MINISTRIES Home / Ministries Ministries We have all kinds of active ministries that seek to equip people to do the work of God’s Kingdom. There are numerous groups where people can connect, grow, and be equipped for the work of God’s Kingdom. On Sunday mornings we have Sunday school. On Wednesday nights we have numerous classes and small groups that meet in our church, and throughout the week we have various Bible studies that meet for every age and stage in our church and around the city. If you want to learn what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus and how you can use your gifts for His Kingdom, join us on the journey by getting involved in one our various ministries. 1/6 MINISTRIES Adults Care College Age First Pres Kids Library/Resources Missions Music Studies and Groups Youth Columbarium OTHER INTERESTS Studies and Groups Worship Grow Connect Serve

OUR HISTORY Home / About / Our History Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination Originally, the church was founded by Rev. A.W. Rodgers and 13 charter members as a congregation affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. It was known at its inception as the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Amarillo. One of the church’s first deacons, Mr. W. F. Heller, was the builder of the first dugout home in Randall County. Fillmore Street Presbyterian Church The church met in Amarillo’s first schoolhouse until 1892, when members erected a building on a corner lot at 620 Fillmore, at which time it became popularly known as Fillmore Street Presbyterian Church. (By this time, Amarillo had another “First Presbyterian Church,” which was a member of the Southern Presbyterian denomination. That church eventually was renamed Covenant Presbyterian Church and is located at 1400 Wolflin.) Central Presbyterian Church In 1906, the church installed the first pipe organ owned by any church in Amarillo. In 1909, upon making plans to construct a new red brick building at 10th & Taylor streets, the church renamed itself “Central Presbyterian Church.” The church moved into the new building in June of 1910 with 191 people on its education rolls. Our Present Location In 1927, Central Presbyterian Church secured land at 11th & Harrison streets, then began construction of a 15th century English gothic revival style building—complete with flying buttresses and antique glass sanctuary windows. The first services there were held on Easter, April 17, 1927. First Presbyterian Church In March of 1943, Central Presbyterian Church changed its name to First Presbyterian Church. In 1983, First Pres joined the Presbyterian Church, USA (PCUSA) denomination. Prominent Pastors Prominent pastors over the years have included Rev. R. Thomsen (1910–1945), Rev. Robert Skinner (1954-1963), Rev. James Carroll (1964–1984), Rev. Alan John Meenan (1989–1997), Rev. Jim Bankhead (1999–2010), and Rev. Dr. Howard Griffin (2011-Present). The church has been a fixture in downtown Amarillo since first organizing on September 28, 1890. ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians In October of 2013, our church voted by a vote of 438:16 to join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. With 96% of people in attendance voting to join ECO, we are excited to see what the Lord has in store as we join this new movement of God. ABOUT Becoming a Member Contact & News ECO Employment FAQs Mission Statement & Beliefs Our People Our Pipe Organ What We're About First Pres Amarillo App WORSHIP | GROW | CONNECT | SERVE

SEE US IN ACTION What Does it Look Like? Home / Ministries / Missions Murray's House Right on 6th street in the heart of the San Jacinto neighborhood sits First Pres's newest service endeavor. It is a hub of service for individuals, small groups, and the church as a whole. Examples of Service Outside of the Church Our Deacons helped a widow in need by weather-proofing and painting windows, pulling weeds, and tearing down and rebuilding a fence. These First Pres members met in the San Jacinto neighborhood one Saturday morning for a trash clean up day. Several members also walked the neighborhood to pray for the people who live there. This group went on a mission trip to Colorado Springs and served at Marion House. A First Pres team went to Houston to help clean up and rebuild after a hurricane. First Pres volunteers helped remodel the Downtown Women's Center Gratitude Apartments. These sweet ladies are making teacher appreciation gifts for the teachers at San Jacinto elementary school. MISSIONS LOCAL SUPPORT SERVE NOW OTHER INTERESTS Studies and Groups Worship Grow Connect Serve Our Compassionate Chefs group makes and freezes meals that will be given to those in need due to sickness or other difficult situations. This hardworking group traveled to Tulsa to help build a Habitat for Humanity house. Examples of Service Inside of the Church Our volunteers make a huge impact as they help lay a foundation of God's truth in Sunday school, Wednesday Night programming, VBS, and more. There are many ways to serve in Children's Ministry. Our Tech Team is a growing ministry that helps with our live-streaming, projecting lyrics, running cameras, and our social media and Youtube presence. Many of our members use their gifts to support ministry here. Everything from photography, to playing music, to cleaning and organizing, to horticulture and decorating is all used to help our building be operational and to allow ministry to happen here. First Pres' Deacons bagged a little love for the whole church to share with individuals in Amarillo without shelter. 150 baggies filled with socks, chapstick, crackers, masks, and more were distributed. Easy Service Project Ideas

Home / About / Our People / Staff STAFF Home / About / Our People / Staff / Cara Hunt Director of Communications and Production Cara Dyas is the Director of Communications & Production at First Pres. She's been on staff since May of 2012. Cara earned a Bachelors Degree in English and a Master of Arts Degree with an emphasis in English and Communications from WTAMU. She has been in church communications and production for over 15 years and enjoys helping ministries effectively communicate their messages in creative and relevant ways. Her favorite author is C.S. Lewis, and her favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17. Cara loves the heart of the people at First Pres, the sound theology, and the rich worship experiences. She has two amazing grown children, Camryn and Bryson, and too many animals to list! carad@firstpres.com (806) 373-4242

LIBRARY/RESOURCES Home / Ministries / Library/Resources 1/6 The First Presbyterian Library strives to provide materials and programs that encourage the study of God's Word and the growth of each person's relationship with God. No more buying a book at the Christian book store, only to realize later that our library had the book you could have borrowed. Click here to search our entire inventory. Hours of Operation Open daily, whenever the church is open. Volunteers are available for assistance on Sunday mornings. Checkout policies Materials may be checked out at any time that the library is open by signing your name and leaving the checkout card on the librarian's desk. We have a variety of resources to select from, including books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines in the following areas: Bibles Reference (Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries, concordances) Christianity, Theology, Understanding Scripture Apologetics Prayer Christian Living Divorce Grief Marriage, Family and Parenting Fiction Biography Holiday (including Lent/Easter, Advent/Christmas) Materials for small group study Movies Audio Books Audio Sermons Children's Collection (books, CDs, DVDs) MINISTRIES Adults Care College Age First Pres Kids Library/Resources Missions Music Studies and Groups Youth Columbarium OTHER INTERESTS Studies and Groups Worship Grow Connect Serve

COMING EVENTS Home / Coming Events

CIRCLE OF SERVICE Home / Ministries / Missions Three Circles of Service within Local Missions whole church The first circle spreads wide and far. It involves the entire church working in the larger Amarillo community in citywide missions, All of our church serving in events like our Saturdays of Service. Where we, as a church go all over Amarillo to serve and show the love of Christ. In the past, we have been at the church making teacher gifts for San Jacinto’s and Opportunity School’s teachers, at Heal the City cleaning, at Colorful Closets organizing, and even tearing down a building. We also join with other churches for our 4Amarillo Mission. In the past, we have assisted at Square Mile’s Urban Farms in the mornings, co-hosted Vacation Bible School in afternoons at Margaret Wills and another VBS in the evenings at San Jacinto. We also serve and disperse by making bags for shelterless individuals throughout our community and much, much more. We are a large body of believers spreading the love of Christ all over town. small group Then the second circle: the importance is the same, but the focus narrows into small groups and smaller projects: For example, the Women's Class hosted a moment for mom’s for San Jacinto’s pre-k kids, the B-12 class has served at Faith City Mission, the Parlor Sunday School Class has served at the High Plains Food Bank, the Berean Class worked on the cleaning the grounds of the church and the Kaleidoscope class has served kids at Opportunity School. A smaller group of members, building community among themselves and demonstrating our church cares by supporting smaller local organizations and serving in smaller group projects like these: Small-Group Projects individual Finally, the third circle, just as important as the other two, but more laser-like in focus. In this circle, church members serve as family units or individuals. Here are some ideas for you or your family to serve: bring your neighbor’s kids with yours to our Vacation Bible School attend a Future Leaders Lunch Club at San Jacinto and play connect four Work at Square Mile’s urban farm and visit with neighbors as they walk by take flowers to a shut-in take a meal to the family with the new baby make teacher appreciation gifts with San Jacinto moms play rock, paper scissors with a Sam Houston Middle schoolers at WyldLife read to a child at Opportunity School. This is the level where relationships are formed and Jesus can be shared. Where love takes on flesh and walks with people. Murray's House Right on 6th street in the heart of the San Jacinto neighborhood sits First Pres's newest service endeavor. It is soon to be a hub of service for individuals, small groups, and the church as a whole. Stay tuned for all the amazing things to come! Small-Group Service - Deacon Day Two Saturdays were spent serving a widow in need. The Deacons weatherproofed and painted windows, pulled weeds, tore down a dilapidated fence and replaced it with a brand new one. MISSIONS LOCAL SUPPORT SERVE NOW OTHER INTERESTS Studies and Groups Worship Grow Connect Serve Whole Church Service First Pres' deacons bagged a little love for the whole church to share with individuals in Amarillo without shelter this winter. 150 baggies filled with socks, chapstick, crackers, masks, and more were distributed.

FEATURED MISSIONARY Home / Ministries / Missions Worship Grow Connect Meet this month's Featured missionaries Amanda and Michael Torres – Fayetteville Arkansas Navigator Staff at University of Arkansas Serve LOCAL SUPPORT US & WORLD SUPPORT SERVE NOW God gripped our hearts and changed our lives as college students. Both of us started following Jesus in high school, but during Amanda’s time at West Texas A&M and Michael’s time at Texas A&M, God used people in The Navigators to help us see how we can know God deeply, walk with Him sincerely, and be used by Him to bring Him glory and bring people into His kingdom. Through Life-to-Life discipleship, people came alongside both of us to help us grow in our relationship with Jesus and live out His Commission to make disciples of all nations. Knowing we could live this kind of life, as well as see others who actually are living it out, made a huge impact on us! With the desire to give ourselves to this ministry we joined The Navigators staff after graduation in order to continue coming alongside college students to help them know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same. After serving several years on staff at Texas A&M, we got married, and in 2015 we moved from Texas A&M to serve at the University of Texas at Austin. After serving for six years at UT, we were invited to join The Navigators work at the University of Arkansas where the mission remains the same: to help college students know Jesus and equip them to do the same with others. Amanda was introduced to First Presbyterian Church by Bruce and Rosie Das and had the privilege to intern for A&O her last semester at WTAMU. Throughout her internship and since being on staff with The Navigators, we have felt incredibly cared for by the First Pres congregation. Thank you for your generous support, enduring prayers and encouragement for over a decade! We are so grateful for you!

MIDDLE SCHOOL Home / Ministries / Youth / Middle School AΩ Middle School Sundays Sunday mornings, Middle school will meet in the AΩ house at 9:45 a.m. Wednesdays Middle School AΩ | 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays | In the AΩ House. Connect with Us Check out our Instagram to follow our event announcements! Forms Need a First Pres Release Form or a Discipline Agreement Form ? Click on the form you need now! Volunteering with AΩ or going on a trip with us as a leader? Here's the Background Check Authorization . Questions? Contact Breanna for any questions! Sign Up for Our Monthly Parent Emails! Fill out this form to receive our monthly parent resource email and other important info. YOUTH Middle School High School OTHER INTERESTS Studies and Groups Worship Grow Connect Serve

Home / About / Our People / Staff STAFF Home / About / Our People / Staff / Brady Clark Director of Urban Missions bradyc@firstpres.com (806) 373-4242

OUR PEOPLE Home / About / Our People If you need to talk to someone, we want you to be able to find them quickly and easily. In this section, you can find staff, elders, deacons, and committee members and moderators. If you still can't find the person you're looking for, please call the church office at 806.373.4242. We're here to help you. ABOUT Deacons Elders Staff Who's Who Trustees

Home / About / Our People / Staff STAFF Home / About / Our People / Staff / Jaci Hopkins Youth Associate Jaci Hopkins serves as an Associate Director of Youth at First Pres. Jaci graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelors Degree in Biology with a minor in Religion. She is very grateful to get to be on staff at First Pres and to get to work with the awesome youth. A couple of her favorite verses are Jeremiah 9:23-24 and Matthew 20:26-28. jacih@firstpres.com