First Baptist Church

What First Baptist Church does

The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. (FBCDC) is a historic Baptist congregation located at 1328 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C., one mile north of the White House in the Dupont Circle and Logan Circle neighborhoods. The church operates as a private nonprofit religious organization governed by its congregation under Senior Pastor Julie Pennington-Russell, who has served since January 2016 and is the longest-tenured Senior Pastor in nearly 35 years. FBCDC offers a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs including Sunday worship services at 11 a.m., nursery care for ages 0–2, preschool faith formation (ages 3–5), children's ministry (K–5th grade), youth ministry (6th–12th grade), young adult programming ("The Current" for ages 18–35), adult formation, and a music program featuring a chancel choir, organ, and brass. The church also operates a Compassion and Justice (ACT) ministry that maintains domestic partnerships (Ward 2 Mutual Aid, Rise Against Hunger) and an international partnership with William Carey Baptist Church in Havana, Cuba, alongside the Matanzas Seminary and two additional Cuban Baptist congregations.

The church's revenue model combines recurring congregational giving with facility rental income. Tithes and offerings are collected through the Realm Connect platform (mobile app, online giving portal at onRealm.org, and text-to-give at 73256) and function as recurring subscription-like revenue supporting hospitality, compassion, generosity, and justice ministries. Facility rentals provide a secondary revenue stream, offering the sanctuary (up to 800 guests), fellowship hall (up to 200), and conference rooms (8–20 guests) for weddings, funerals, corporate events, concerts, and non-profit gatherings, with fees determined by space, duration, and nature of the group and a 30-day notice requirement. The church's digital infrastructure is built on Squarespace CMS for the public website and ACS Technologies' Realm Connect platform for engagement, giving, and event registration — both third-party products with no proprietary AI or data systems of its own.

The organization completed a sanctuary renovation in 2022 and opened and dedicated a new community building in May 2025, following an 18-month strategic planning process with Ministry Architects that restructured governance into a Ministry Leadership Team (MLT) and Ministry Action Teams (MATs). FBCDC serves the Washington D.C. metropolitan area as its primary market and maintains its international partnership with churches and the Matanzas Seminary in Cuba. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the church does not have external investors, subsidiaries, or a parent organization.

Name

First Baptist Church

Legal name

The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C.

Website

https://firstbaptistdc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. is a historic Baptist congregation at 1328 16th Street NW offering Sunday worship, age-staged faith formation (nursery through adults), music programs, and a Cuba partnership, funded via congregational tithes and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Worship services
• Faith formation
• Community outreach
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Regular congregational giving through online giving (credit/debit/ACH), text-to-give (text GIVEFBCDC to 73256), and Realm Connect app. The church emphasizes giving as an 'adventure in trust' that supports hospitality, compassion, generosity, and justice ministries.
2. Facility Rental: Event spaces available for rent including sanctuary (up to 800 guests), fellowship hall (200 guests), and conference rooms (8-20 guests). Rental fees cover operational costs including utilities, cleaning, and staffing. Available for weddings, funerals, corporate events, concerts, and non-profit gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. is a historic Baptist congregation providing weekly Sunday worship services and a multi-generational suite of faith formation programs (nursery, preschool, children, youth, young adults, and adults). The church also operates a Compassion & Justice (ACT) ministry, an international Cuba partnership, music and choral programming, and event space rental in its sanctuary, fellowship hall, and conference rooms. Operations are sustained by congregational tithes and offerings and supplemented by event venue rental fees.

Product overview

First Baptist Church Washington DC is a religious organization offering a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs and services centered around weekly worship gatherings and spiritual formation across all life stages. The church operates as a multi-program ministry providing nursery care, preschool, children's, youth, young adult, and adult programming, along with music ministries, compassion and justice initiatives, an international Cuba partnership, event space rentals, and an online giving platform via Realm Connect.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services at 11am featuring music, sermons, and communion, with children and youth programming running concurrently. Open to all, with live streaming available for remote participation. Accommodates up to 800 guests in the sanctuary.
• Event Space Rental Facility rental services including the sanctuary (up to 800 guests), fellowship hall (200 guests), conference rooms (8-20 guests), and kitchen. Available for weddings, funerals, corporate events, concerts, and non-profit gatherings. Rental fees cover operational costs including utilities, cleaning, and staffing. Inquiries: [email protected].
• Preschool & Early Childhood Program Faith formation program for children ages 3-5 using the Big Faith curriculum from Cokesbury, meeting Sundays at 10am. Led by Chyrlette Crump (Early Childhood & Preschool Coordinator) with over 35 years of early childhood experience.
• Professional Nursery Care Professional nursery care for infants and toddlers (ages 0-2) staffed by trained childcare professionals, available every Sunday from 10am through close of worship. Led by LeTasha Smith, a certified Newborn Care Specialist with nearly a decade of experience.
• Children's Ministry (K-Grade 5) Faith formation and worship programming for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, including Children's Worship on 2nd and 4th Sundays. Led by Bailey Cantone-Hardy, Program Director for Children. Includes worship bags available on 1st and 3rd Sundays.
• Youth Ministry (Grades 6-12) Youth ministry for 6th-12th graders featuring Sunday faith formation, individual connections, and seasonal events. Features the Youth Crew intergenerational program with young adult leaders. Led by Julia Bradley, Program Director for Youth.
• Young Adults Ministry (The Current) Community, study, and events for young adults ages 18-35, including annual retreats (such as the President's Day weekend 2026 retreat at Graves Mountain Lodge with 26 attendees), weekly gatherings (3D Thursdays), and Sunday Night Fellowship.
• Compassion & Justice (ACT) Ministry Ministry focused on social justice, community service, and advocacy including partnerships with mutual aid organizations (Ward 2 Mutual Aid), international hunger relief (Rise Against Hunger), and the Cuba partnership. Includes local organizing, humanitarian aid, and benevolence offerings.
• Music Program Music and liturgical programming including the Chancel Choir, seasonal concerts, and organ recitals including the Lawrence P. Schreiber Recital Series. Features the church's organ and brass in the historic sanctuary with vaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows.
• Cuba Partnership Program International mission partnership with William Carey Baptist Church in Havana, Cuba, including pilgrimages, financial gifts over $10,000 annually, prescription medicines, and shipping container supplies. Extends to Ebenezer Baptist Church (Havana), First Baptist Church of Matanzas, and Matanzas Seminary (serving approximately 200 students from 13 denominations).

Quantifiable outcome

• Sanctuary renovation completed 2022; new community building opened and dedicated May 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Graves Mountain Lodge (Syria, Virginia)minorOthers · 1 February 2026Retreat venue for young adult gatherings located in Syria, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hosts annual President's Day weekend retreats for FBCDC young adults. Has become 'something like family' to the church community.
• William Carey Baptist Church (Havana, Cuba)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Long-standing international partnership with William Carey Baptist Church in Havana, Cuba. FBCDC pilgrims travel to Havana carrying financial gifts (over $10,000 annually), prescription medicines, and shipping container supplies. Joint worship services, accompaniment, and prayer list exchanges. Pastors Sarahí Fernandez and Amós Lopez lead the Cuban congregation.
• Ebenezer Baptist Church (Havana, Cuba)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Historic Black Baptist church in Havana visited during Cuba pilgrimage. Partnership involves relationship building and accompaniment. Pastor Ideal Montero Pacheco leads the congregation which neighbors the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center.
• First Baptist Church of Matanzas (Cuba)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner church in Matanzas, Cuba providing vital services to the community. Founded the Kairos Center for Art and Liturgy. Open and affirming congregation led by Pastor Orestes Roca.
• Matanzas SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Only ecumenical seminary in Cuba, serving approximately 200 students from 13 denominations. Pastor Amós Lopez from William Carey also serves as Dean of the Seminary. Located 65 miles from Havana in Matanzas.
• Blessings InternationalminorOthers · 1 January 2026Organization through which FBCDC organized and sourced prescription medicines (antibiotics, diabetes medications, blood pressure drugs, migraine treatments) brought to William Carey Baptist Church in Cuba. Becky Waugh spent months coordinating the medicine drive.
• Ward 2 Mutual AidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Grassroots, neighbor-led mutual aid effort based at Luther Place, part of the DC Mutual Aid Network (DCMA). Activities include staffing warming hotline, delivering groceries, dropping supplies to unhoused neighbors, organizing local residents, preparing students with books and clothing, and supporting immunocompromised individuals. FBCDC collects benevolence offering at Christmas Candlelight Carols.
• World Student Christian FederationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Co-presenter of Cole Arthur Riley author event on October 5, 2024 at FBCDC sanctuary. Part of their Annual Conference.
• Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Calvin Theological SeminaryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Partnership with Calvin University for Work and Worship Vespers Service on October 8, 2024. Free event open to public at FBCDC sanctuary.
• DMV Chapter of the American Guild of OrganistsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Partnership for Pipe Organ Spectacular featuring Sean Burns on October 13, 2024. Free public concert at FBCDC sanctuary.
• Rise Against HungercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024International hunger relief organization. On June 2, 2024, more than 50 volunteers packaged 8,856 meals after worship for people facing hunger globally.
• Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Baptist denomination organization representing welcoming and affirming congregations. FBCDC marches with AWAB at Capital Pride annually, visible witness of inclusion and abundant welcome.
• Nineteenth Street Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Historic Black Baptist congregation in DC. FBCDC has deepened partnership under Pastor Julie's leadership, engaging in truth-telling and earnest seeking of forgiveness rooted in honesty about their shared past, friendship, and long work of mutual understanding around racial reconciliation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pullen Memorial Baptist Church: Progressive Baptist congregation affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Comparable scale, programmatic depth (youth, music, justice), and open-affirming identity to FBCDC.
• Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church: Progressive historic mainline congregation on the Emory University campus in Atlanta. Comparable in progressive theology, historic urban-adjacent sanctuary, and engagement with national civic/justice issues; not Baptist but highly comparable in operating model.
• Wilshire Baptist Church: Progressive, welcoming-affirming Baptist congregation in Dallas, similar size band to FBCDC. Closely comparable theologically (open and affirming, social-justice oriented) and in mid-size program structure.
• Nineteenth Street Baptist Church: Historic Black Baptist congregation in Washington DC explicitly named as a core strategic partner of FBCDC under Pastor Julie. Comparably progressive, urban DC Baptist context with shared justice and reconciliation agenda.
• Calvary Baptist Church DC: Long-standing progressive Baptist congregation in Washington DC. Comparable DC Baptist context, programmatic depth, and progressive theological stance; smaller worship footprint than FBCDC.

Broad incumbents

• Riverside Church: Iconic progressive, interdenominational congregation in NYC with very large sanctuary, ambitious music/liturgical programming, and active social justice mission. Comparable urban, progressive, large-facility church model, though substantially larger scale.
• All Souls Church Unitarian: Historic progressive, LGBTQ-affirming congregation in NYC with prominent music/arts programming. Comparable in open-affirming identity, urban historic location, and emphasis on arts/concerts as ministry, though different denomination.
• First Baptist Church Atlanta: Large historic Baptist congregation with similar sanctuary-scale venue and civic presence. Comparable in tradition (Baptist), urban historic context, and event-venue capacity, though significantly larger congregation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/firstbaptistdc
• Xx.com/firstbaptistdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstbaptistdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-baptist-church-dc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Baptist Church