By: Hope Johnson
At First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, the Christmas season marks the busiest and most meaningful time of the year.
With an event planned for every weekend in December, the church extends an open invitation to the entire community to join in celebrating the season. Members actively share event information and encourage others to attend, viewing each gathering as an opportunity for people to hear about Jesus. As Caroline Haley explained,
“I want other people to come and hear about Him through all these events that we get to do.”
The month is filled with traditions, including an annual hymn sing, a children’s concert with family fellowship, a Christmas celebration service, communion, and a Christmas Eve service. For many families, these occasions carry deep personal significance. Scott Connell, Pastor of Worship and Music, reflects on his first Christmas as a husband and father, a time marked by financial struggle and simplicity. With no tree, he and his wife hung their only ornament on the antenna of their television—an ornament that still goes on their tree first each year. His children continue to ask, “Dad, Mom, tell us the story about the first ornament,” a reminder of humble beginnings and of how faithful God has been over the years. These personal stories embody the heart behind First Baptist’s holiday efforts, as staff work tirelessly to create spaces where families can connect and deepen their relationships.
Throughout the church, Christmas hymns are displayed to help attendees reflect on the meaning behind the words they sing. Pastor Spencer Harmon encourages everyone to listen closely, saying,
“You’ll actually learn the whole story of the Bible—who Jesus is, what He came to do, and the problem He came to solve.”
This emphasis on worship and community captures the mission of First Baptist Church: reaching all of Jacksonville with all of Jesus for all of life.