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WHO WE ARE
First Baptist Church Avon Park is an evangelical community of believers located in the heart of Avon Park, Florida. First Baptist was established in 1913 with sixteen covenant members. Our church has a rich legacy of over 110 years of faithful gospel ministry in Highlands County, Florida.
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As part of our mission, we want to help you become a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. And we want you to help us remain Christ-centered in our focus and mission.
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We invite you to spend some time on our website, connect with us via social media, and join us for one of our corporate worship services.
LEADERSHIP
"Shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you.
1 Peter 5.2
CHRIS SNIDER
Senior Pastor
Since April 2022, Chris has served as the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Avon Park, Florida. He also currently serves on the Replant Team at the North American Mission Board. He is a graduate of Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Missouri and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has served at churches in both Maryland and Illinois. Chris is joined in ministry with his wife Jessica and their five children. He enjoys spending time with family, woodworking, and watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
RYAN WICKER
Associate Pastor
Since July 2024, Ryan has served as Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Avon Park, Florida. He is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He has served in several ministry capacities including over 20 years in Sunday School Education and Discipleship Ministries. He is currently a D.Ed.Min. student at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with plans to graduate in May of 2026. He is joined in ministry with his wife Rebekah and their three children.
PARTNERSHIP
First Baptist Church Avon Park is in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Florida Baptist Convention, the Orange Blossom Baptist Association, and the Pillar Network.
Our pastors commend the work of 9Marks Ministries, Ligonier Ministries, and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
They also provide the following doctrinal affirmations as a summary of their doctrinal beliefs and convictions. However, in keeping with the introduction to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, they affirm that “the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Confessions are only guides in interpretation, having no authority over the conscience." (See links below.)
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