From a humble beginning in 1981, Harp's Crossing Baptist Church has grown to a membership of 1,800 people. It first met in people's home and then in old building originally called "Waters Chapel," a mile south of its current location at Harp Road and Ga. Highway 92 South.

In 1987, the congregation marched from this chapel to their own building and have been growing and adding to the facility since. Needing additional space for offices and pre-school rooms, the church has just completed enclosing an open passageway to fulfill these needs.

The congregation supports missions in many places, beginning with the Samaritans in Fayette County, to helping start a new church in West Virginia , to sending teams to Asia to assist in Bible studies. This carries out its mission statement: Love God and lead others to love Him too.

The senior minister is the Rev. J. Dennis Watson, who was born and reared in Southwest Atlanta. He was in his mid teens when he first began to feel pulled into the ministry and is a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1979. He has been with Harp's Crossing since March 1982.

He and wife, Sheila, married in 1974 and are the parents of Denise, 22, Chris, 18 and Joshua, age 8.

When asked to name something he is especially proud of, he replied "Seeing children come to know the Lord and to begin using their talents early in life. I am also proud to look over at the choir and see so many young people in it."

Associate ministers include Ken Helms, Keith Turner, Steve Owens and Shane Wilbanks, with Judy Knowles overseeing the pre-school.

Services are Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., Sunday School is at 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., with the Sunday evening service at 7 p.m. There is a Wednesday evening prayer service at 6:30 p.m. and Bible study is at 7:15 p.m. The children's and youth activities begin at 6:30 p.m.