Main Street Baptist Church | Smithfield, Virginia
We are the Body of Christ, the Church; teaching, preaching, and reaching others for the Glory of God.
Dr. James M. Harrison, Pastor
Our Mission
We who are in covenant agreement as members of the Main Street Baptist Church exist in time and therefore will never come to know personally the historical man Jesus. However, we can come to understand the meaning of His life as a historical person and come to embrace a faith in the Resurrected Christ.
It is in this event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that we find our purpose, that is to say, we exist to perpetuate the identity of the historical Jesus, especially in the event of the resurrection.
We shall fulfill our purpose through nurturing the believers, providing worship opportunities regularly. We shall make for evangelistic opportunities, mission reliefs to persons in need without resources. We shall make opportunities for discipling believers, providing for Christian Education events among the church fellowship and without.
Finally, we shall provide opportunities giving Christian Witness in areas of social concern, all for the Glory of God.
Who Are We?
MAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH is not a rival ministry of any other church. We do not boast our preaching, our teaching, our friendliness, our music or our facilities as better than those of other churches. Remembering, "they who compare themselves among themselves are not wise." We strive to be a church worthy of the Christ whom we honor.
MAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH'S members do not criticize other churches. We believe that "to his own master a man stands or falls." There is so little time to spread the Gospel through the world that we dare not waste any of it by pausing to condemn others.
MAIN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH stands ready to share any of its vision or methods with other churches. We will pray for other churches and rejoice when any other church shows an excellence for us to pattern after.
Denominational Affiliations
Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association;
Baptist General Convention of Virginia;
American Baptist Churches of the South;
American Baptist Churches, USA
The Baptist Church Covenant
"Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge and holiness; to give it a place in our affections, prayers and services above every organization of human origin; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, toward its expenses, for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In case of difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to study diligently the word of God; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintance ; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be kind and just to those in our employ , and faithful in the service we promise others; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will towards all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith.
We further engage to watch over, to pray for, to exhort and stir up each other unto every good word and work; to guard each other's reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others; to participate in each other's joys, and with tender sympathy bear one another's burdens and sorrows; to cultivate Christian courtesy; to be slow to give or take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, being mindful of the rules of the Saviour in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, to secure it without delay; and through life, amid evil report, and good report, to seek to live to the glory of God, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
When we remove from this place, we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's word."