The First Baptist Church is located at the intersection of Bellefield Ave. and Bayard St. in the Oakland area less than two miles east of downtown Pittsburgh, if you could travel in a straight line. See the map of the church in Oakland for details.
The following directions are for strangers coming into Pittsburgh on the interstates.
Simply stated instructions for coming in from the North on I79 would be to exit on I279 and follow it across the Veterans Bridge following the signs for the Mellon Arena, then for Bigelow Blvd. Follow Bigelow Blvd until it makes a right angle right turn at a light, and the church parking lot is then directly ahead.
More verbose directions follow:
I79 bypasses Pittsburgh. From the North take the I279 exit and follow I279 south. As you come into the city take the right lane. The right lanes become I579. Continue straight ahead on I579 across the Veteran's Bridge following signs for the Mellon Arena. An entering lane on the bridge will make your lane the second from the right. Remain in your lane. At the end of the bridge take the first exit - Mellon Arena, Sixth Ave, and Seventh Ave. Both right lanes exit. Another lane will enter from the left making three lanes. You will want to quickly get over into this left lane for the turn toward the Mellon Arena and Bigelow Blvd. Take the first left to the traffic light. At that light turn left and take the second lane from the left. At the next light turn left and then take the ramp uphill to the right for Bigelow Boulevard. Follow it until it reaches a stop light requiring a 90 degree turn. The church parking lot is then ahead to the left. See the map above for the shape of Bigelow Blvd.
Take I376 into the city. Take the second exit after the Squirrel Hill tunnel, the Bates St./Oakland exit. Go up Bates St. and continue straight ahead until the end of Bates St. Turn left on Bouquet St. Go to the first light and turn right on Forbes St. Continue to the second light, at the far corner of the Pitt Cathedral of Learning block, (the end of the one way section of Forbes). Turn left on S. Bellefield. The church is at the second light on Bellefield.
Again I79 is the interstate. Take the I279 exit toward Pittsburgh. Follow I279 through the Fort Pitt tunnel and across the bridge. Immediately at the Pittsburgh end of the bridge take the first exit, turning right on to I376. Take the first exit to the right, the Oakland exit. This will put you on Forbes St. It is about ten blocks to S. Bellefield, at the far corner of the Pitt Cathedral of Learning bloc, (the end of the one way section of Forbes). Turn left on S. Bellefield. The church is at the second light on Bellefield.
Come in on I279 and follow the directions above.