First Family Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and is one of the over 40,000 autonomous churches in it.

What does Autonomous mean?

1. We are part of the convention, but not run by the convention.
2. We have the ability to ordain pastors on our own.
3. We set our own budget and choose where to spend our money.

What is the Southern Baptist Convention?

It is the largest association of Christian churches in America.  One out of ten churches in America is affiliated with the SBC.  (There are over 40,000 churches and 15 million members in SBC churches… more than almost every other denomination combined.)

It is the most diverse association of churches.  SBC churches include every race, nationality, and ethnic group.  Each Sunday, services are held in over 80 languages in the U.S.

It is one of the fastest growing denominations.  The SBC baptizes over 1,000 new Christians a day in the U.S. and begins nearly 5 new churches a day!

First Family Church Governance
First Family Church is governed by a board of directors and led by founder and senior pastor Jerry Johnston.  Its ministries are implemented by associate pastors, church staff, and dedicated volunteers.  As outlined in Scripture, FFC operates under three distinct layers of biblical church leadership:

• Bishop/Overseer/Pastor- The New Testament church was led by a senior pastor responsible for overseeing the ministry of the church.  These individuals were sometimes referred to as an overseer, bishop, or pastor.  Since its founding in 1996, Pastor Jerry Johnston has served as the senior pastor and overseer of First Family Church.  Phil.1:1; I Tim.3:1-2; Titus 1:7; Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2; Eph.4:11

• Elders- The New Testament church was heavily supported in ministry delegation and decision-making by a group of men called ‘elders.’  Beginning in Acts 11 and throughout the pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus, Scripture records the great impact of these men as they served alongside the Apostles and the pastors of local congregations.  Members of FFC’s pastoral staff serve as the elders of the church providing ministry and decision-making support for all aspects of church operations.  Acts 11, 14-16, 20, 21; I Tim.4:14, 5:17, 19; Titus 1:5; Heb.11:2; James 5:14; I Peter 5:1, 5:5; II John 1:1; III John 1:1

• Deacons- The New Testament church grew so quickly and had so many ministerial needs that it instituted a layer of “lay leadership.”  Beginning in Acts chapter 6 and seen throughout the rest of the New Testament, these individuals were known as deacons,’ deriving their English name from the Greek word ‘diakonos,’ a synonym for the word ‘servant.’ These were men and women who were spiritual leaders in the church and were able to help serve the needs of the people while the bishops and elders prayed, studied the word, taught the word, and led the church ministry, as decided in Acts chapter 6.  FFC has “ministry administrators,” both men and women, who serve in the role of the ministry ‘deacons’ or ‘servants.’  In many of our key ministries such as our Greeters Ministry, our Ushers Ministry, our Men’s Ministry, our Parking Ministry, our Upward Sports Ministry, our Awana Ministry, our First Kidz Choir Ministry, our Women’s Ministry, our Comfort Circle Ministry, our Moments of Hope Ministry, and our Shelter Ministry, we have chosen men and women who fulfill the character and personal qualifications outlined in I Timothy 3:8-13.  It is our goal as a church to move as many individuals as possible to the “ministry administrator” level of church leadership.  Acts 6:3; Rom.16:3,10, 13; I Tim.3:8-13

In compliance with state and federal laws governing nonprofit organizations, FFC has added an additional layer of leadership- the Board of Directors.  The board is comprised of gifted individuals who oversee financial planning, compliance and accountability processes in accordance with established legal standards and IRS guidelines.  In addition, the board lifts up the senior pastor, associate pastors and church staff in prayer and seeks God’s wisdom in the spiritual governance of the church.