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Get to know the dedicated staff at Porter First Baptist Church. Our team is here to serve you and help guide you in your faith journey. STAFF Rob Ray Senior Pastor rob@porterfirst.org Troy Cates Pastor of Worship & Senior Adults troy@porterfirst.org Ben Ellis Pastor to Students ben@porterfirst.org Emma Smith Ministry Assistant Senior Pastor Assistant emma@porterfirst.org Linda Stich Ministry Assistant Finances & Education linda@porterfirst.org

Porter First Baptist Church offers a vibrant Kids Ministry for children of all ages. Fun activities, Bible lessons, and more for your children! Porter First KIDS KIDS Ministry The purpose of the Porter First Kids is to bring children into age appropriate worship where they can belong to the family of God, to grow in their relationship with Jesus, to learn to serve and then go share Jesus to the community they live in. Life Groups LIFE KIDS is the Sunday morning Bible study for children birth through 5th grade. LIFE KIDS meet every Sunday morning at 9:15am to 10:15am. All children from birth through 5th grade are registered at the welcome centers in the nursery, preschool and grade school areas. You will receive two name tags with your child’s name on it. You will keep one the other goes on your child. This name tag is your security tag to pick up your child at the end of each service. THE LITTLE'S: Newborns to 2 year old's Location: First floor of the FIRST KIDS Children’s Building labeled “THE LITTLE'S” FIRST KIDS Preschool: 2 years that are potty-trained through Kindergarten Location: First floor of the FIRST KIDS Children’s Building labeled “FIRST KIDS” FIRST KIDS Grade School: 1st grade through 5th Grade Location: Second floor of the FIRST KIDS Children’s Building in the Command Center Babies to Age 2 THE LITTLES is our Nursery where we are committed to ensuring that every infant and young child feels the warmth of God's love. We achieve this through engaging classes that include prayer, enjoyable playtime with fun toys, and interactive activities, all overseen by our compassionate caregivers. All newborns - 2 years old are registered at the welcome center in the nursery area on the first floor. You will receive two name tags with your child’s name on it. You will keep one the other goes on your child. This name tag is your security tag to pick up your child at the end of each service. Our children are kept in a secure area and are cared for by loving church members who have been trained and have background checks annually. We provide rooms for bed babies, crawlers and walkers. Sundays 9:15 - 12:00 PM Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:30 PM These rooms are located on the first floor of our children's area. Children will be received 15 minutes prior to a scheduled event. Preschool Ages: Potty Trained 2 Years Olds - Kindergarten Children are taught valuable lessons from the Bible in an enjoyable and interactive manner, including hands-on activities, music, and crafts. Through the guidance of nurturing instructors, kids grow to love God and learn more about Him. All preschoolers are registered at the welcome center in the nursery area on the first floor. You will receive two name tags with your child’s name on it. You will keep one the other goes on your child. This name tag is your security tag to pick up your child at the end of each service. Our children are kept in a secure area and are cared for by loving church members who have been trained and have background checks annually. Sundays Life Kids Bible Study at 9:15 AM Children's Church (Kids Jam Jr) at 10:30 AM Wednesdays Preschool Children's Choir from 6:00 - 6:25 PM (Sept - May) Playscape Fun & Bible Learning from 6:30 - 7:30 PM These rooms are located on the first floor of our children's area. Children will be received 15 minutes prior to a scheduled event. Children Ages: 1st - 5th Grades Children absorb the teachings of God in a manner that shapes their decision-making and behavior positively. The Bible study sessions are crafted to motivate them to integrate biblical principles into their everyday lives. All children are registered at the second floor welcome center on the second floor. You will receive two name tags with your child’s name on it. You will keep one the other goes on your child. This name tag is your security tag to pick up your child at the end of each service. Our children are cared for by loving church members who have been trained and have background checks annually. Sundays Life Kids Bible Study at 9:15 AM Children's Church (Kids Jam) at 10:30 AM Wednesdays Children's Choir from 6:00 - 6:25 PM (Sept - May) Bible Study (Gear Up) from 6:30 - 7:30 PM These rooms are located on the second floor of our children's area. Children will be received 15 minutes prior to a scheduled event. FAQ What age groups does your children’s ministry cater to? Porter FBC FIRST KIDS Children’s caters to children from birth to 5th grade. How do you ensure the safety and security of the children during activities? Children birth through kindergarten is received at a welcome counter in which the child will be registered for that activity. When the child is registered a nametag will be printed and placed on the child. In addition the parent/guardian will be give an identification tag. This identification tag MUST be presented in order to receive your child. Children first thru fifth grade are checked in and given a nametag. The Minister of Children can only release the child to a parent picking up the child. Are background checks conducted on volunteers working with children? Yes, every paid employee and volunteer goes through a vetting process that includes a criminal background check, Ministry Safe training and interview. What are the programs and activities available for children? Every Sunday at 9:15am birth thru fifth graders attend an age and/or grade appropriate Bible study called LIFE Kids. Every Sunday children under the age 3 at 10:30 are taken care of in extended session childcare. Every Sunday at 10:30 children age 3 to 5 participate in their very own worship service called KIDS JAM, JR. Every Sunday at 10:30 children in grades first thru fifth grade participate in their very own worship service called KIDS JAM. Every Wednesday night at 6:30 children birth thru 5 years of age participate in various age appropriate Bible study activities. Every Wednesday night at 6:30 children in grades first thru fifth grade participate in Wednesday Night Kids Ministry Bible Study called GEAR UP”. Is there a registration process for children to participate? Yes, every Sunday and Wednesday night activity child are enrolled in each program and checked in. Visitors are asked to fill out a guest registration form in which that child will be enrolled in that activity. Other activities that do not take place on a Sunday or Wednesday parents will be asked to enroll their child for that program or activity online. Are there any special events or outings planned for children throughout the year? Yes, yearly events such as VBS, Easter Events and Summer Camp and Christmas Events in addition to many other special events that take place through the year. You can find out about these planned activities on the children’s ministry events page. Is there a dedicated space or room for nursing mothers? Yes, there is a private, quiet, and comfortable room dedicated for nursing mothers. Are there any fees associated with the programs and activities associated with the children’s ministry? Most children events are free however some events there may be a nominal fee to participate. The most expensive children’s ministry event is CentriKid Children’s Camp for third thru fifth graders that can cost between $50 to $200 depending on the amount of funds is raised during the annual fundraising event. Can visitors observe any of the children’s ministry programs and activities before committing to regular attendance? Yes, any parent whether they are a guest or member of PFBC can observe or participate in any children’s ministry program, event or activity. What curriculum or teaching materials do you use for children’s classes? PFBC FIRST KIDS Children’s Ministry uses the following curriculum: Sunday LIFE KIDS at 9:15 (birth thru fifth grades): The Gospel Project by LifeWay Publishing Sunday KIDS JAM, JR at 10:30 (ages 3 to 5): Lil’K by KidMo. Sunday KIDS JAM at 10:30 (grades 1 to 5): High Voltage Kids Wednesday Night Kids “GEAR UP” (grades to 5): Children’s Ministry Deals

Support the mission and ministry of Porter First Baptist Church. Give online to help further our outreach and community programs. Porter First Giving Giving Our God is a God of Radical Generosity. When the Apostle Paul wanted to encourage an urban church in a culture to be people of radical generosity, he pointed them to this truth about God seen most clearly in the giving of His Son. Radical generosity is generosity that flows from an encounter with this radically generous God we meet in the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the gospel takes root in our lives, it becomes the story that shapes, informs, and defines the decisions and direction of our lives. So, just like Christ, we gladly become poor, giving sacrificially of our lives to enrich the lives of others. Just as our Savior poured himself out to rescue and enrich our lives, so we should pour out our lives to rescue and enrich the lives of others – not just friends and family, but even those who are removed from us. ways to give Text Text FBCPORTER to 73256 The reply link will prompt you initially to set up your giving method. You can give a one-time gift or set up a recurring text gift. In Person You can bring your gift to any of our worship services to drop in one of our offering receptacles outside the Worship Center doors or bring your gift to the church office during regular weekly office hours. Online You can give a one-time gift or set up a recurring online gift. GIVE ONLINE Check You can give by mailing your check to PO Box 650, Porter, TX 77365.

Explore the Creative Arts ministry at Porter First Baptist Church. Get involved with music, art, drama, and more to glorify God. Porter First CREATIVE ARTS CREATIVE ARTS Ministry The purpose of the Creative Arts ministry is to inspire all people to worship God, and to bring glory to Him through the use of the creative talents He has given us. Worship Choir The Worship Choir is for adults who enjoy singing with others and are willing to attend weekly rehearsals. This choir sings most Sundays as well as for special seasonal events. The Worship Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Choir Room. Student Choir Student Choir is for grades 6-12 and meets on Sunday afternoons at 5:00 PM in the Choir Room. This choir meets from September until May, sings in worship periodically and joins the Worship Choir on some songs. Soloists in our multi-generational worship times are chosen out of this ensemble. Children's Choir Children's Choir is for grades 1-5 and our Preschool Choir is for 4 & 5 years through Kindergarten. These groups meet on Wednesdays at 6 PM. These choirs meet from September until May and present a Christmas musical, sing in worship periodically and join the Worship Choir on some songs. Soloists in our multi-generational worship times are chosen out of these ensembles. Praise Team Vocalists from our Worship Choir are chosen by the Worship Pastor to provide vocal leadership during congregational worship. These teams sing on a rotation basis and rehearse on Wednesday nights following Worship Choir rehearsal. Band The Worship Band plays for congregational worship and accompanies the choir. This group rehearses at 7:30 PM on Wednesdays and on Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM. Participation is by invitation following an interview with the Worship Pastor. Please contact troy@porterfirst.org for more information. Tech Team The technical arts team is comprised of volunteers running the sound, lights, lyric computer, cameras, and video production console. If you are interested in being trained in one or more of these areas, please contact troy@porterfirst.org Drama If you have talents in acting or writing, we would love to have you use these abilities as we have need in our worship. Please contact troy@porterfirst.org to get more information about how you can serve. Choir Member Page FAQ How can I join the music ministry? Choirs are age-graded. There is no audition process for our choirs. To be a part of a praise team or band, email Troy for an interview and audition. What types of music do you perform? We sing a variety of styles here at Porter First - traditional, contemporary, Southern Gospel, etc. On any given Sunday you might hear hymns mixed with contemporary worship songs. Our congregation (and our worship pastor) loves all types of music and so our worship sound reflects that eclectic style. Do I need to have prior musical experience to participate? While reading music is a helpful skill, none of our choirs require you to read music. We will teach you your part. What instruments are used in the music ministry? We use a variety of instruments including piano, keyboard, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and drums. We also welcome wind and stringed instruments to become part of our ensemble! How often does the music ministry rehearse? Most of our groups rehearse once a week. Check our weekly schedule to find rehearsal times for the group you are interested in. I am not musical, how can I participate in the Worship Ministry? Our worship services each week require many people working behind the scenes running all of our technology. We need sound board operators, lyric computer operators, light board operators, camera people, and live stream directors. We also need music librarians and helpers in preschool and children's choirs. For seasonal events we need decorators, painters, carpenters, seamstresses and artists.

Learn about Porter First Baptist Church’s mission programs. Join us in serving our community and making a difference worldwide. Porter First MISSIONS MISSION Ministry The purpose of the Missions Ministry at Porter First Baptist Church is to encourage, educate, and inspire the congregation to reach the lost beyond the walls of our church with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mission Teams Our mission teams are divided into 6 different teams: Local, Congregational, National, Cross Cultural, Prayer/Promotional and Global Local Missions Throughout the year, we participate in or offer a variety of local mission activities. Some of these include (but are not limited to): Church Planting, Block Parties, Local Mission Support, Vacation Bible School, Prayer Walks, Men's & Women's Ministry Activities, Student Community Activities, Baptist Campus Ministries, Support local programs, Holiday Celebrations, Kids Hope, AC Ministry, Special Needs and much more.

Join the Adults Ministry at Porter First Baptist Church for Bible study, fellowship, and spiritual growth. Find your community today! Porter First Adults Adult Ministry Porter First adults are organized into life stages from Young Adults to Senior Adults. Whether you are married, single or single again, our Adult Ministry provides community groups, trips, and other activities for men and women that foster relationships, community, and spiritual growth. Life Groups Porter First Life Groups help people pursue authentic community in everyday life. They are the primary place where we witness “Life Together” with the highs and lows of everyday LIFE. Life Groups are for anyone. They are small groups of people gathered together by age or stage of life who study the Word of God, pray, play, and minister together. While you are at Life Group, your children will be in LIFE groups and your students will be in LIFE groups. Children will move from LIFE groups to Children's Church. Childcare is provided for Babies through 2s. Classes are offered for all life stages and ages! If you are not in a Life Group, come at 9:15am on Sunday and try one. Keep searching until you find one that fits you. Women Porter First Women is a place for single and married, young and old, diverse ethnicity, the mom, the college student, and the professional to come alongside one another to be rooted and built up in Jesus. Men Porter First Men is a place for single and married, young and old, diverse ethnicity, the dad, the college student, and the professional to come alongside one another to be rooted and built up in Jesus. Our men have opportunities through the year for Bible Studies and a quarterly Men's Breakfast. Singles Living single in today’s world is challenging. Singles today navigate through decisions about their future career, face challenges about being a single parent, learn to live as a single again, and think deeply about their future partner. We offer a class for singles ages 18 years through their 20s as well as a class for singles ages 30s and beyond. Senior Adults The activities of this ministry are augmented by a very active Senior Adult Club which meets occasional Wednesdays for a program and luncheon and which regularly sponsors retreats and trips for the Seniors. In addition to participation in their own devotionals, Bible studies, crafts, trips and recreational events, our Senior Adults lend their special talents and experience to all facets of church life including teaching, leading and outreach. All adults ages 55 and up may be a part of our Senior Adult Ministry.