Q: Why should I give Manhattan Baptist Church a try?
A: Manhattan Baptist is a church that has the glory of God is its passion, evangelism and missions as its strategy, and the Word of God as its standard. We are conservative in our theology, but creative in our methods to reach people with the life-changing Gospel message about Jesus Christ. If you want to truly make a difference for Christ in this world and the next, you will find this common attitude at MBC. We want our lives and our church to count for Christ! How about you?

Q: Can I attend church activities without becoming a member?
A: Yes, we welcome non-members to attend all worship services, small group, and fellowship activities.

Q: Do you provide transportation to church?
A: We have a church bus that provides rides to attendees on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. You may contact the church office to schedule a ride.

Q: How big is Manhattan Baptist Church?
A: Our 9:30am Contemporary Worship Service meets in the fellowship hall with an average attendance of about 60. Our 11am Tradional Worship Service meets in the sanctuary with an average attendance of about 100. Not included in these attendance figures are our children up to the 5th grade, who have their own worship service at both of these times. In 2009 we averaged 185 in combined total attendance for adults and children.

Q: What do I wear when I come to church?
A: There is no dress code at MBC. Make yourself comfortable, but not ties are allowed in the Contemporary Worship Service :)

Q: What kind of music do have in the worship service?
A: At 9:30am music is led by our in-house praise band. The worship service starts with a 5 minute countdown. The band plays music by Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, Casting Crowns, Newsboys, David Crowder and other popular contemporary Christian artists. At 11am Jim Chancey, Worship Leader, and our choir, lead us in a traditional worship service. We mix old hymns, Southern Gospel, and a few praise choruses. In both worship services, words to songs are conveniently displayed overhead so that everyone can sing.

Q: What do my children do during the worship service?
A: Children from K-5th grade go to the 2nd floor on Sunday mornings. At 9:30 children have their own time of worship in Worship KidStyle. At 11am children attend Elevate, a class that helps children "rise to the next level" in their relationship with God. A nursery is available for children 0-4 years old.

Q: What are the basic beliefs of Manhattan Baptist Church?
A: We accept the Baptist Faith & Message, adopted in 2000. See "Our Beliefs" page for more details.

Q: What translation of the Bible do you use?
A: We use the New American Standard Bible. This translation is considered by many scholars to be the best word-for-word translation in today's language.

Q: What are "Connect Groups"?
A: Connect groups are small Bible study fellowship groups for all ages and life situations. These groups primarily meet on Sunday mornings at 9:45am and 11am, but some connect groups meet at other times during the week. We believe these groups are vital to every church member's spiritual growth.

Q: How do I become a member of Manhattan Baptist Church?
A: The following is required for all members at MBC:

A - Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior & Lord
B - Baptism by immersion as a testimony of your salvation
C - Counseling by pastoral staff or trained decision counselor (you can "come forward" during any worship service during the "time of response" or call the church office (813-831-1951) and set up an appointment to speak with our pastor.)

Q: I want to join Manhattan Baptist Church, but I come from another denomination or religion. Is there anything I should know before I join MBC?
A: The degree of change in belief & practice which you will embrace depends on your former denomination or religion. Here's a brief description of some of the possibilities:

You come from a non-Christian religion or cult (e.g., Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonisn, Jehovah's Witnesses). You will need to surrender your life to Jesus as your Savior and Lord and be baptized.
You come from Catholicism. Baptists have roots in the Protestant reformation; therefore, if you join MBC, you will be recanting many beliefs & practices of the Catholic Church. Some of these beliefs and practices include salvation through faith plus works, authority of the Apocrypha, infallibility & authority of the Pope or the Catholic Church, the practice of the Catholic sacraments, veneration of Mary, existence of purgatory, and praying to anyone other than God.
You come from another Protestant church. If you are a born-again believer, the only issue will be your baptism.

Q: I have already been baptized. Must I be baptized again to become a member?
A: That depends. If you were baptized by immersion as a testimony of your salvation, the answer is no. The answer is yes, however, if you were baptized in a manner other than immersion, if you were baptized before you were saved, or if the church that baptized you understood your baptism to be a element of/requirement for your salvation rather than symbolic (e.g., Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, or Independent Christian Church.) If you have further questions, please call the church office.

Q: Can I become a member at Manhattan Baptist Church if I am cohabitating or in a homosexual relationship?
A: 1 Corinthians 6:8-10 states: "do you not know that the unrighteous will no inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." While we encourage people from all walks of life to attend MBC, these verses prohibit MBC from accepting anyone into its membership until they repent and turn from such lifestyles.

Q: Do you have women on the pastoral staff or as deacons?
A: While women fill many important roles in ministry at MBC, only men are ordained as pastors or deacons.

Q: Which do you support; the Cooperative Program or the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship?
A: We support the Cooperative Program.

Q: What is your position on Calvinism?
A: Southern Baptists do not take an official position on Calvinism (see Baptist Faith & Message, 2000), though the subject is frequently a hot topic in Baptist circles. Manhattan Baptist Church, likewise, does not take an official stance on this issue.

Q: What is your position on the gifts of miracles, healing, and speaking in tongues?
A: At Manhattan Baptist we believe that God still heals, performs miracles,and can enable anyone to speak in an unknown language at anytime, and we often pray for God to heal and intervene in miraculous ways. We do not, however, practice speaking in tongues in the worship service or conduct "healing or miracle" services. While Southern Baptists do not take an official position on this practice (see Baptist Faith & Message, 2000), anyone who joins a Baptist church should be aware that the practice of speaking in tongues is somewhat discouraged. For example, the International Mission Board will not appoint missionaries that practice speaking in tongues.

Q: Why do you have all this stuff on your website?
A: We know that there are many factors that influence a person to attend and join a church. Some come because of the friendliness of the people, the beauty of the music, or the eloquence of the pastor. We believe all these things are important, but there is one factor that should surpass them all as the ultimate litmus test. This factor is what the church believes. We are hopeful, that by answering these questions up front, you will find us to be the church you have been looking for ... strong in its doctrine, beliefs, and convictions & passionate about reaching the world for Christ. Also, with such a straight forward approach, we are hoping to reduce the possibility of any member ever saying, "This isn't what I signed up for."