First Baptist Church began her ministry in Kent, prior to statehood on April 14, 1889 at the corner of South Fourth and Willis Streets in downtown Kent.  In 1970 the congregation made plans to relocate to the present East Hill property on SE 248th Street.  The initial service held in the new facility was on Easter Sunday 1971.  In November 1980 an Education Building was added to the facility.

     As a Baptist Church we stand on the premise that individuals accept the biblical witness that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, and upon this confession of faith they obediently and outwardly declare their faithfulness to the Lord through believer's baptism.

We are:

• Evangelical in theology - we are a community of faith because we believe in the Lordship of Jesus; in the scriptures as our "Owner's Manual" for faith and practice; in believer's baptism conducted at FBC by immersion; in the priesthood of all persons in Christ; in the separation of church and state; and in the autonomy of the local church.
• Inclusive in ministry - we enjoy a rich diversity in our congregation.  We believe and accept that God calls all people into His Kingdom.  Therefore we embrace His people regardless of ethnicity, race, or gender, seeking to build up the Body of Christ.  Our goal is to love one another, even when we cannot always agree on all things.  In essential matters we have unity - in non-essential matters we provide liberty - in all things we love one another.
• International in mission - we support a world-wide emphasis to reach people of all nations for Jesus.  Our church actively supports outreach missions at home, nationally, and internationally.
• Ecumenical in our community - we believe that there are many opportunities that demand a cooperative and ecumenical spirit.  Our church participates in the life of our community in a variety of ways.  Whenever we see an opportunity to share God's love we gladly join with other fellowships to build the Kingdom of God together.

As a Purpose Driven Church our priorities are:

• Worship - we believe that God calls all people to worship Him, and therefore we believe that worship is foundational for a growing and dynamic church.
• Education - we believe it is our responsibility to effectively teach spiritual truths and Christian values to this generation and beyond.
• Fellowship - we aim to develop a strong sense of Christian community where mutual caring and concern distinguishes us as a friendly and exciting community of faith.
• Ministry - we believe it is important to integrate Christian values into our community by addressing social problems with the Good News and a helping hand.
• Missions - we take the "Great Commission" seriously, and so we prayerfully and monetarily support national and international missions.
• Leadership Training - we believe that identifying, training, and equipping Godly leaders is vital for the kingdom of God to flourish.