occur.
-equipping believers for effective ministry to the DeKalb area.
-supporting the evangelization of people around the world.

History :

First Baptist Church is the oldest continuously functioning congregation in the DeKalb Community. It was started in 1844 when a small group of Christians met in a log cabin to plan for the church. That first meeting led to the formation of The Baptist Church of Union Grove (later to become DeKalb). The early church met in a school until 1855 when a frame building was erected at Third and Prospect Streets. The brick building, still a part of the present sanctuary, was erected on the same site in 1885.

Since those early years, the First Baptist Church building has been enlarged or remodeled on several occasions as the needs of the membership and the size of the congregation have changed. Starting with a handful of dedicated people that met in a log cabin 163 years ago, the active membership of the church is now almost 300 with approximately 200 people attending every Sunday.


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