About FBC Fortuna. FBC Fortuna loves God and loves His word. Therefore, the preaching and teaching of FBC Fortuna is firmly rooted in the Bible. It is not necessary to completely understand every belief outlined below. However, it is necessary that you are not strongly opposed to these teachings to become a member. We are patient with those who are taking time to fully comprehend and internalize these distinctives. Even though there may be some disagreement among members about certain doctrines, the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession is the extent of disagreement that we seek to maintain while holding onto unity and fellowship. Nevertheless, to give a clear understanding of the doctrines that influences the preaching, teaching, and theology of FBC Fortuna are 5 pivotal doctrinal positions that we affirm as well as two guiding documents. The Gospel of Jesus Christ We believe that in the beginning, God created everything. But because of sin, the world was broken. Sin is any action that places self above God and is consequently worthy of punishment. Therefore sinners are in need of forgiveness and salvation. The good news is that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection provides this forgiveness. Regenerate Church Membership The most significant mark of being Baptist is holding to believer’s baptism; the belief that only those who personally confess Christ should be recognized as saved and therefore baptized. But we also hold to the historic teaching that church membership is for the regenerate (saved). That means we affirm that every Christian must be a member of a local church to be obedient to Christ. But membership is not just a name on a list. It includes a confession, participation in the ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper), and evidences of grace (sanctification). The Five Sola's of the Reformation Sola Scriptura Scripture Alone "The supreme judge for deciding all religious controversies and for evaluating all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, human teachings, and individual interpretations, and in whose judgment we are to rest, is nothing but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit. In this Scripture our faith finds its final word" (2LBC 1.10). Sola Gratia Saved by Grace Alone "Since humanity brought itself under the curse of the law by its fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace. In this covenant he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. On their part he requires faith in him, that they may be saved, and promises to give his Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe" (2LBC 7.2). Sola Fide Saved through Faith Alone "The grace of faith, by which the elect are enabled to believe so that their souls are saved, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. Faith is ordinarily produced by the ministry of the Word. By this same ministry and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed by God, faith is increased and strengthened" (2LBC 14.1). Solus Christus Saved in Christ Alone "God was pleased, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them, to be the mediator between God and humanity. God chose him to be prophet, priest, and king, and to be head and savior of the church, the heir of all things, and judge of the world. From all eternity, God gave to the Son a people to be his offspring. In time these people would be redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified by him" (2LBC 8.1). Soli Deo Gloria For the Glory of God Alone "God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of himself; he alone is all-sufficient in himself. He does not need any creature he has made nor does he derive any glory from them. Instead, he demonstrates his own glory in them, by them, to them, and upon them. He alone is the source of all being, and everything is from him, through him, and to him. He has absolute sovereign rule over all creatures, to act through them, for them, or upon them as he pleases. In his sight everything is open and visible. His knowledge is infinite and infallible. It does not depend upon any creature, so for him nothing is contingent or uncertain. He is absolutely holy in all his plans, in all his works, and in all his commands. Angels and human beings owe to him all the worship, service, or obedience that creatures owe to the Creator and whatever else he is pleased to require of them" (2LBC 2.2). The Doctrines of Grace Total Depravity John 3:3; 6:3 "By this sin our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God. We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all. All became dead in sin and completely defiled in all the capabilities and parts of soul and body. All actual transgressions arise from this first corruption. By it we are thoroughly biased against, and disabled and antagonistic toward all that is good, and we are completely inclined toward all that is evil" (2LBC 6.2). Unconditional Election John 6:65; 15:16 "This effectual call flows from God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in those called. Neither does the call arise from any power or action on their part; they are totally passive in it. They are dead in sins and trespasses until they are made alive and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this they are enabled to answer this call and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. This response is enabled by a power that is no less than that which raised Christ from the dead" (2LBC 10.2). Limited Atonement (Particular/Definite Redemption) Leviticus 16; John 3:16; Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; Acts 13:48 "From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect, and in the fullness of time Christ died for their sins and rose again for their justification. Nevertheless, they are not justified personally until the Holy Spirit actually applies Christ to them at the proper time" (2LBC 11.4). Like the offering for Israel in Leviticus 16:15 and 34), Jesus’ death is sufficient for all but is only applied and therefore effectual for the elect. Irresistible Grace John 6:37, 39, 44; Romans 8:30; Galatians 1:15; Philippians 2:12-13 "The gospel is the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and it is abundantly sufficient for that purpose. Yet to be born again, brought to life or regenerated, those who are dead in trespasses also must have an effectual, irresistible work of the Holy Spirit in every part of their souls to produce in them a new spiritual life. Without this no other means will bring about their conversion to God" (2LBC 20.4). Perseverance of the Saints John 6:66-71; 17:12; 10:28; Romans 8:38-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; 5:10; 1 John 2:19 "Those God has accepted in the Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect can neither totally nor finally fall from a state of grace. They will certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, because the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Therefore, he still brings about and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that lead to immortality. Even though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet these things will never be able to move the elect from the foundation and rock to which they are anchored by faith. The felt sight of the light and love of God may be clouded and obscured from them for a time through their unbelief and the temptations of Satan. Yet God is still the same; they will certainly be kept by the power of God for salvation, where they will enjoy their purchased possession. For they are engraved on the palms of his hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity" (2LBC 17.1). The Great Commission Evangelistic Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:6; Romans 10:13-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-5 In light of these first 4 doctrines, we can now go with greater boldness and confidence in our proclaiming of the gospel. This confidence does not come from man centered evangelism, but with an assurance that the gospel call will be heard and responded to. This makes God’s commands to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) and to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:6) a freedom and not a weight. We are called to be faithful, not to produces “results.” We believe both of these commands (proclaim and disciple) are still applicable for all believers today. Any theology that affirms God’s sovereignty and election can never be applied in contradiction to man’s responsibility to proclaim and to respond to the gospel message. Any theology that divorces election from evangelistic fervor is corrupt. Any teaching that opposes God’s sovereignty or man’s responsibility is anti-Christ. Therefore, we unashamedly and whole heartily participate in evangelism at home, in the community, and through evangelistic missionary work abroad. 1689 Second London Baptist Confession Confessional 2LBC The Church is built upon confession. First is the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Second is each believer’s confession of salvation. Without something to believe or confess the Church is nothing more than a social club or activity center. Reading the The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession provides a detailed explanation of our beliefs. Even though we have clear boundaries of doctrinal agreement, we still find ways to be charitable in areas of disagreement. Read the Original 1689 Second London Baptist Confession here. Read the Modern v ersion here. Bylaws 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation First Baptist Church of Fortuna, California First Baptist Church of Fortuna, California is a California nonprofit religious corporation, recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1). Article I Section 2 As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation we are obligated to have bylaws. These bylaws clarify the legal and certain theological responsibilities that we as a church have towards each other and those outside the church. However, the Bible supersedes any item contained within these bylaws. A copy of our bylaws will be made available upon request.

HELLO! If you're visiting for the first time you might fit into one of two groups. The first group is a local who is looking for a local chur ch. The second group is travelers. That is why one of our first questions often ask is, "are you a local or are you passing through?" But, no matter which group you find yourself in please know that we are honored that you are choosing to worship the Living God with us. We will do everything we can to care for you while you are with us. HOW DO I GET TO FBC? Beginning on Rohnerville Road and Newell Drive (across from Ray's Food Place) we have large A-frames with arrows directing you up the hill. There are four a-frames. There is a parking lot once you arrive. We will be on the right at 1976 Scenic Drive, Fortuna CA 95540 . WHAT TIME? We have Sunday School Classes for all ages at 9:45 AM (about 60 minutes). We have Corporate Worship Services at 11:00 AM (about 90 minutes). If you are a first-time guest you are probably visiting at one of these times. We usually start on time, but we still welcome those who might arrive late. WHERE DO I GO? We do our best to have a friendly person who will greet you as you arrive. The first place to go is the Sanctuary (the large brick building with the cross on top ). Here we have a resource area where you can get helpful information and a gift. The Two-Story building is where our classrooms are located. Just in case you can't find help or feel overwhelmed, there are maps located at the entrance of each building. WILL IT BE WEIRD? We hope not. At least not on purpose. We will not pressure you into giving us your information or doing anything that you are not comfortable doing. But that doesn't mean we won't try to make you feel welcome. We recognize that this may be your first time in a church building or that you may be dealing with heavy issues. So we want to care for you and not be a burden. WHAT ABOUT MY KIDS? It is our conviction that parents are the ones who are primarily responsible for evangelizing and discipling their children. Therefore, we endeavor to be a multi-generational and family-integrated church. That is why we encourage family members of all ages to join us to worship on Sunday mornings. Any age-specific class is always a supplement to what Dad and Mom are called to do at home. Worship, Bible Study, and other classes are places where children being present are not a problem but are encouraged to attend. This means we expect an appropriate amount of noise as Dad and Mom are training their children to participate in community life. Be encouraged, small children can learn to sit still and listen quietly (if taught how to do it!). We have a flyer at the resource table with more information about Families, Kids, and Worship . There is a nursery is available for children 0-2 (with a live feed of the service) and a Mother's room for nursing babies. WHERE IS THE RESTROOM? There are two restrooms at the entrance to the S anctuary (the large brick building with the cross on top ) and a restroom on each floor of the Two-Story building. THANK YOU! We have each been in the place you are. Looking to visit a new church for the first time. We understand that you may have a lot of questions and concerns. So we want to say thank you for choosing to trust us and join us. We look forward to meeting you! May God bless you as you seek to know him!

A Church on a Hill As you make your way to FBC Fortuna you’ll quickly discover that we truly are a church on a hill. While many churches can be found on major roadways, our church building is located on the top of a hill overlooking the Fortuna. When the weather is pleasant we can even see the ocean just past of Ferndale. This beautiful view comes with a unique driving experience. Directions (Follow the Signs) When heading North on Fortuna Blvd. Take a right onto Rohnerville Rd. at the bend. Then follow the signs up the hill. When heading East on Main St. take a left turn at the bend onto Rohnerville Rd. Then follow the signs up the hill. When Heading West on Rohnerville Rd. take a right onto Newel Dr. Then follow the signs up the hill. (Follow the Signs across from Ray’s Food Place) Once you have found the signs they will take you North onto Newel Dr. You will take your first left. This road will go up a hill and then have a switchback to the right. Going further you will come to a fork in the road. Go left onto Arnold Way. Going up this hill you will take your first left onto Scenic Dr. The church will be on your right. Two-Lots On approaching the church building there will be two parking lots. The first lot you come to has ADA parking spaces as well as visitor and senior parking spaces. This gravel lot is accessible all year long. Our second parking lot is past the church building and is a grass lot. At this time, this parking lot is limited to vehicles with 4-wheel drive during raining days. You can also access the Rohner Park Trail from this parking lot. Double Parking Due to limited parking, on some occasions you may be directed to double parking within our parking lots. In this case a parking lot greeter will direct you to the appropriate spot. In the event you are double parked you will need to be sure to move your vehicles immediately after the service. Again, a parking lot greeter will help direct you out of the parking lot. Street Parking Although there is limited street parking, all street parking should be left open. This will allow us to maintain a good reputation with our neighbors. Alternate Parking If at all possible please consider carpooling with others or even parking at Rohner Park and hiking the trail to come to church.

ELDER LED CONGREGATIONALISM What is Elder Led Congregationalism ? The New Testament is clear that the Church has one Chief Shepherd (Pastor) and that is Jesus Christ. Further, each local church is to submit to her Elders (Pastors) while each member is still responsible for the wellbeing of the church. This means that the Elders are to care for the Spiritual well being of the church while the Deacons assist the Elders with the physical needs of the church, and each Church Member is to carry out the work of the ministry. Head & Chief Shepherd Jesus is the head of the Church and the Chief Shepherd (Pastor). Under his authority will the church grow and be led. Lead Elder/ Pastor John Carter Serving as the Lead Elder, it is Pastor John's responsibility to Oversee the spiritual health of FBC Fortuna. His responsibility also includes overseeing the preaching and teaching, as well as the vision of FBC Fortuna. You can learn more about Pastor John by going to musicatheologica.com. Elder/ Pastor Steven Fetters Serving as an Elder, it is Pastor Steven's responsibility to Oversee the spiritual health of FBC Fortuna. In addition to pastoral care he is also responsible for evangelism, Sunday School, and communication. Deacon of Worship Services & Communications Ben De Leon To allow the Elder's to remain focused on the ministry of the word and prayer, the worship services deacon serves by helping to manage the administrative needs of the Sunday Morning Worship Services. If you would like to help serve in this area, please contact the worship services deacon. Deacon of Facilities Luke Piehl To allow the Elder's to remain focused on the ministry of the word and prayer, Luke serves by helping to manage the facilities. If you would like to assist in caring for the building (cleaning, upkeep, repairs, gardening), please contact Luke. FBC Church Member Every church member is responsible for the health and future of our church. This means no church member can sit back and 'let the professionals' do their job. The Elder's equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Consider this, every book in the New Testament is written to churches, not just Elders. Elder/ Pastor Jon Szabo Serving as an Elder, it is Pastor Jon's responsibility to Oversee the spiritual health of FBC Fortuna. He is responsible for teaching and overseeing pastoral care of the church. Deacon of Finances & Benevolence Vince Braigia To allow the Elders to remain focused on the ministry of the word and prayer, Vince serves (deacons) by helping to manage the finances of FBC Fortuna. Deacon of Evangelism & Benevolence Gabe Cruz To allow the Elder's to remain focused on the ministry of the word and prayer, Gabe serves by helping to lead out opportunities for evangelism, the greeters, and benevolence requests. If you would like to assist in serving, please contact Gabe.

Preaching The primary way every believer is discipled is though the weekly expository preaching of the Bible. Preaching is the means by which God saves sinners and sanctifies saints. This is why discipleship will be greatly impacted by the amount of time spent under the faithful preaching of the word of God. Sermons Community Groups With members from all over the Humboldt County we have established small groups to help minister to each other throughout the week. The purpose of these small groups is to encourage regular fellowship, discipleship, and one-another ministry among the members spread throughout Humboldt County. Further, it is more likely that a person will thrive and last longer in church if he or she is participating regularly in a small group. Community Groups Sunday School Our Sunday School program is designed to teach the entire Bible in 3-year cycles. Each class is age-appropriate and is studying the same lesson. By having all classes learn the same lesson parents are better equipped to continue evangelizing and discipling their children. As mentioned previously, it is more likely that a person will thrive and last longer in church if he or she is participating regularly in a small group like these. Our children’s classes are taught by teachers who love Jesus and love their students. Any adult working with a minor is required to fill out an application and pass a background check. Although the other classes are designed to survey the Bible the youth class (7th-12th) works through the Christian Ministry Training on a three-year cycle. More about Kids Prayer Meetings 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Sundays @ 5:30 PM Prayer is a cri tical part o f the Christian walk. Without prayer we are trying to walk by the flesh and not by the Holy Spirit. Therefore we set aside time specifically for the purpose of praying. Christian Ministry Training (CMT) At some point every disciple must transition from being discipled to making disciples. The CMT modules are an excellent way to prepare for this. These 13-week modules are a brief survey of the fundamentals of the Christian life and faith. They are meant to provide every member with basic information needed to grow and disciple others in the faith. Although everybody is encouraged to attend participation is required for all teachers or ministry leaders. CMT is available for youth and adults during Sunday School. CMT Classes Parathou Parathou has two types of men in mind. First and foremost, Parthou has churchmen in mind. Men who desire to pour into the church; men who are prepared to be equipped to serve God and serve his people. Secondly, Parthou is designed for men who aspire to the office of Elder/Overseer. It must be clearly stated, participation in Parathou is not a guarantee or promise that you will become an Elder. However, it is designed to lead men in that direction.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY TRAINNING During the Sunday School Hour These 10 six-session classes are designed to equip believers with the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Although everybody is encouraged to attend any who are interested in teaching or serving in certain ministry roles at FBC Fortuna are required to participate in all ten classes. The classes cover the following topics: What is a Healthy Church? , Biblical Inter pretation , Missions & Evangelism , Basic Theology I & II , Apologetics, Old Testament Survey , New Testament Survey , Church History , and Spiritual Disciplines. Healthy Church CMT 01 What is a church and how can you tell if it is healthy? This class will look at some basic marks of a healthy church. Missions & Evangelism CMT 03 The last command Jesus gave on the earth was to make disciple of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). So, what does that look like? This class will look at what the Bible teaches about telling all people about the gospel of Jesus Christ and some practical ways to do it. Christian Apologetics CMT 06 Christians are called to both know and defend the faith. This class will look at some different ways for believers to defend their faith as well as some ways to engage opposing beliefs and worldviews. New Testament Survey CMT 08 The New Testament contains the Apostles teachings that have been handed down for the church to know and believe. This class will provide a survey of those teaching, also known as the New Testament. Spiritual Disciplines CMT 10 The Christian is not just called to believe; he is also called to obey. This class will provide some needed spiritual disciplines to help the Christian grow in both knowledge and obedience to the Lord. Biblical Interpretation CMT 02 The Bible is meant to be read and understood. But sometimes reading the Bible can seem too hard to understand. This class will provide some basic tools to understand how to read and interpret the Bible. Basic Theology I & II CMT 04 - 05 Using the 1689 Baptist Confession and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 this class will look at basic doctrines of the Christian Faith. Old Testament Survey CMT 07 Is the Old Testament important or even interesting? Yes! This class will provide a survey of the Old Testament while demonstrating how it important to the believer today. Church History Survey CMT 09 Many Christians are familiar with the Bible, but too few know what has happened in the last 2000 year of Church History. This Church History survey will highlight some significant moments from church history and how the Christian message has spread across the world.

SERMONS The church is a gathering of believers. That is why it is our strong conviction that these sermon recordings must never replace participation in the local church. The purpose of making these sermons available is for the following reasons. For those who were sick or otherwise unable to attend corporate worship. For those looking for a church and desiring to hear samples of the preaching before attending. For those looking to supplement their current Bible Study and private devotions. There may be other meaningful reasons to listen to these sermons, but never let those reasons replace the command to gather regularly with the body under the preaching of the word of God. For more sermons and writings by Pastor John please visit MusicaTheologica.com Also on Spotify: Musica Theologica Youtube: FBC Fortuna Audio Video FBC Fortuna Play Video Play Video 41:37 Acts 15:6-11 (Part 2) | The Jerusalem Council (Part 2) | Peter's Argument March 16, 2025 - Steven Fetters - Sunday Evening Service More about First Baptist Church of Fortuna: fbcfortuna.com More Teaching by John Carter musicatheologica.com Play Video Play Video 53:20 Genesis 24:10-28 | Abrahams Servant Looks for a Wife for Isaac March 16, 2025 - John Carter More about First Baptist Church of Fortuna: fbcfortuna.com More Teaching by John Carter musicatheologica.com Play Video Play Video 44:33 Acts 15:1-5 (Part 1) | The Jerusalem Council (Part 1) The Problem March 9, 2025 - John Carter More about First Baptist Church of Fortuna: fbcfortuna.com More Teaching by John Carter musicatheologica.com Play Video Play Video 48:01 Genesis 24:1-9 | Abraham Servant Vows to Find a Wife for Isaac March 9, 2025 - John Carter More about First Baptist Church of Fortuna: fbcfortuna.com More Teaching by John Carter musicatheologica.com Play Video Play Video 00:15 2025 Sound Doctrine Conference fbcfortuna.com/sounddoctrine Play Video Play Video 00:16 Creeds and Confessions Sound Doctrine Conference April 25 26, 2025 Learn more and register by going to www.fbcfortuna.com/sounddoctrine April 25-26, 2025 Play Video Play Video 50:32 James 3:1-12 | Power Over The Tongue March 2, 2025 - Steven Fetters More about First Baptist Church of Fortuna: fbcfortuna.com More Teaching by John Carter musicatheologica.com Play Video Play Video 33:04 Acts 14:24-28 | Paul and Barnabas Returns to Antioch February 23, 2025 - Michael Murphy - Sunday Evening Service More about First Baptist Church of Fortuna: fbcfortuna.com More Teaching by John Carter musicatheologica.com

FBC Confession We are a community of believers, united in Christ, who are devoted to proclaiming and obeying the word of God. Covenant Community We are not a loosely affiliated group of believers. Rather, we are a community of believers who renew our covenant together every month. We do this to remember that we are devoted to one another. The Bible teaches that Church Membership is not something to be taken lightly. Therefore, our church members covenant together to live towards one another in a particular way. Our covenant is not meant to be a list of do's and don'ts. Instead it is meant to outline what we mean when we say we that belong to FBC Fortuna. FBC Covenant Having, as we trust, been brought by divine grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with one another. Therefore, We are devoted to the apostle’s teachings’ and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. We are devoted to loving one another. We are devoted to joyfully serving one another. We are devoted to praying for one another. We are devoted to a humility that considers each other better than ourselves. We are devoted to greeting one another warmly and lovingly. We are devoted to encouraging one another. We are devoted to killing sin, in all forms, by embracing confession, repentance, and forgiveness. We are devoted to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching, and to singing. We are devoted to supporting those who are devoted to the ministry of word and prayer, and [we are devoted to supporting] the spread of the gospel. We are devoted to supporting those who are poor. We are devoted to discipling one another. Above all we are devoted to obeying the commands of Jesus Christ. If we are ever moved from this place, we are also devoted to uniting with some other church where we can continue in the spirit of this covenant. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. Corporate Worship Our times of corporate worship are centered on the exaltation of the Living God, through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. This includes preaching and teaching the word of God, singing, prayer, giving, baptism, communion (Lord’s Supper), and times of confession. Regular attendance to the Sunday morning gathering is integral to being a part of FBC Fortuna. All ages join together to worship. Small noises are a part of raising godly children. Find peace knowing we are pleased to have children with us to worship the living God. And pray diligently for those who are raising their children how to still their bottoms and their souls to hear the word of God. Learn More. Elder-led Congregationalism The New Testament teaches that Christ is the Head of the Church (the Chief Shepherd) and that every church is comprised of Believers who are to be equipped for the work of the ministry by Elders and the church is to be assisted by Deacons in various ministries. Our church government could be described as Elder-led congregationalism. Learn More. Men, Women, and The Image of God It is our belief that both male and female are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Therefore, both men and women reflect this image. However, it was Adam who was created first and woman who was created from Adam to be his helpmate. Therefore, we also believe in male headship. Meaning, men are inherently created and designed to lead from creation, not as a result of sin. This informs us that even though both men and women bear the image of God they are still inherently different (roles and forms). These differences should never be seen as deficiencies of being male or female. Rather, these differences should always be seen as complementing each other in life, singleness, marriage, family, and especially within the church. A man is most manly when he reflects the character of Christ (godliness). And a woman is most womanly when she reflects the church (godliness). Families, Children, and Singles (Unmarried) It is our conviction that parents are the ones primarily responsible for evangelizing and discipling their children. That is why we encourage family members of all ages to join us to worship together on Sunday mornings. Worship and other classes are places where children being present are not a problem but are encouraged to attend. This means we expect an appropriate level of distractions as Dad and Mom are discipl ing their children to participate in community life. Any age-specific activities are always a supplement to what Dad and Mom are called to do at home. Although we believe marriage is God’s normal order, we also believe that being single is not a second-class status in the body of Christ. This means that a single person (never married, widowed, or divorced) is just as valuable to the FBC Fortuna community as a married couple is. Further, we strive to lift up and support those households that may have experienced great loss or brokenness (divorce, single parent, guardianship, death). Young and Old, Jew and Gentile We love the young and the old. The Kingdom of God is represented by both youthful zeal and aged-tested wisdom. The older are called to teach the younger. While the younger are called to care for the older. We raise our young to respect and honor the aged and we expect our more seasoned saints to rejoice in the presence of the young. We love both Jew and Gentile. The Kingdom of Heaven will be represented by all tribes, tongues, nations, and peoples. The Jews were chosen. The Gentiles were welcomed. We treat all people as created in the image of God and we prioritize the culture of the Kingdom over any culture of this world. We do not cater to any age or other demographic. Instead, we care for all in obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. A Giving Church Sacrificial giving is part of being obedient to Jesus Christ. Being faithful stewards is not optional. Our church has an obligation to provide materially for those who labor in preaching and teaching, to support the needs of the poor among us, to care for those in need around us, and to give for the spread of the gospel. In our context we have also found that having a building assists us in our ministry endeavors. Therefore, we have the further responsibility of stewarding our building. For the FBC family, sacrificial giving and faithful stewardship includes regular giving for the support of our Elder(s), the support of FBC ministries, and the responsibilities of owning a building. It also includes spontaneous giving as God leads each of us to give sacrificially in our daily lives. Becoming a Member If you would like to become a member of FBC Fortuna please plan to attend am FBC Discovery Class. This six-week class is offered twice each year (Winter and Summer) at 9:45 AM on Sundays. If you would like to attend the next class please talk to an Elder.

CORPORATE WORSHIP Our times of corporate worship are centered on the exaltation of the Living God. This includes reading, preaching, and teaching of the word of God as well as prayer, singing, giving, baptism, communion (Lord’s Supper), and time of confession. We encourage family members of all ages to join us to worship together. Small noises are a part of raising godly children. So find peace knowing we are pleased to have children join us to worship the living God. Click here for previous sermons. THE CHURCH IS A GATHERING OF BELIEVERS The word translated as 'church' in the Bible is from the Greek word 'ecclesia' which means gathering . Therefore, we should understand the church fundamentally as a gathering of people. Worship is not what makes a church. Worship is a function of the church. What makes a church is the gathering of believers around the word of God in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that we do not primarily gather to worship, because worship is possible anywhere. Instead, we primarily gather so that we can worship God as a gathered body of believers. This is a activity that we cannot do individually. The minimum essential marks of a gathered body of believers, a church, is the preaching of the word of God, the administration of the ordinances (Communion and Baptism), and church discipline. So, whether we gather in a sanctuary, in a home, in a cave, or in a field, we gather to do together what we cannot do alone. MUSIC AND SINGING Music and sin ging is very significant to the FBC Fortuna family. That is why we love songs with beautiful melodies and rich theology. Concerts are good, but corporate worship is not to be confused with a concert. As we gather together to worship the living God we make it a priority to sing as an act of worship and encouragement for one another. That is why you will see that we leave the lights on and sing very loud. To help our church family sing loud and with thoughtfulness about the words we limit the amount of songs we sing each year. We also provide playlist to those song on YouTube and Spotify. As you join us in singing remember that singing is not the goal. The goal is will always remain to encourage one another and to bring praise and glory to the God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If you would like a physical copy of the songs we sing, or a Hymnal, please s ee a Music Leader. Songs We Sing (YouTube Playlists) YouTube 2025 YouTube 2024 YouTube 2 023 YouTube 2022 YouTube 2021 Songs We Si ng (Spotify Playlists) Spotify 2025 Spotify 2024 Spotify 2023 Spotify 2022 Spotify 2021 Spotify 2019