For 175 Years on Boynton Drive
Tucked into a quiet stretch of Boynton Drive in Ringgold, Georgia, Boynton United Methodist Church has been a steady presence in Catoosa County for 175 years. The congregation describes its welcome plainly: "You are known and welcomed here." Whether someone has gone to church for years or is simply looking for a place to belong, the church offers a warm seat, a round table in Heritage Hall, a pew under the awning, and a fellowship hall full of Wednesday night laughter.
The church sits at 4246 Boynton Drive, with office hours Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone rings into a friendly receptionist during those hours, and the pastor and a prayer team are ready to walk alongside people in seasons of celebration and in seasons of need.
Three Sunday Mornings, One Family
Sunday at Boynton UMC is built around three back-to-back gatherings that share one church family. The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with a contemporary service in Heritage Hall and ends at noon after a traditional service in the Sanctuary, with Sunday School for all ages in between.
9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship in Heritage Hall
The early service has a casual, come-as-you-are feel. Families can sit together at a round table or in a row of chairs while a praise band leads modern worship songs with lyrics projected for everyone to sing along. A clear, Bible-based message connects faith with everyday life, and there are times of prayer and reflection built in. At the start of the service, children worship alongside their families; after a brief Children's Message, they are invited forward and then excused to Children's Church for their own age-appropriate lessons and activities.
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
The hour between the two worship services is set aside for growing in faith together. Adults meet as a group to choose and explore Bible studies, working through books like Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, The Promise of Heaven by Dr. David Jeremiah, and studies on the foundations of the United Methodist Church. The youth class is open to middle and high school students, with space to ask questions, build friendships, and learn to follow Jesus in daily life. A children's class is launching soon for the youngest learners.
11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary
For those drawn to classic hymns, liturgy, and the deep roots of the Christian faith, the late service offers a warm, reverent United Methodist worship experience. Congregational hymns are led by a choir and pianist, with Scripture readings, corporate prayer, and a Bible-based sermon at the center. The service includes the Lord's Prayer and historic creeds that connect the congregation to the wider Church. Visitors enter the Sanctuary through the doors under the awning. Children begin in worship with their families, are called forward for a Children's Message, and then head to Children's Church.
Fifth Sundays: One Service, One Table
When a month has five Sundays, the two morning services combine into a single worship gathering from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The combined service is followed by a potluck lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., where everyone who is able brings a dish and stays to share a meal, conversation, and fellowship.
Kids, Youth, and a BKids Crew for the Littlest
Children and students are at the center of church life at Boynton. From Sunday School and Children's Church to Wednesday night dinners around the table, the goal is to give kids a safe, joy-filled place to learn, laugh, and experience God's love together with their families.
BKids is the church's offering for the very youngest: a program for children ages one to four, with fun and friendship built into the schedule. Children's Church meets during both Sunday services, providing age-appropriate Bible lessons, worship, and activities in a safe, caring environment. The church follows a safe sanctuary policy for all children's programming.
Youth ministry is open to all students from sixth grade and up. The group enjoys Wednesday night dinners, regular meetings, annual trips, and mission work. New students are warmly welcomed, and the church makes space for teens from neighboring schools to find friendships, mentors, and a sense of belonging that carries them from middle school through high school and beyond.
Nursery care is available during Sunday services and Sunday School. The nursery is not staffed by default; families who would like a qualified caregiver in the room are encouraged to fill out the Plan Your Visit form or call the church ahead so arrangements can be made.
Adults: United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, and Wednesday Nights
Adults at Boynton UMC have several steady on-ramps into community. United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women provide circles and groups where adults can connect, share their stories, and grow alongside others who are at different points on their faith journey. Sunday School classes add another layer of conversation and prayer in the week. Wednesday night dinners bring everyone - kids, youth, and adults - around the same table, and from there small groups, studies, and fellowship continue throughout the week.
Prayer, Sacraments, and the Big Moments of Life
Pastoral care at Boynton is built around being present in real life, not just on Sunday mornings. The prayer team receives requests from the congregation and the wider community, lifting them up during the week and, with permission, adding first names to the church prayer list. Prayer blankets are available as a tangible reminder that someone is covered in prayer and loved. Counseling support is offered as well, and church members check in, bring meals, sit with people in hard moments, and celebrate steps toward healing and hope.
The church walks alongside people through the milestones that mark a life of faith:
- Baptism is celebrated as a sacred beginning, with the congregation rejoicing and promising to walk with the person - or the child and family - as they grow in Christ.
- Confirmation is a special season when young people and adults claim the promises of their baptism as their own through learning, prayer, and community.
- Holy Communion is open to everyone. All who seek to follow Jesus are invited to share in the meal that remembers Christ's love, receives his grace, and strengthens the community for daily living.
- Weddings are hosted in a setting that is described as a beautiful, warm space for worship, connection, and meaningful impact.
- Funerals are marked as a "Called Home" time, when the church family gathers to give thanks for a life, share grief, and lean on the hope found in Christ, surrounding the family with prayer, compassion, and support.
Faith Put into Action Across the Community
Boynton UMC takes seriously the call to love neighbors in practical ways. Through BKids and partnerships like Kiwanis and local cemetery care, the church invests in the people and places right around it. Snack Packs help students who might otherwise go hungry, and TACO Mondays extend hospitality to the wider neighborhood. The congregation supports the Christ Chapel food bank, putting faith into action by helping meet practical needs with kindness.
Family-friendly events are part of the rhythm, too: the Easter Egg Hunt, the Live Nativity, and Trunk or Treat all give neighbors and friends a reason to gather, celebrate, and experience the joy of community together.
Accessibility and a Warm Hello at the Door
The building is wheelchair accessible, with ramps that make it easier to enter and move around. For those with hearing difficulties, hearing-assist devices are available, programmed to the church's sound system. Greeters are happy to help visitors find the nursery, Children's Church, and Sunday School rooms so that everyone feels comfortable from the moment they arrive.
Plan Your Visit and Get Involved
Visitors are invited to fill out a Plan Your Visit form so that someone from the congregation can be ready to say hello, show them around, and help them feel at home from the parking lot onward. Prayer requests can be submitted online, and the pastor or a prayer team member will respond with care and confidentiality. Giving is available online for those who want to support the church's ministries and community work, and a newsletter sign-up keeps friends of the church connected to upcoming events, studies, and service opportunities.
Leadership
Rev. Drew D. West serves as pastor. Drew grew up along Colorado's Front Range and has spent most of his life in ministry, including worship leadership, youth ministry, missionary work, and pastoral ministry. He is the author of Sunday Poems, a project that offers fresh, imaginative reflections on biblical passages, and he holds theological degrees from Justo Mwale University in Lusaka, Zambia, and Emory University in Atlanta. He is married to Amanda, and together they are raising their three children. Linda Lowery serves as receptionist, helping the church run smoothly and warmly behind the scenes.
After 175 years in Ringgold, the heartbeat of Boynton United Methodist Church is still the same: a community that gathers for worship, walks with one another through life's big moments, and looks for the next person to welcome through the door.