Just The Facts
Zion Baptist Church
165 Lemon Street
Marietta, Georgia 30060
(770) 427-8749
Reverend Harris T. Travis, Senior Pastor
http://www.zionbaptistchurchmarietta.org

Location
Marietta

Sunday Service Times
7:30 am
10:30 am

Church Type
Denomination - Baptist
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Large

From the church website…
Mission - “Zion’s mission is to inspire men and women to first seek Ye the kingdom of God and His righteousness, through worship; proclaiming the gospel to believers and non-believers; providing Christian education for our members and the community; providing ministries that meet the needs of our member and the community; and through preserving the Church’s unique history. ”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.

Just The Facts
Turner Chapel AME Church
492 North Marietta Parkway
Marietta, GA 30060
(770)422-6791
Reverend Kenneth Marcus, Pastor
http://www.turnerchapelame.org

Location
Marietta

Sunday Service Times (*new times starting March 23rd)
7:45 am
11 am

Church Type
Denomination - AME
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Large

From the church website…
“Our Mission - The mission of Turner Chapel AME Church is to connect persons to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have over 50 active ministries, many of which are geared toward specific groups, such as men, seniors and married couples. In addition, many of our ministries connect individuals connected by special life situations.”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.

Just The Facts
Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church
1202 West Marietta Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404)797-1470
Dr. R.L. White Jr., Pastor

Church Type
Denomination - Baptist
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Large

From the church website…
“A Ministry of Healing and Reconciliation”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.

Just The Facts
Impact Church
P. O. Box 11154
Atlanta, GA 30310
(404)758.7310
Pastor Olu Brown

Sunday Service Times
10 am and 12 pm

Church Type
Denomination - Christian church connected to the United Methodist denomination
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Medium

From the church website…
“Doing Church Differently…When people ask us “Why should I come to Impact?” we explain that we are “Doing Church Differently” Almost always the next question is “What’s so different with the way Impact does church?” Of course our answer is always, “Come and See. Words can’t explain it well enough”.  If you don’t have a lot of “Church Experience” or your past experience of church left you wanting something more… come visit us at least once — and see for yourself just how differently we “Do Church”!

Our core values are: Prayer, Community and Economic Development, Compassion, Honesty and Service. We are committed to sharing Christ’s love in ways that are relevant to your everyday life and helping you realize your God-given potential.  We do this through a spirit-filled worship service that incorporates contemporary music, multimedia techniques and other bold, creative and spontaneous methods. Impact Church 1.0 is being built from the ground up to be especially welcoming to you, even if you have had little or no experience with church in your adult life. ”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.

Just The Facts
 Cascade United Methodist Church
3144 Cascade Road SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30311
404.691.5770
http://www.cascadeumc.org
Senior Pastor Marvin Moss

Location
Southwest Atlanta - Cascade Road & 285

Sunday Service Times
- 8 am
- 11 am

Church Type
Denomination - United Methodist Church
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Medium

From the church website…
“What we believe…Our best chosen words can never adequately express the fullness of who we are as God’s people. Somehow, mental analysis cannot lend itself to full expressions of our hearts nor the heart of God. However, we acknowledge that we are God’s people and heirs with Christ.We have been blessed with a solid biblical foundation and deep theological roots which serve as our impetus for engaging ministry at Cascade and in the world. We have been given an abundance of spiritual blessings. We assume accountability and responsibility for sharing, in manifold ways, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

My Impressions
scale of 1 - 3; 1=below average; 2=average; 3=above average)
Sermon Style (preaching/teaching) - N/A
Music Ministry - 2
Friendliness (of members to me) - 2
Happiness Quotient (feeling of people receiving the spirit) - 2
Children/Youth Activities - 3
Service Time - 11 am - 1:15 pm

Unique Observations-
Given the 2008 political season, I recently was researching my state officials and discovered that both my State Senator and State Congressman attended the same church! When I found out that the church was the same Cascade United Methodist Church that I pass regularly on Cascade Road, I decided to add it to my list of churches to visit. I must admit I had never attended a United Methodist church before, however having been raised in a Catholic Church and attended many other Christian denominations including African Methodist Episcopal church I felt I was open enough to be receptive to their teachings and format. My first impression of this church is put on your Sunday Best! While I had on a skirt, blouse and pumps - I felt underdressed as most of the people around me had on jackets and skirts.  Attire aside,  Sydney and I found our way to the front of the church prior to service beginning. Of course with a 1 1/2 daughter, most people immediately warm to you, so she made a few friends, while I was left still feeling a little like an outsider.  

If a United Methodist service is anything like a Catholic service,  I was expecting a pretty structured format…and structure was the rule of the service. As soon as service begin, I was impressed with the number of female Associate Pastors - truly making Cascade United Methodist a standout in this area. During the service the Men’s choir injected soulful sounds into the traditional hymnals and we were treated to a dynamic dramatic Harriet Tubman performance in honor of Black History Month. Pastor Marvin Moss was away visiting another church, but Reverend Bernice Williams Kirkland did a good job delivering her sermon. I appreciated her content and the thought she had placed in creating her message.  Since Pastor Moss was away, I will have to plan a return trip to hear him and update this review at that time.

Overall, I would say that Cascade United Methodist Church is a traditional United Methodist Church with roots in the African-American experience. If you are looking for a reserved and upstanding church with impressive community outreach/impact and a roster of youth activities, add Cascade United Methodist Church to your list, just don’t forget your Sunday Best! 

Just The Facts
The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church
1879-1921 Glenwood Avenue, SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 377-0561
http://www.pineygrovebapt.org

Location
Southeast Atlanta (Near Charles Yates Golf Course)

Sunday Service Times
7:30 am - Traditional
9:30 am - Contemporary
11 am - Evangelistic

Church Type
Denomination - Baptist
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Large (Over 7,000 members)

From the church website…
“The Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church is structured around a five pillar ministry of Missions,  Fellowship, Evangelism, Teaching and Worship.  Rich in our History & Heritage, we embrace our mission ‘to be distinguished by our words and our deeds as the Church With Helping Hands’.  Our vision ‘In this Church you can be Redeemed, Reconciled, Restored, and Revived” is shown through our Ambassador staff, various ministries, and community sharing & caring programs.’

About Service Times:
7:30 Traditional ( Lifting what we know, love, value, and appreciate about being “black” Baptist.)
9:30 Contemporary (An effort to reach the 18-45 age group) Sermon and song to encourage and allow expressive worship in a congregational fashion. Song and sermon should deal with family values; marriage; rearing kids, career choices.
11:30 Evangelistic – We will keep this at 90 minutes, but if the spirit says so, there is no time restraint. This will be a soul winning/soul seeking service. Good live singing and moving preaching. Power packed from beginning to end.”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.

Just The Facts
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church
182 Hunter Street
Norcross, Georgia 30071
770.448.5475
Dr. William L. Sheals - Senior Pastor

Sunday Service Times
7:30 am
11 am
6 pm

Church Type
Denomination - Missionary Baptist Church
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Mega

From the church website…
“Statement of Faith: We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments; the Trinity of the Godhead; the creation of man by the direct act of God; the fall of man and his need for Redemption; the Deity, Incarnation and Virgin Birth of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST; His Vicarious Atonement for the sins of man-kind by the shedding of HIS Blood on the cross; the resurrection of His body for the tomb; His ascension into Heaven; His personal, imminent return; the Deity of the HOLY SPIRIT; justification of the believer by grace through faith; a literal Devil who is our adversary; a literal Heaven for the redeemed and a literal Hell for the lost; the infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture to be Scripture itself; and the requirement of implicit obedience to the expressed commands of Christ as the standard by which He will judge our love to HIM. We have without mental reservation of any kind sincerely receive and adopted the above statement of Faith as being the fundamental doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.

Hopewell offers more than 50 ministries and auxiliaries unmarried persons, couples teens and children. The Music and Arts Ministry includes four choirs, along with tape and video ministries and drama, dance and sign language ministries. Boy and Girl Scout troups are available, along with an active athletic recreation ministry.”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.

Just The Facts
Greater Faith Church

Sunday Service Times
10 am

Church Type
Denomination -
Size (Small, Medium, Large, Mega) - Medium

From the church website…
“We entreat you to join us as we lift up our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our endeavor is to equip and empower families, single parents, adults, young people and children to live a life of victory and prosperity. You will discover an atmosphere in which to strengthen your personal relationship with the Lord.  We invite you to become a part of our family of believers where “membership” and “fellowship” are synonymous. Attracting, Motivating, and Transforming”

My Impressions
Unreviewed at this time.