After recently completing the purchase of the Peachtree City property and building at 777 Robinson Rd. from Landmark Christian School, Southside Church broke ground on a 9,600 sq. ft. addition to the existing 28,000 sq. ft. campus.

The addition, designed by Foley Design Associates Architects, will provide badly needed classroom space for the rapidly growing church. Group VI has already begun preparing the site for the building and plans to complete the addition in August of 2008.

The church first opened its doors back in 2004 when a group of people in the Southside area of Atlanta wanted to start a church where they could safely bring their friends who did not go to church — a church similar to North Point Community Church (NPCC) in Alpharetta, and Buckhead Church in Buckhead. They were willing to drive to Alpharetta or Buckhead to attend, but knew their un-churched friends and neighbors that lived on the Southside probably would not.

In the summer of 2004, this dedicated, small group of people began meeting every other Sunday night. The leadership team of NPCC encouraged and advised the group, and in the fall of 2004 asked them to become a strategic partner with North Point Ministries.

North Point strategic partners are independent churches that share the same mission, strategy, values, and ministry model as North Point Community Church but provide their own leadership, finances, and government.

This small group became Southside Church. They continued meeting in small groups until September of 2005 when worship services were launched with over 500 people attending the opening worship service.

Like the early days of North Point, Southside held services every other Sunday for the first six months. In March of 2006, weekly services were launched including two morning service times.

Currently, Southside Church has an average of 1,200 people participating in two morning worship services.

During the week, close to 600 adults meet around the Southside Atlanta area in community groups for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.

“The leadership of Southside is very excited about what God is doing to connect with the estimated 100,000 people who live within a 15-mile radius of Peachtree City who do not go to Church,” said Chris Patton, pastor of Southside. “God has assembled an amazing team of volunteers and partners to create relevant and irresistible environments. Leading those in the community into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is what drives everything that is done at Southside Church.”

login to post comments