FBC Waco

What FBC Waco does

First Baptist Church of Waco (FBC Waco) is a historic Baptist congregation organized in 1851 under the leadership of missionary Noah Byers, headquartered at 500 Webster Avenue in Waco, Texas. It operates as a nonprofit religious organization affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), and the Trinity River Baptist Association, aligning doctrinally with the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message. The church maintains a paid staff of approximately 16 named ministry leaders under Pastor Matt Snowden, who has served since August 2010, including associate pastors for Discipleship, Music and Worship, Spanish Ministry, Children and Activities, Youth, College and Missions, and Senior Life, plus directors of Business Administration, Communications, Ministry Technologies, Preschool Ministries, and Food Services.

The church's operational portfolio is built around an intergenerational ministry stack anchored by Sunday worship services in English and Spanish, age-segmented Sunday school classes, and a state-licensed Preschool Development Center. Programmatic offerings include children's sports leagues, Vacation Bible School, Summer Day Camp, youth choirs and worship bands, a College Ministry tied to Baylor University, the Furnishings at First furniture-donation program for graduate and international students, a multi-tier music ministry (Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Handbell Choir, Youth Choir, Children's Choirs), and a Wednesday night Midweek Connections program. It also hosts three partner congregations (a Hispanic congregation, Korean Church of Waco, and Buffalo River Indian Baptist Church) on its campus as part of a multi-ethnic ministry model.

FBC Waco is funded entirely through voluntary tithes and offerings contributed by congregants and visitors via Sunday offerings, online giving through the Shelby Giving platform, text-to-give, and mailed checks. Its distribution model is hybrid: in-person worship and programming at the Waco campus supplemented by Facebook livestream, YouTube uploads, iTunes/RSS sermon podcast, and an email newsletter. Its global footprint is exercised through long-term missionary partnerships in Ecuador, Canada, England, Lebanon, Zambia, and northern Italy, coordinated through BWA and BGCT channels. The organization holds no patents, has no disclosed subsidiaries, and operates without parent company control.

Name

FBC Waco

Legal name

First Baptist Church of Waco

Website

https://fbcwaco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1851

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Baptist Church of Waco is a historic Baptist congregation founded in 1851 in Waco, Texas, serving all ages through worship, education, and global missions, funded by voluntary tithes and offerings from congregants and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Nursery & Playgroups (EDACACAK)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Intergenerational ministries
• Global missions programs
• Preschool childcare services
• Faith formation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Waco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Members and visitors contribute financially through Sunday morning offerings, online giving via Shelby Giving platform, text-to-give, and mailed checks to the church office. This is the primary revenue stream supporting all church operations and ministries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Baptist Church of Waco (FBC Waco) is a historic Baptist congregation that provides weekly worship services in English and Spanish, age-specific Bible study classes, children's and youth ministries, college and graduate student programs, music ministries, a state-licensed preschool development center, summer camps, sports leagues, and global mission partnerships across multiple countries. The organization supports spiritual formation across all life stages from infancy through senior years and operates outreach programs for the Hispanic, Korean, and international student communities in the Waco area.

Product overview

First Baptist Church of Waco is a traditional church organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of ministry services rather than a technology product. The church provides worship services in English and Spanish, age-specific Sunday school classes, children's and youth ministries, college ministry, music programs (choirs and orchestra), a state-licensed preschool development center, summer day camp, sports leagues, vacation Bible school, and global missions programs. The church also offers digital engagement through online sermon archives, podcast subscriptions, and online giving. These ministry programs form an interconnected ecosystem designed to serve all generations from infants through seniors, with specific outreach to graduate students, international students, and the Hispanic community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly worship services held Sundays at 10:30 AM in English and Spanish, featuring music, sermons, and corporate worship for members and visitors of all ages.
• Sunday Morning Bible Study Classes Age-based adult Sunday School classes including Adult 1-5, Word & Way, The Meeting Place, McCall Class, Patterson Class, Centex Class, and a Spanish-speaking class, held Sundays at 9:00 AM.
• Preschool Ministries & Development Center State-licensed childcare and preschool education services for children 6 weeks to kindergarten, including a development center and Parent's Day Out program for working families.
• Children's Ministry Sunday and Wednesday programs for children in grades 1-6 including Bible study, choir, Bible drill, and structured activities for faith formation.
• Youth Ministry Middle and high school youth programs including Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, youth choir, Bible study, Wednesday night gatherings with worship, activities, and leadership opportunities.
• College Ministry College student ministry with weekly Bible study (College Hour), worship attendance, Wednesday night gatherings, fellowship meals, and service opportunities for university students.
• Music Ministry Music programs including Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Handbell Choir, Youth Choir, and Children's Choirs providing opportunities for all ages to participate in worship arts.
• Global Missions Program Global and local missions including partnerships in Ecuador, Canada, England, Lebanon, Zambia, and northern Italy, with short-term and long-term mission trip opportunities for members.
• Spanish Ministry (Servicio en Español) Spanish-language worship services, Bible study, prayer meetings, and Ecuador mission partnership serving the Hispanic community through La Puerta Waco.
• Wednesday Night Programs Weekly Wednesday evening programming including Midweek Connections for seniors, fellowship meals, choir rehearsals, intergenerational Bible study, youth gatherings, and college worship.
• Summer Day Camp Summer day camp program for children who completed Kindergarten through 4th grade, featuring games, field trips, swimming, music, arts, crafts, Bible stories, and outdoor activities.
• Vacation Bible School Annual VBS program for children Kindergarten through 6th grade with themed activities, games, music, and Bible study.
• Children's Sports Leagues Children's sports leagues offering basketball and soccer programs for boys and girls in Kindergarten through 6th grade.
• Furnishings at First Free furniture donation program providing gently used furniture to graduate and international students each fall.
• Online Giving Digital tithes and offerings through online giving, text-to-give, and Sunday morning offering options for member financial contributions.
• Sermon Podcast & Archives Online sermon library with audio/video recordings, podcast subscriptions via RSS/iTunes, and sermon series organized by topic, date, speaker, and scripture.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ecuadorian Baptist ConventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Baptist Church Waco partners with the Ecuadorian Baptist Convention for mission work in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Church sponsors short-term mission trips and supports long-term missionary presence in Ecuador.
• Baylor UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaylor University students participate in the church orchestra, which is largely made up of talented Baylor students. Many Baylor faculty and staff are church members. Church has historical connection to Baylor as it helped establish the university in 1885.
• Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary state partner organization for FBC Waco. The church aligns with BGCT as its primary denominational affiliation alongside the Baptist World Alliance.
• Baptist World Alliance (BWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partner organization for FBC Waco. The church maintains active global witness through BWA network with missionary placements in multiple countries.
• Korean Church of WacominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean Church of Waco shares space and fellowship with First Baptist Church Waco as part of the church's commitment to welcoming diverse ethnic communities.
• Buffalo River Indian Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuffalo River Indian Baptist Church is among the partner congregations hosted by First Baptist Church Waco as part of its multi-ethnic ministry approach.
• Trinity River Baptist AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical affiliation from church's founding in 1851 with the Trinity River Baptist Association, which supported the establishment of Waco Classical School and Waco University.
• New Hope Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister church formed in 1866 when newly-freed slaves were dismissed from First Baptist to establish their own congregation. FBC Waco provided assistance to help establish New Hope, and the churches maintain ongoing gospel partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• McLean Bible Church: Large multi-site non-denominational church with extensive digital media and programming. Comparable in ministry breadth and digital-first approach, though not Baptist-aligned.
• North Point Ministries: Multi-campus church network led by Andy Stanley, known for contemporary services and digital distribution. Comparable in operational sophistication and digital reach, though denominationally distinct.
• Saddleback Church: Large multi-site church with comprehensive age-group programming, global missions, and a leadership development focus. Comparable in ministry breadth and mission footprint, though denominationally distinct.

Direct peers

• First Baptist Church Dallas: Another major Texas Baptist congregation with a long heritage, large multi-generational membership, and comprehensive ministry programming. Directly comparable given similar denominational alignment, scale of operations, and historic downtown presence.
• Highland Park Baptist Church: Mid-sized Baptist church with traditional worship, age-stratified programming, and a strong community engagement model. Comparable to FBC Waco in scale and ministry structure.
• Second Baptist Church Houston: Large Southern Baptist-affiliated church in Texas with extensive programming across age groups, global mission partnerships, and a multi-site model. Comparable in ministry breadth, denominational alignment, and operational complexity to FBC Waco.
• First Baptist Church Houston: Historic downtown Baptist church in Texas with deep community roots, traditional services, and broad programming. Shares the heritage-driven, multi-generational congregational model that defines FBC Waco.
• Prestonwood Baptist Church: Large Texas Baptist church with multiple campuses, comprehensive family and student ministries, and global outreach. Comparable in scale of programming and Southern Baptist alignment.

Regional players

• Watermark Church: Large Texas-based church with strong community service orientation and a focus on member development. Comparable in ministry framework and Texas regional footprint, though non-denominational.

Emerging players

• La Puerta Waco: Hispanic-focused ministry directed by FBC Waco's Associate Pastor of Spanish Ministry, serving the Waco Latino community. Comparable as a faith-based community program sharing staff and mission with FBC Waco.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FBCWaco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FirstBaptistChurchWaco
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstbaptistwaco
• Instagraminstagram.com/fbcwaco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fbc-waco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 FBC Waco