Our Mission
Our mission is centered on Christ, and focused on the church, which He has instituted for the proclamation of the gospel and the conversion of the world. This is not a social service enterprise as such. Rather, our primary concern is spiritual in nature, as we call men, women, and children to faith in Jesus Christ.
Our Vision
We desire to see the transforming of individuals, families, institutions, and societies under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and for his glory. Our particular focus in Atlanta at this time is the English Avenue neighborhood – one of the roughest in the country, known for its heroin dealing and prostitution. Out of compassion for people living there, and motivated by love for our Savior, we minister with the goal of seeing a Bible-believing witness raised up there – one which fully embraces the teachings of the Protestant Reformation.
The Opportunity
The English Avenue area has long been depressed. However, given its close proximity to midtown Atlanta and to numerous landmarks, it has great potential. Where we minister is about a mile from the Georgia Dome and Georgia World Congress Center; just over a mile and a quarter from the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola; about a mile and a half from Philips Arena and the CNN Center and the Centennial Olympic Park. It is about a mile from Georgia Tech; and less than two miles from historic black colleges. In many ways, this area, with what are million dollar views of the Midtown skyline, is prime real estate – or certainly could become such very quickly. This is especially the case because of the proposed projects, such a a new Georgia Dome, a new intermodal transportation center, a new civil rights museum, and the College Football Hall of Fame, along with the revitalization of Northside Drive, which runs along the eastern edge of the English Avenue neighborhood.
Already, the English Avenue area is changing economically. Full-blown gentrification is likely soon to follow. When it occurs, gentrification will carry its own set of challenges. One of them has to do with whether the low-income folk to whom we are presently ministering will be forced out. We do not believe that that necessarily will happen. The city’s plan for the neighborhood is not for high-priced housing, but for modestly-priced housing. What we envision happening is more along the lines of a largely black, middle-class community, with lower to lower-middle class housing still existing. In any event, our intention is to minister in that neighborhood – an area which is very close to the heart of a vibrant, world-class city – and it therefore makes sense to be in on the ground floor, so to speak.
The Dream
We have a dream. It is that of people of all backgrounds and ethnicities coming together and offering up praise and worship in accordance with the Word of God. It is that of blacks and whites and Hispanics and every tribe and race jointly rejoicing in the freedom of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is that of the establishment of a community of faith, in the shadow of Atlanta’s skyscrapers, that reflects the doctrine and practice of the Reformation.
So that this dream become a reality, we want to see a Reformed Presbyterian congregation occupying its own building in the heart of this community. Whatever location that may be, we believe that it is important to have a substantial physical presence in the English Avenue area.
We also dream not only about the church, but also about the broader kingdom coming to expression in the English Avenue area. We envision auxiliary institutions, such as a parochial school, taking place there.