Hello
Welcome
We are a church family that believes first and foremost in loving our neighbors. Here you will find a loving and accepting church that will help you tackle the tough challenges of life whether you are a longtime follower of Christ or even if you are not yet a believer
Join us for a Peaceful Protest
Stand in Unity
Join us on Saturday July 11, 2020 from 5:30-6:30pm in a demonstration of unity for racial justice.
We will gather at the Wayne Avenue side of the church in the plaza with the statue.
Please wear face masks, spread out to maintain six feet of physical distance, and bring your own signs. If need be, bring a chair, water and snacks for yourself.
We'd love it if you would infuse a Christian message to your poster.
Here are three examples:
Psalm 103:6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Psalm 82:3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless.
Isaiah 1: 17 Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow's cause.
rain date: July 12th also 5:30-6:30pm
Learn More
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
OUr Food Closet is Open and ready to help
If you need help we're here
First Baptist Church of Silver Spring, The Church Downtown, has been able to keep our Food Closet open even during the COVID-19 crisis.
If you need help making ends meet the Food Closet is open every Saturday from 10am to 12n. You can access the Food Closet from the Wayne Street entrance.
For more information please call us at 301-754-1100 or email us at info@thechurchdowntown.com
NOTE: We are planning a Food Drive to help supplement the food supply. It will be held on July 11th 10am-1pm. (rain date July 18th)
We’ll accept all donations, but we especially need:
Canned vegetables, fruit and tuna
Spaghetti and pasta
Spaghetti sauce
Peanut Butter
Please wear a mask when dropping of donations
For 35 years, First Baptist Church of Silver Spring has been serving the Silver Spring community through the food bank. Our food bank is open every Saturday from 10am-12noon to offer food to families in need. We have not closed a single Saturday during the COVID pandemic. But, now we need your help. Because of the pandemic, it’s becoming harder and harder to get food from our main resource, the Capital Area Food Bank. They are in short supply from their manufacturers. Thank you for your donations.
Reach Out - We're Here
Scary Times.
These are indeed extraordinary times.
If you need someone to talk to or you would like to send a prayer request you can do so either by text message or voicemail. All of the messages go to directly to our Pastor Gil Gulick.
We also have two women ministers in our congregation if you would like to speak to one just let us know.
If you are just sending in a prayer request please specify whether you would like the message shared with the congregation.
We encourage you to share this number with family and friends who may be hurting or just need someone to talk to.
The Number is 301-679-3358.
Remember. We are here. You are not alone.
Coming Up this Week
Needless to say the Coronavirus has halted all activities where we can come together in person. However service will be streamed on Sunday via this web page and on our Facebook page. We are also continuing to operate our Food Closet on Saturday mornings.
All other events at the Church are cancelled until further notice.
Contact us at info@thechurchdowntown or by phone if you have any additional questions.
The Church downtown
Our Story
In 1924 Silver Spring was a tiny little village made up mostly of apple orchards and dirt paths. It was in this setting that 14 people met on October 22, 1924 to establish the Silver Spring Baptist Church. Since that time the First Baptist Church of Silver Spring has had a presence in downtown helping people in the community to make their lives better through ministry and fellowship. Our commitment to be a shining presence in today's urban environment is stronger than ever with a brand new building in that same location - the heart of Silver Spring.
You can still join us every Sunday at 11am for the weekly Sunday Service. And we hold Adult Bible Study and Bible Study for children through High School every Sunday at 10 am, and another adult Bible Study every Wednesday at 1:30 at the church. Additionally, we offer a study at your own pace Bible Study called the Essential 100, which you can read more about below.
We are also affiliated with two other churches who offer Sunday Service at our downtown Silver Spring facility in French/Haitian Creole and Spanish. For information on the French/Haitian Creole Church please visit: https://eglisebaptistedelafoi.org and for Spanish language service visit Iglesia Baptista Immanuel or call them at (301) 879-5155.
On March 31, 2019, Reverend Gil Gulick took the congregation out of the worship service and to the lobby of our Wayne Avenue entrance. From here you can look out the glass exterior walls and see the downtown Silver Spring skyline. With this view Reverend Gulick articulated "The Church Downtown" vision. See his comments in the video below:
