The brief history at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church is a testimony to the power of God’s purpose revealed through a people committed to His vision for them. This legacy of joining God where He was working began with the vision of Dr. Jim Chavis, Pastor of Dunwoody Baptist Church.  In 1977 he had a "unique personal experience with Christ" from which God’s plan for a Decade of Destiny was revealed. He presented this vision for the decade of the eighties to his congregation and they affirmed his leadership. The seven phases of this vision involved reaching others with the gospel and caring for others in Jesus’ name. Peachtree Corners was part of this plan as the first of three mission churches to be established.

In March 1980, Dunwoody Baptist Church voted to start the Peachtree Corners Mission. In October that year they voted to call a Minister of Missions. In February 1981, Rev. Marion Hayes was called to be a church starter and immediately began the process by contacting the 12 church members who had expressed interest in joining in this work. The initial meeting of the Peachtree Corners Baptist Chapel was attended by 15 believers in the home of Marion and Jackie Hayes. Marion challenged this group to "pray and dream about our work together. God is going to do something great and He is going to let us help." That call to share in God’s vision was quickly blessed as the group grew quickly to 30 and met for 10 weeks on Sunday nights in the Hayes’ den. During this time, the Missions Committee at Dunwoody was fervently praying in support of this group and voted in April 1981 to purchase a modular (double wide trailer) to be placed on the lot in Peachtree Corners given by Jim Cowart. The trailer church had a gravel parking lot and had 46 chairs set up for its first service. This limited faith was overwhelmed by God’s blessing of 79 people for the first service and rapid growth as people were drawn to this corner where God was at work. A second trailer was added in October to provide Sunday School rooms for the children.

Marion and Jackie Hayes led the young church to form a Pastor Search Committee and prepare for the next phase of the church’s history and their own. They moved on to start another mission and, in September 1982, Rev. William Douglas (Doug) Turner was called as the first pastor of Peachtree Corners Chapel. That same year, Peachtree Corners Baptist Church was constituted with 127 charter members.

The following year God continued to bless as His Word was proclaimed and the church was soon overflowing. The church was led to dedicated prayer for God’s guidance in dealing with the rapid growth. The Building and Finance Committees worked hard and the church moved in faith to build its first building to provide worship and educational facilities. The "Miracle Month" was a extraordinary time of God’s provision as the small congregation gave $100,000 toward the building project. It was dedicated in February 1984.

Under the leadership of our second pastor Dr. Gerald Harris (Pastor 1990-1994), the congregation doubled in size and began the process of becoming a “sending station for missionaries" An annual missions conference began to support Southern Baptist and other missionaries of like theology around the world. God once again invited the church to join Him in His work and hearts have been touched each year as members have shared in His global work.

 

 

With a commitment to the inerrancy of God’s Word and commitment to preach the whole counsel of His Word, the church prayed for a strong, visionary leadership and God provided in the person of Dr. Bob Horner (Pastor 1995-2006). Under his leadership the church continued to grow. As a former missionary, Dr. Horner helped solidify the church’s dedication to global missions. During his tenure Peachtree Corners was recognized as one of the leading churches in Georgia in baptisms and in contributions to the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association and the Cooperative Program.

The mission effort has not focused solely on “the ends of the earth” but continues to include “just around the corner.” To reach parents and families, the church started a Weekday Preschool and Mother’s Morning Out program in 1986 which continues to serve the area. The educational outreach expanded in 2001 with the addition of Cornerstone Christian Academy which has grown to include classes for kindergarten through eighth grade. As an additional effort, the church has an ever-expanding sports program with team sports in basketball, volleyball, soccer and baseball. When families get involved in the church, outstanding ministries for preschoolers, children, youth and adults help disciple them in the faith. 

The greatest impact of the church continues to be on the individual. Over fifteen hundred people were baptized in the church’s first 25 years and hundreds more were led to faith in Christ both locally and through mission efforts. Over a thousand people each week walk through the doors of Peachtree Corners Baptist for Bible Study opportunities. Worship is vibrant, energetic and encouraging. Occasions for service help believers grow as disciples and provide ministry to the church family and the community. 

The history of Peachtree Corners Baptist has been filled with God’s people doing His work. We look forward to you joining us as we continue in that good cause.