On Sunday, June 26, disciples from congregations around Atlanta gathered near Stone Mountain to worship God. Members of the Athens, AcoCG, Bridge Pointe, Cornerstone, North River, The Path and Northview churches took part in the service. Together we sang, prayed, and read from the Word of God (with a portion of each in Spanish).
Dr. Ben Barnett (Bridge Pointe) led us in communion, focusing our attention on Jesus’ meeting with two disciples on the road to the town of Emmaeus after His resurrection (Luke 24:13-35). Ben drew parallels between their walk with Jesus and ours, encouraging us to continue our journey of faith with him all the way to heaven. He closed by saying, “We already know where we’re going—we already know the destination. And since we know the destination, all we gotta do is enjoy the ride!”
This special event drew brothers and sisters from all over the Atlanta metropolitan area and beyond, including a group of singles who came down from Columbia, SC to be part of it. I talked with a broad cross-section of those present, and the consensus of opinion was entirely positive: everyone I spoke with was grateful for all the planning and work that went into it, and was so glad to be there!
Dr. Mark Ottenweller said, “It is amazing to see what God has done all over Atlanta. So many young Christians had never seen disciples from all over Atlanta. They didn't know there were so many disciples. It's great to see so many disciples that are still making disciples as well. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Walk-a-thon on October 8th as well. It's exciting to be a disciple in Atlanta!”
Afterward, food trucks waiting outside offered a delicious variety of options, and those who still had room could order custom-mixed ice cream for dessert. Lines were long, but the richness of the fellowship helped make the wait less painful.
Considering it’s been over 10 years since these congregations have met together on any regular basis, and that each has developed different practices and styles over that time, plans for this citywide service could only be made with great care. The representatives of each congregation brought to the table their sensitivity, consideration, love for God and his church, and desire for unity. The result? A worship service that displayed devotion “to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42), with plenty of diversity and enthusiasm! Steve Collier, the AcoCG elder who served on the organizing committee, said, “The Holy Spirit made this event happen. I was overjoyed to worship with disciples from all around Atlanta and beyond. Exceeded all my expectations.”
This combined service stands as a significant milestone, and we hope there will be more to come!
Shared by the Atlanta Church of Christ in Gwinnett