This is a brief bio of the churches and pastors I have begun to connect within the Athens area. I have also connected with others outside this area, but my primary focus is Athens so I have not included them here. Out of the some 300 churches/ministries in the Athens area, these are the ones that seem to be having the largest impact. Obviously I am sure I have missed many others that could and should be included. I have provided their websites if you want to dig in a bit more. Please pray for these men and their churches.
Athens Church
Sean Seay
http://www.athenschurch.com/
Athens Church is a strategic partner with North Point (Andy Stanley). Sean started this work five years ago. They are currently meeting at the Classic Center, downtown Athens, with two services on Sundays ministering to some 2,000 folks. They have begun the process of refitting a complex just outside the city loop. Their campaign is called “Athens, I Love You.” They hope to move into their new place sometime in 2011. About half of the congregation is made up of UGA students. Their services are very sharp, rivaling anything the world might put together, often utilizing a video feed from North Point for the message part of the gathering. “Invest & invite” is their strategy for the simple model of ministry that comprises Sunday gatherings and groups (of which about 1,000 are involved in groups).
Athens Vineyard Church
Kyle Wise
http://www.athensvineyard.com/
They began just over 10 years ago. Their venue is located near the university, they are a community experiencing, expressing and extending the life God gives through Jesus. Kyle sees his calling is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry”. Their worship is intimate in style and heart. Kyle’s teaching is down to earth, though deep and very effective. They have recently retooled around being an oikos centered church. These are the 8 to 15 people that God has strategically placed around us. They have called their oikos “Life Posts”. Their anthem… “Have you prayed for your Life Post today?”
Christ Community Church
Matt Adair
http://www.c2pca.org/
Replanted Christ Community Church in 2004 (originally started in 1989). About 50% of the congregation is comprised of students and the rest come from suburbia. A huge focus is on leadership development. Matt is a coach of some 17 church planters in North Georgia.
Classic City Church
Lee Mason
http://www.classiccity.org/
Lee started Classic City Church 2 years ago. They are currently meeting at Morton Theater which holds 500 and have outgrown it. They are searching for a new home for their Sunday gatherings. They are also looking for a place for weekday ministries and their offices are near or in the downtown area of Athens. Roughly 70% of Classic City Church is comprised of students from UGA. I have had the privilege of meeting with and prayer walking with Lee several times already.
Compass Church
Jim Carpenter
http://www.compasschurch.com/
Jim started Compass Church ten years ago. Their mission is to connect with people and lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Their worship is very contemporary. They desire folks to meet with God in the Sunday gathering and then journey with others in a connection group during the week, all while connecting with others who don’t know Jesus and inviting them to the Sunday gathering.
Cornerstone Church of God
Scott Sheppard
http://www.cornerstoneathens.cc/
Scott took over the senior pastor role ten years ago when his father was called overseas sooner than expected to an assignment that became open. The Lord spoke to Scott about building a multi-cultural church that reflects the city. First thing he did was hire Lance, an African American from New Jersey to be the worship pastor. They have been very effective at impacting the community. Every Sunday they feed 75-100 folks after their services. They hope to soon begin a building project on property they purchased in 2007 some 2.2 miles down the road. They even have a Spanish speaking congregation.
Crossway Fellowship Church
Paul Cooke
http://www.crosswayathens.org/
A part of the Sovereign Grace movement, Paul started Crossway the Sunday after September 11, 2001. He wants Crossway to become as diversified as the city we live in! They choose to meet in a local school inside the city loop. Their congregation is very diverse. The Sunday we went the family sitting in front of us was from El Salvador.
Grace Fellowship Church
Tony Vismor
http://www.graceathens.com/
Tony has been at Grace for 7 years, coming after three pastors in a four year history. They have seen much growth since then. Grace is a part of the Church of God denomination. Their catch cry is “Empowering for life and ministry through Christ.” Grace has two morning services each Sunday with a majority of their weekly groups occurring then.
Life Church of Athens
Tim Vaughn
http://www.lifechurchofathens.com/
Tim started Life Church in 2006. Though a Baptist Church most of the congregation is from a non-Baptist background. Their mission is to “help people discover the abundant life in Jesus.” The primary age grouping is 25-35. Their desire is that Life Church look like Athens, reflecting its brokenness, poor, ethnic music and art. They want to reach out into the some 600 various bands in the Athens area and have just brought Josh onto staff to focus on that. Currently they are working out a strategic partnership with another church that will release the resources they need to do what God has called them to do.
Watkinsville First Baptist Church
Carlos Sibley
http://www.watfbc.org/
Carlos came here in 2000, but it took three years before there was any sort of momentum. Each Sunday they meet in two huge rooms (the main auditorium and gym) with live worship in each and a live video feed from one into the other. They have a majority of their small groups on Sunday morning. They are a sending church seeing the university students are only there for a few short years before they head off to various parts of the USA and world to live for Jesus.
Thanks for joining us on this journey. Please pray that God would continue to open doors and grant me the grace to establish strategic relationships here in Athens.
Bless you heaps!
Steve Smith
21 June 2010
