The Church is the Body of Christ, called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our world today. We feel a special obligation to reach out in love and compassion to the poor, the sick, the hungry, the marginalized, and the oppressed.

Local Community Projects
First Baptist Church is committed to mission here in our own community. We put our faith into action in several local, hands-on mission projects. One Saturday evening each month, we help to prepare and serve dinner to Iowa City's hungry and homeless population at the Salvation Army. We participate in the annual Johnson County CROP Walk, to raise money to end hunger. We partner with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in our area for those in need of housing. We work through Heifer International to send livestock to impoverished families around the world. We also cooperate with other churches in the annual Back-to-School Distribution, and Gifts-for-Parents distribution.

American Baptist Churches USA
We also support the mission programs of the American Baptist Churches USA, which extend the Gospel of peace and reconciliation throughout our nation and around the world. Each year, we receive several special mission offerings, such as the One Great Hour of Sharing, which makes possible development aid, disaster relief, and refugee resettlement assistance in over seventy different countries.

American Baptist Women's Ministries
Our church has a very active American Baptist Women's Ministries chapter, which helps to promote awareness of mission within the congregation. The group meets monthly for fellowship and spiritual growth, and also gathers regularly for social events such as holiday brunches, teas, banquets, and picnics. Throughout the year, there are opportunities to get together with other American Baptist Women's Ministries chapters from our region. The American Baptist Women's Ministries group often takes responsibility for organizing social events at the church, such as weddings or baby showers.

Consultation of Religious Communities
First Baptist Church is a member of the Consultation of Religious Communities, Iowa City’s local ecumenical and interfaith organization. The Consultation provides a forum for interfaith dialogue, various service projects, and community-wide worship services on occasions such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Earth Day.