The year was 1981. At that time, members of Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church were meeting at a small, white, country chapel building originally called “Waters Chapel.”

It sat one mile south of the current church building on Antioch Road.

By 1984 they had secured enough funds to build their own facility at the corner of Ga. Highway 92 south and Harp Road.

One fine Sunday morning the “gypsy band,” as they called themselves, walked the mile from the country chapel to their permanent home.

Now, in 2006 they are completing their fourth addition to the original facility. This sanctuary will seat 1,250 on a Sunday morning. The church now occupies 80,000 square feet.

There are 1,800 current members who will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the church.

The Rev. J. Dennis Watson has served as the senior minister since March, 1982. He was born and reared in Southwest Atlanta and first felt the pull into the ministry in his mid-teens. He graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. in 1979. When asked to name something he is especially proud of, he will reply, “seeing children come to know the Lord and to begin using their talents early in life.”

The Rev. Watson also looks with pride to the future of the church. “While we are pleased with the past 25 years,” he said, “we are anxious to continue the work we have begun.”

Those various works include individuals and teams from the church who have gone on mission trips to Africa, Australia, Brazil, Taiwan, India and Venezuela. In addition, mission trips have also been made to over a dozen states in the continental United States.

Their work has covered areas from building churches, restoring old and run down homes, inner city work among the poor and homeless, Backyard Bible Clubs, music presentations and donations and funding of supplies for medicines and medical procedures.

In the mid 1990’s, Harp’s Crossing established a mission church in Logan, West Virginia. The West Virginia church became self-supporting in the fall of 2005.

Harp’s Crossing’s congregation is made up of 25-year members as well as those who joined in the last couple of years.

Said native Fayette Countian and longtime member, Jake Mask, “Harp’s is where I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord.” He has always been a local business owner and a giver of his time, talents and business equipment to local endeavors.

Jane Prince has been a member since 1981 and said that the 25th anniversary brings back good memories. Her son, who was two years old at that time, and is now 27 years old, was the first baby at Harp’s Crossing. “This church,” she said, “ has been a rock in his life. This church has been my cornerstone and the cornerstone of my family.”

“The fellowship at Harp’s and Pastor Dennis stands out immediately in my mind,” said Debbie Powell, a member since 2001. “He is not just a preacher, he knows and loves his flock.”

A member for one year, Donna Harris is glad the church allows her to use as her gift of worship, her interpretive dancing. “My three-year old son loves Sunday School and church. There are many opportunities and activities here to help children grow in the Lord.”

Those activities include a Wednesday night fellowship meal at 5 p.m., preschool and children’s choirs and youth mission activities at 6:15 p.m., a prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m., and at 7:15 p.m. there is preschool and children’s mission activities, a Crossover Bible study for youth and a Bible study for adults.

There is Vacation Bible School in June for children four years through 6th grade and Harp’s Harvest Fall Festival in October for kids of all ages.

Mission opportunities abound for members of all ages with over ten ways to serve the church, the community and the world.

Currently the church has a full-time Evangelist, one family in full-time music ministry, a couple in full-time service in Canada, a couple serving in West Virginia and a member serving in East Asia.
Besides Pastor Dennis, the staff consists of Ken Helms, Associate Pastor, Keith Turner, Minister of Education, Steve Owens, Minister of Music, and Chris Watson, Minister of Students.

In honor of Harp’s Crossing’s 25th Anniversary, the church will have several celebratory events. On Saturday, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m., children and families are invited to come out for a free festival. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served. The event will feature sand art, snow cones, baseball speed pitching, giant slide, a moonwalk, cotton candy and popcorn, a golf simulator, stampede obstacle course, rodeo rumble, health check and face painting. On Sunday, April 23 at both 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sid Bream, former Atlanta Braves first baseman who scored the winning run in the 7th game of the 1992 NLCS with the famous slide, and Joel Sonneberg, a young man who has risen above being burned over 85% of his body at the age of two when the car he was riding in was rammed by a tractor trailer will be special guests at Harp’s Crossing. Sonneberg has appeared on NBC's “Today Show,” CBS's “48 Hours” and in an episode of “Sue Thomas FBI.” These events lead up to the big celebration on May 7 at 10 a.m., when the church will hold a tent meeting. The event will act as the big 25th anniversary and homecoming celebration and will be followed by dinner on the grounds. All events will be held at Harps’ Crossing Baptist Church.

Worship services on Sunday morning are at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday School is also at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. A worship service is also at 7 p.m.

The church is located at 1183 Highway 92 S. and can be reached at 770-461-5318.

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