Community

The church is directly involved in creating the Beloved Community.

Construction crew in LaRomana
Better Lives RI food pantry
Caroling at John Clarke
Bringing young people to the wilds of Canoncius
Rebuilding Puerto Rico
RISD students on the lawn
Planting a tree at the Global Peace Conference
Planting a tree of peace at the Global Peace Conference in Cali, Colombia
Blanket the World with Love
Planting a Garden

Locally we support Better Lives Rhode Island which helps people better their own lives by providing hope and support for a better tomorrow and food security and homeless services to get through today. We also make a monetary donation to Crossroads Rhode Island as they work to end homelessness.

 Canonicus Camp and Conference Center is a Baptist facility in Exeter, RI. where we send many of our children and their friends to summer camp. The youth hike, swim, build relationships and explore God’s creation.

Our lawn is a meeting place for neighbors of all ages. Preschoolers play on the lawn, college students study and relax and all are invited to stop by the garden to enjoy the flowers and the vegetables.

Two small groups meet weekly to discuss books on religion and spirituality. A group for women meets on Wednesday at 1:00 pm and a group for all meets on Thursday at 6:00 pm. For more information, email Linda Bausserman.

We have received a grant from NRICD to add a raised bed vegetable garden and a pollinator garden in the backyard of the church. Stop by and pick some fresh produce in season. More info at The Garden of Earthy Delights.

The John Clarke Retirement Center in Middletown, RI is a Baptist-affiliated facility. We visit our members and friends at the facility.

Every two years we send a group to The Good Samaritan Hospital in LaRomana, Dominican Republic for a one week mission trip. This mission project helps the Haitians living on the bateys surrounding LaRomana. Construction continues on the hospital, medical clinics visit the people in the bateys, and water filters are being built and delivered to the homes to provide clean water. We hope to hold our Roger Williams Attic Sale in September 2021 to raise funds for a trip to LaRomana in January 2022.

The First Baptist Church in America is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island (ABCORI) and the American Baptist Churches/USA .

Nationally and internationally, we support the National Council of Churches, the World Baptist Alliance, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, and the North America Baptist Peace Fellowship.

We support the work of the American Baptist Home Mission Society . Members of the church have traveled to Puerto Rico and New Orleans to rebuild after hurricanes. Each February, we collect funds for blankets which are distributed by One Great Hour of Sharing to individuals in need because of natural or man-made disasters.

Through donations to International Ministries, we are able to provide medical care, spiritual formation, conflict resolution training, clean water, support for immigrants and refugees and funds for micro businesses around the globe. We remember those who have served us each December by supporting the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering.