Decatur Presbyterian Church: A Community of Transforming Grace in Decatur, Alabama

Decatur Presbyterian Church: A Community of Transforming Grace in Decatur, Alabama

On a quiet stretch of Modaus Road SW in Decatur, Alabama, Decatur Presbyterian Church anchors its life around a single phrase: A Community of Transforming Grace in the Historic Reformed Tradition. The congregation, part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), has grown from a small in-home Bible study in 1983 into a church that fills its facility on Modaus Road with Sunday School classes, congregational singing, and a Wednesday-night fellowship meal each week of the school year. Visitors are greeted with the welcome, "We're so glad you're here," and the building hums with a steady rhythm of ministries for every age.

A Vision Rooted in Worship, Community, Discipleship, and Service

The vision of Decatur Presbyterian Church flows from four core values, each treated as both a calling and a culture. Worship is described as "reverent and relevant," the heart and soul of the church where everyone is invited to "encounter the living Christ in a joyful, reverent, and accessible way." Community is "close-knit and outward-facing," shaped by the conviction that the church is "God's local and visible family." Discipleship is "robust and transformational," inviting people to faith in Christ and growth in His likeness. And service is "compassionate and bold," equipping the body of Christ to love neighbors with the Gospel "as the hands and feet of Jesus."

The mission statement is short and direct: Inviting everyone to love and follow the Lord Jesus. The congregation belongs to the Presbyterian Church in America, a denomination the church summarizes as "Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission."

From a Living Room to a Modaus Road Campus

Decatur Presbyterian Church began in 1983 as an in-home Bible study. Within a few years, the group was particularized as a congregation, and in 1994 the church moved to its current facility at 2306 Modaus Road SW. Today that building is the center of a packed weekly schedule: Sunday School for children, youth, and adults; a Sunday morning worship service; Wednesday-night dinners and ministry hour; and gatherings of men, women, students, choir members, and Life Groups throughout the week.

Sundays at DPC: Sunday School, Worship, and the Lord's Supper

Sunday is the main meeting day of the church. At 9:15 AM, classrooms fill with children, youth, and adults for Sunday School. Children's classes are divided by age, youth classes split into middle school and high school groups for their lesson, and adults can choose from a variety of classes. The nursery is open during this hour as well.

At 10:30 AM, the congregation gathers for the worship service, described as a time when the choir, band of volunteers, and congregation together sing psalms, hymns, choral pieces, and contemporary worship songs. The Lord's Supper is celebrated every week, in both services. A note to parents: Children of all ages are always welcome in the service. For convenience, a safe nursery is available for children up to three years old, and a "Teach Me to Worship" class for ages four to six meets during the sermon so children begin learning how to participate in gathered worship.

Visitors are assured that people wear a wide range of attire from jeans and tee shirts to suits and dresses, so dressing comfortably is the only rule of thumb.

For those who cannot be present, the 10:30 AM service is livestreamed on YouTube, and a sermon archive stretches back years in both audio and video formats. The music from each Sunday is also posted as a separate audio file for those who want to revisit the songs.

Wednesday Nights: Fellowship, Dinner, and a Full Ministry Hour

The midweek rhythm at Decatur Presbyterian is just as intentional as Sunday. During the school year, with breaks around the local school calendars, the church family gathers at 5:30 PM for a fellowship meal. The cost is $5.00 a plate with a $20.00 cap per family, and the meal is coordinated by Kitchen Coordinator Elena Suggs.

From 6:00 to 7:00 PM, the building opens for a full slate of ministries. Children's choir practice and youth fellowship begin at 6:00 PM. At 6:15 PM, the Open Door Adult Bible Study and Worship Choir Practice start, with the NextGen Lessons and Youth Study Groups beginning at 6:30 PM. The Soli Deo Gloria girls' youth choir rehearses at 5:00 PM, and Life Groups meet at 5:15 PM before the meal.

This Wednesday-night structure means that almost every member of the household has a place: preschoolers in choir, elementary children learning the catechism, students in youth group, adults in Bible study, choir members rehearsing, and the whole church sharing a table.

Music: From Psalms to Contemporary Songs

Music is central to the life of Decatur Presbyterian. A band of volunteers, led by Worship Director Stu Schieler, leads the congregation every Sunday morning in music that ranges from classic hymns to contemporary worship songs, all "selected and arranged to help focus our minds to worship our great God." Schieler, who has served at DPC since 2010, previously led music at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church and Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church, and has traveled with musical mission teams in Latin America, Mexico, and Europe.

The church has a choir for every age beyond preschool:

• Worship Choir (high school and beyond) rehearses Wednesday nights at 6:15 PM.
• Soli Deo Gloria (girls' youth choir) rehearses Wednesday nights at 5:00 PM.
• Dare to Declare (3rd through 5th grade) rehearses Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM.
• Kids of the King (4 year olds through 2nd grade) rehearses Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM.

The choirs sing on alternating Sunday mornings throughout the school year and all participate in a yearly Christmas Cantata in mid-December. A full audio archive of past worship music is available, going back to the earliest weekly recordings, alongside the sermon archive.

Children and Youth: NextGen Ministries

The mission of the Next Generation ministry at DPC is to point children "from birth to the hope found only in the person and work of Jesus Christ," coming alongside parents "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Safe, compassionate, Christ-exalting care for children is described as a top priority.

Sunday morning classes for children run from 9:15 to 10:15 AM and are divided by age. On Wednesday nights, midweek ministries begin at 6:00 PM after the family meal and include children's choir, developmentally appropriate teaching of the faith, and a once-monthly focus on global missions. Jessica Keith has served as NextGen Coordinator since September 2022, and she oversees the team that brings children's Sunday School, Catechism classes, choir rehearsals, and missions emphases into one coordinated ministry. Allison Seale, a graduate of Auburn University in Human Development and Family Studies, leads the Nursery ministry for infants through three-year-olds. Special events throughout the year include game days, movie nights, parents' night out, and once-per-semester service projects for local Christian ministries.

Student ministry for grades 6 through 12 is led by Tucker Fleming. On Sundays, students meet from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, beginning together for announcements and prayer and then dividing into middle school and high school groups for the lesson. On Wednesdays, youth gather at 6:00 PM, often starting with a game and a song before breaking into separate groups for teaching time. Regular service opportunities, special events, and trips round out the year.

Adult Discipleship: Bible Studies, Life Groups, and Sunday School

Adults at Decatur Presbyterian have multiple ways to grow. Sunday School classes meet at 9:15 AM and cover a variety of subjects aimed at "expanding your knowledge of Scripture, theology, and Christian living." Life Groups are one of the primary ways members get connected: small gatherings in homes or at the church for prayer, fellowship, and Bible study, "designed for anyone who wants to share life more deeply with others while learning to follow Jesus in community."

The men's ministry offers four weekly Bible studies, each currently working through a different book of the Bible:

• Tuesday 6:30-7:30 AM at Java Jaay Café (1713 6th Ave), studying Malachi.
• Tuesday 12:00-1:00 PM at Kent Quinn's Office (1323 Stratford Rd SE), studying 1 Samuel.
• Thursday 6:30-7:30 AM at the Young Life House (425 Moulton St SE), studying the Gospel of John.
• Friday 6:30-8:00 AM at Temple, Inc. (305 Bank St NE), studying Genesis.

Women's Bible studies meet twice during the week. A Monday evening group at 6:15 PM gathers in the home of one of the members, and a Tuesday morning group meets at 10:00 AM at the church building. Both groups are currently walking through the book of Job using Derek Thomas's study guide.

The church's calendar also shows regular special gatherings such as the WIC Kickoff Luncheon and the JOY Luncheon, reflecting active women's and senior-adult fellowship beyond the Bible-study hour.

What the Church Believes

Decatur Presbyterian Church holds to the historic Reformed faith and belongs to the Presbyterian Church in America. The congregation has summarized its beliefs in nine core statements:

• The Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts; it is the revelation of God's truth, infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
• There is one God, existing eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• All are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God's displeasure, except by His mercy.
• Salvation is by God's grace alone through faith in Christ alone.
• Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who, through His perfect life and sacrificial death, atoned for the sins of all who trust in Him alone for salvation.
• God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations, according to His covenant promises.
• The Holy Spirit indwells God's people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
• Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
• All aspects of life are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

For a fuller doctrinal statement, the church points to the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order of the PCA, all maintained by the denomination's resources.

Mission: From Decatur to the Ends of the Earth

Decatur Presbyterian describes its commitment to missions this way: DPC is committed to bringing the good news of Jesus to people near and far. And we seek to build meaningful, enduring connections between our church family and the kingdom workers we support. The church's mission giving is divided between U.S. partnerships and world missions.

U.S. Partners

Through prayer and financial support, DPC stands with:

• Auburn University Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)
• Alabama A&M University Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)
• University of Alabama in Huntsville Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)
• Troy University Campus Outreach (CO)
• Neighborhood Christian Center in Decatur
• Community Free Clinic in Decatur
• Hospice of the Valley
• Save-A-Life Pregnancy Resource Center in Decatur
• Young Life

World Mission Partners

The church supports a wide circle of missionaries around the world:

• Samuel and Dr. Silvia Martinez in the Dominican Republic, where Dr. Silvia operates a clinic, community health program, and feeding and mobile clinic ministries among Haitian sugar-cane workers in communities called bateyes.
• Bill and Cheryl Nikides, teaching and mentoring in seminaries, churches, and villages across Bangladesh, Turkey, Europe, and the United States.
• Wayne and Amy Newsome, church planters in Nagoya, Japan since 1990, with Amy also serving in member care and the MTW counseling network.
• Joel and Judy Linton, serving in Taiwan since 2002, planting New Hope Church in Taipei and Riverside Reformed Presbyterian Church in a rural area.
• Wes and Jami Baker, serving in Trujillo, Peru since 2000, pastoring Iglesia Cristo Rey and teaching at El Areopago Cristiano.
• Jeremy and Angel M., serving among South Asian immigrants in Southall, London.
• Gary and Linda Johnson, veteran missionaries with the FFM Project in Rattvik, Sweden, involved in church planting, marketplace partnerships, and student exchange.
• Rosemary and Tommy, translating the Bible for an 850,000-speaker minority language in East Asia.
• Lauren Adair Evans, ministering to women in Munich's strip clubs and brothels and supporting safe houses for trafficking survivors in Germany.
• Philipp and Carrington Meinecke, developing Bible study tools and training programs for church leaders and pastors in Germany with Crossworld.
• Rick Searle, teaching at Bible Institutes and supporting church planting in South America and Africa with World Reach.
• Lenden and Gemma, assigned by MTW to pioneer among Muslims in a large Spanish city.
• Joey and Margaret Carter, who moved to Birmingham, England in 2026 to minister among college students.
• John and Rachel Clifford, serving in Kigali, Rwanda, helping new church plants grow and training church leaders through a Bible college and missionary internship program.

Each year the church also organizes a short-term mission trip. Recent travel has included a June trip to the Dominican Republic for up to 25 participants, coordinated with Samaritan-related ministries and run through partner churches.

The Leadership and Staff of Decatur Presbyterian

Scott Phillips has served as Senior Pastor since 2022, after sixteen years of pastoral ministry in Louisville, Mississippi. He describes his strengths as counseling, teaching, and encouraging, and he is described by the church as a Bible-and-prayer pastor who believes that the gospel, lived out thoughtfully in covenant community, can impact a whole community for eternity. He and Karin have four children: Evelyn, Maggie, Jacob, and Noah.

Rick Stark serves as Associate Pastor. A Louisiana native with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary, he and his wife Betsy served 20 years with Athletes in Action before he planted and pastored Plains Presbyterian Church in Auburn, Alabama. He is the father of four children and a grandfather.

Stu Schieler is Worship Director, having served at DPC since 2010 after seven years at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church. He is married to Lory, his childhood sweetheart, and they have two grown children and a growing family of grandchildren.

Jesse Pawley joined DPC as Administrative Director in 2024. Born and raised in rural Kentucky, he holds a Bachelor's from Samford University, an M.Div. from Denver Seminary, and a D.Min. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His ministry focus is teaching Bible study methods and intentional discipleship. He and his wife Anna have four children.

Jessica Keith is NextGen Coordinator, overseeing children's Sunday School, Catechism classes, choir, and the once-monthly missions focus. Allison Seale is Nursery Coordinator, caring for infants through three-year-olds alongside a team of volunteers. Tucker Fleming leads the youth ministry. Elena Suggs coordinates the Wednesday-night kitchen, and Tonya Roth serves as Office Administrator and is frequently the first voice heard when calling the church.

The church is governed by elders (the Session) and served by deacons (the Diaconate). The Session is currently made up of John Elder, Allen Schmidt, George Godwin, Jason Seale, Jeff Keith, Greg Smith, Mike McMahan, Stuart Smith, Connor Ross, Jay Suggs, Andy Thompson, and Blake Temple. The Diaconate includes James Fudge, Kris Olin, Braden Ladner, William Sasser, Wade Littrell, Sam Thompson, Scott Missildine, David Whitcomb, Bill Nelson, and David Zajic.

Visiting and Connecting

Decatur Presbyterian is located at 2306 Modaus Road SW, Decatur, Alabama 35603. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the office can be reached at 256-351-6010 (fax 256-351-6099) or office@decaturpca.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 5660, Decatur, AL 35601.

Visitors are welcome in person or online. Newcomers may fill out a Welcome Card online, and a short summary of what to expect is provided in plain language, including the dress code, the nursery, and the livestream option. The church's online giving is available through EasyTithe, and an audio and video sermon archive reaches back across many years, with past worship music also available as downloadable files. A weekly email newsletter keeps subscribers informed about sermon series, upcoming events, and Wednesday-night meal schedules.

Throughout the year, special gatherings such as the Formed series and seasonal retreats supplement the regular rhythm of worship, Bible study, and fellowship. With a clear doctrinal foundation, an extensive music and choir program, deep investments in children and youth, and a global missionary vision, Decatur Presbyterian Church continues to pursue its calling as a community of worshiping, learning, serving, and sending disciples of Jesus Christ from the banks of the Tennessee River to the ends of the earth.