Not too many churches have two lives, but McDonough Road Baptist Church is one of those.

It began in 1919 by a group of Methodist and Baptist citizens in College Park who organized a church, and along the way it became known as Second Baptist Church. In 1967, G. W. Northcutt donated land on which a new church was built.

However, in 1990 a committee was appointed to find a site for future church use, and land on McDonough Road in Fayetteville was chosen. In 1992, the building and grounds were sold to another church, and for two years both congregations shared the facility.

They are still sharing with one another, often exchanging ministers and study programs.

In 1994, the "new" church entered its present facility and was debt free when doing so. Of course, the church has grown and prospered and in March 1999, it will enter a new 950 seat sanctuary, with two-thirds of the cost being paid for by that time. This date also will be the fifth anniversary of moving to Fayette County.

Dr. J. W. Wallis serves as pastor, and has been with the congregation since 1984.

He was born and reared in Carroll County, majored in history and minored in sociology at West Georgia College. He first began to feel pulled into the ministry at age 16 and pastored a church in Whitesburg at age 18, having been ordained while a college freshman.

His Masters and Doctoral degrees were earned at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has served in churches in both North Georgia and South Georgia.

Dr. Wallis is married to Willene, who teaches at Lovejoy Middle School, and they are the parents of three grown children, Jeffrey, who is currently in Italy and France on a honeymoon with new wife, Kristin; Jason, who lives in Birmingham with is wife, Heather, and is a writer and composer of Contemporary Christian music; and Jodi, who is a neo-natal nurse with the University of Alabama.

"I see as one of my goals with this church," he said, "to make sure this is a community church meeting community needs. Our chosen location has been a major contribution to our growth, we have tried to fit in as a part of the community, and I look forward to continuing in that tradition."

Worship services are at 8:45 a.m. and 10:55 a.m., with Bible study for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Sunday evening services are at 6 p.m., Tuesday Bible study is at 9 a.m., a fellowship meal is on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., and prayer services are at 6:30 p.m.