Formation

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Reverend Dr. James E. Hightower responded to the call to establish a New Testament Church. On November 2, 1994, our founding pastor and 104 faithful members formed Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, and following incorporation became Greater Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church (GEMBC). Alfonso Dawson Mortuary’s Elizabeth Chapel served as the temporary home until 2001. The foundation of the church was built on three guiding principles, it would be Bible-based, Christ-centered, and Holy Spirit-led. These guiding beliefs remain the cornerstone of the church today.

God’s Wonders

GEMBC has prospered for over 20 years through God’s blessings, resulting from the church’s continued focus on the “Word” of God, Christ as the “center” of the church and continuing to “walk by faith and not by sight.”

1994-1998

Eighteen (18) members provided $1.9 million in collateral ($600,000 was needed) for a new church home. The first outreach ministry was launched, Saints with a Testimony (SWAT), to impact communities by witnessing and winning souls for Christ; the first Missionary effort began with a $200 monthly donation to Feed the Hungry Ministry; the first three choirs were created: The Mass Choir, Male Chorus and Youth Choir; and using Proverbs 3:5-6 as a resource, the church purchased nine (9) acres of land for $200,000, paid for in cash. As construction began on the new church sanctuary, Pastor Hightower encouraged members to continue to “walk by faith and not by sight.”

1999-2001

The church officially broke ground where the pulpit now stands. On November 4, 2001, the great move into the present church at 4555 Campbellton Road occurred, a magnificent gift from God!

2002-2011

GEMBC embarked on nine (9) years of focused service and foreign missionary work:

Vacation Bible School was created (in 2005) for Greater Elizabeth and surrounding community youths and has continued with great success through 2014. The Task Force Ministry (in 2005) was established to serve as the guiding arm for the Hurricane Katrina Outreach Ministry and future needs. Other service ministries were formed to support GEMBC members and local communities, including the Transportation Ministry, a church bus was purchased and still currently serve the members; The Missionary Society has fed the less fortunate for 19 years at Thanksgiving, Christmas and other times during the year; this service is still ongoing. Ministers and Deacons of GEMBC started a Prison Outreach. GEMBC expanded into foreign ministry work (beginning in 2007) to include Caribbean outreach through Bluewater Bible College. A church donation purchased 1500 gallons of drinking water for the area. Christmas in Liberia for Orphans, an effort by members and friends of GEMBC, resulted in collecting over $11,000 to buy 40 pounds of rice and send a 40 foot container filled with utility items from mattresses and clothing to non-perishable items, bibles, and story books. The Missionary workers from GEMBC, partner churches and Carver Bible College served Africa through three missionary and teaching trips.

2012-2019

After the retirement of Pastor Hightower and through prayer, patience and faith, Reverend Rickey Jones, Sr. was called by God for pastoral consideration. Members joyfully responded by selecting him on March 24, 2012. Reverend Jones began as the under-shepherd on April 1, 2012, and was installed as the second Pastor on July 1, 2012. Pastor Jones led God’s flock by Romans 8:28, “And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” The first (2) years were spent gathering, rebuilding, restructuring and regenerating the church. Under new leadership, a Mission was established:

“each one, reach one, for the ONE…who died for all”

Additionally, an agreed upon Vision Statement was established:

“We are a multi-generational church that takes the holistic approach to impact the Community and the World for the Cause of Jesus Christ.” ~Ephesians 3: 14-15, III John 1:2, Matthew 28: 19-20

The following auxiliaries and ministries actively serve members and the community: Added Members Discipleship, Christian Education, Courtesy Guild, Deacon Board, Deaconess, Golden Ages, Health Care, Men of Faith, Missionary Society, Mothers Board, Music & Worship Arts, Pastor’s Aide, Sunday School, Technology and Audio Visual, Transportation, Usher Board, Vacation Bible School, Wedding, and Youth & Young Adult (YYAM). Through the Women’s Ministry, GEMBC adopted the Cascade House (a transitional house for displaced families) and has established an Annual Christmas Toy Drive for members and the community. GEMBC actively participates in Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness activities each October. Additionally, in 2018, a weekly Intercessory Prayer Call was implemented to pray for our church and churches everywhere, our community and schools, our state and country, and the entire world. The call (770.672.5292) is open to everyone and is held each Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m.

In March 2019, Reverend Jones decided to resign to focus on his health and healing.  GEMBC continues to pray for Reverend Jones and his entire family.  We know God to be Jehovah Rophe, the Lord who heals.

2019-2020

With the departure of Reverend Jones, members immediately went into individual and corporate prayer for a new pastor endeavoring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace (Ephesians 4:3). Led by faith, a pastoral search committee opened the Call for Applications on August 1, 2019. The Lord sent Reverend Matthew Jenkins for pastoral consideration. On March 21, 2020, members elected Reverend Matthew Jenkins with open arms as its new pastor. Pastor Jenkins began his journey with GEMBC on April 1, 2020. It was during this same time, the world was in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and citizens of many states, including Georgia, were being ordered to shelter-in-place by state and local governments. Social (physical) distancing – maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet – was/is strictly enforced to reduce the spread of the virus. To care for the physical and spiritual health of its members and the community and ensure the Good News would continue to be shared, Pastor Jenkins and the church swiftly shifted Worship service and evening Bible Study to its new CyberSanctuary Livestream on the church website and Facebook. Sunday School became on-demand The Word in Class and was prerecorded by a teacher weekly and posted on the website each Friday.

At a time when people needed to hear messages of hope, God gave Pastor Jenkins a message from Matthew 14:23. It is no surprise that his first sermon would be on Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020, and live streamed for the world to hear. This would be the beginning of a sermon series entitled “Social Distancing as a Spiritual Discipline.”

We invite you to join us in our journey as we (1) Glorify the Lord, (2) Grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ, and (3) Gain the Lost.