Groovin’ at Edgefield Baptist

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

By John Hatcher
Contributing Writer

Edgefield Baptist Church, located at Fayetteville’s center, is very much alive and kicking. And dancing. And jumping. And running. And...

Sunday afternoon I was invited to attend Edgefield’s groundbreaking ceremony for a Spiritual Fitness Center to be build between their present worship center and fellowship hall. It was an event to behold. Before spading dirt and erecting the sign of future things, we enjoyed the drill team, the dance troupe, and a rap duo interlaced with a depiction of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

It’s been a long time since I have seen such passion on the faces of so many people. From their faces, you would expect to walk right into the new building that same day. Never have I seen so much excitement over the erecting of a sign that spoke of a future building. What every church in Fayette/Clayton needs, Edgefield has it. I would bottle it and sell it if I could, and then buy half-dozen cases for my own church.

After a powerful service outside, we all marched inside for the second half of the service.

Dr. Jim Willis of North Fayette Baptist Church brought words of inspiration as well as Pastor Mamie Harris of New Generation Christian Fellowship of Griffin. I, too, was honored to offer some words. In that atmosphere highly charged with faith, one could read “Mary had a little lamb...” and the people would have come out of their seats. The place was a preacher’s dream house.

What’s a preacher’s dream house, I heard you ask? It’s a church service where the people are anxiously charged up to hear a word from the Lord so much so that the people themselves will pull God’s word out of your gut, through your voice box, and into their ears. A preacher’s dream house is a place where there is great hearing of the Word of God.

At one point, Edgefield’s adult choir, The United Voices, took center stage as they filled every inch of the choir loft. They didn’t know it but they sang one of my favorite Gospel songs, “O Happy Day.” The song made the top pop chart in the late ‘60s with Edwin Hawkin’s rendition. I remember well how often it was played on radio stations that ringed the University of Georgia. Imagine that. College students getting turned onto a gospel song. That was a happy day. The members of United Voices of Edgefield choir could make their own recording of “O Happy Day” because they sounded even better. Their voices and their faces made you into a believer.

It occurred to me, sitting among the Edgefield folks, if anyone wanted to know where the action was in Fayetteville, they just needed to ride down Church Street, that connector street between Georgia Avenue and Georgia 54 west. It’s all there — fervor, consecration, youth excited and involved in worship (not just trips to Six Flags), healing, powerful instrumentalists and singers, and preaching that won’t let you sit down. When you have been to church at Edgefield, you know you’ve been to church.

The church on Church Street has not always been alive. In fact, I remember when it was near comatose. Few attending. Control freaks running the church into the ground. People more impressed with their own importance than the Lord’s glory.

But, they didn’t know any better than to call a young man by the name of Eddie Thomas (who had once served them as choir director) to become their pastor. He had visions and dreams of what a traditional Black Baptist church could become. He has tenaciously clung to the vision God gave him and what you see on Church Street is what he saw in the Spirit by faith years ago.

Watch out Eddie Long of New Birth. There’s a new Eddie in metro Atlanta and his reach extends further than little ol’ Church Street in Fayetteville.

Congratulations, Edgefield, you did good, you’re doing good, and you’re going to do a whole lot more!

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303