A Friendly Congregation on East Maiden Road
East Maiden Baptist Church sits on the east side of Maiden, North Carolina, a small town in Catawba County, where the church has long been a gathering place for neighbors who worship together and look out for one another. The congregation describes itself simply as "followers of Christ," and that identity shapes everything from Sunday morning worship to the weekday choirs. Pastor Nathaniel Austin has shepherded the church since 1999, and a small leadership team works to keep the focus on Bible teaching, worship, and the kind of community life that grows from those commitments.
The property along East Maiden Road holds the sanctuary, several classroom buildings, and the spaces where Sunday School meets. The mailing address is PO Box 386, Maiden, NC 28650, and the physical address is 1400 East Maiden Road. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and the church can be reached at 828-428-8451 or office@eastmaidenbaptist.org.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School and Worship
The weekly rhythm at East Maiden centers on Sunday morning. Sunday School meets at 9:00 AM, followed by the worship service at 10:00 AM. Sunday School classes span every age group, with adults meeting in the Williams Building behind the church, men gathering in the Shuford Campbell classroom, and women meeting in the OASIS classroom. A young adult class is in development, while youth in grades 7 through 12 have their own class, and children in grades 1 through 6 gather in a children's class. The youngest members of the congregation, from birth through kindergarten, have a preschool class.
The 10:00 AM worship service is the heart of the week. The Sanctuary Choir regularly leads congregational singing, and Pastor Austin preaches from Scripture. The service is shared through the church's Facebook page, allowing members who are traveling or unwell to follow along from home.
The Ministry Team
The church is served by a small staff and a longtime ministry assistant who keeps the day-to-day work moving.
Rev. Nathaniel Austin, the pastor, grew up in Taylorsville, NC, and has served East Maiden since September 1999. He earned his undergraduate degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC-Greensboro, his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed work toward his Doctor of Ministry at Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity. He and his wife Gay have been married for over three decades and have two young adult daughters, Joy and Holly. Gay recently retired from teaching first grade at Balls Creek Elementary School. Pastor Austin's reading runs from Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson to John R.W. Stott and Calvin Miller, and his musical tastes range from Johnny Cash and The Who to Tony Rich and Rich Mullins.
Brandon Godfrey, the youth and children's minister, is originally from Belvidere, NC, and has lived in Lincolnton since 2019. He holds a degree in religion from Campbell University and is currently pursuing further studies online through Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. He and his wife Mary Allen have a young son named Canon, and Mary Allen teaches music at S. Ray Lowder and Love Memorial Elementary. In his free time, Brandon enjoys running, playing guitar, archery, and reading.
Carmelle Martin serves as worship leader and oversees the church's music ministry across every age group. Aundria Jones is the ministry assistant, a longtime member who has served the church in that role since February 1992. She also leads the "Sharing and Caring" Senior Adult group, sings in the EMBC Adult Choir, and serves as church clerk.
What East Maiden Believes
East Maiden's statement of faith begins with the Bible. The church affirms that Scripture is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for matters of faith and practice, and that Jesus Christ, in His life and teachings as recorded in the Bible, is the supreme interpreter of God's will for humanity.
Along with the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the church holds to several historic Baptist convictions: the religious liberty of every person, the priesthood of the believer, the autonomy of the local church, and the separation of church and state. The church is organized, in its own words, "for the purpose of advancing and promoting the worship of God," through the reading and study of the Bible, the teaching and preaching of the gospel, regular services of worship for the spiritual growth of each member, and the winning of souls to Jesus Christ. The church carries a missionary spirit, extending the gospel through organized religious channels to the entire world.
The members also commit to a covenant of walking with Christ and one another in Christian love, gathering for united worship, searching the Scriptures together, and serving God and each other in love and humility. They pledge to recognize the worth of every individual regardless of age or circumstances, to uphold one another in prayer, to cheerfully give of their time, talents, and finances so that God's work would prosper, and to seek to honor Christ in every part of daily life.
Music Ministry and Choirs
Music is described as "a vital part of the life" of East Maiden, moving worshipers into "a more dynamic time of worship." The music ministry involves everyone from preschoolers to adults, organized around three choirs that rehearse on Wednesday evenings during the school year.
The Preschool Choir is for children ages three to five and introduces them to simple songs and basic musical concepts. The Children's Choir, for grades one through six, gives children frequent opportunities to sing during Sunday morning worship. Both groups meet on Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM from September through May.
The Sanctuary Choir runs more than thirty voices and practices diligently on Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM to prepare music for Sunday worship. Each year the choir presents two cantatas, one at Easter and one at Christmas. A hand bells ensemble is also being developed.
Youth Ministry: Thru-the-Roof Students
East Maiden's youth ministry is called Thru-the-Roof Students and meets to grow together in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. The group has been working through a study of the Psalms, exploring how the people of the Bible cry out to God in worship, prayer, and need, and learning that the Christian life is more than facts or even theology, but a deeply personal relationship with the Creator.
Students in the youth ministry also help lead special services. During Advent, young people have written reflections from the perspective of biblical characters such as Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, and Joseph, sharing their journey to Bethlehem with the rest of the congregation and inviting worshipers to experience the season through their eyes.
Explore Archery
Beyond choirs and Bible studies, East Maiden runs an archery program called Explore Archery that meets on the second Sunday of each month at 3:00 PM, weather permitting. The program is free and is geared toward beginner archers ages eight and older; all skill levels are welcome. The church provides a limited selection of bows, and students are invited to bring their own (crossbows are not permitted). A signed waiver is required for each participant. Contact Youth Minister Brandon Godfrey for more information.
Special Services Through the Year
Throughout the year, East Maiden hosts a number of seasonal services and gatherings that have become traditions for the congregation.
During Advent, the church focuses on anticipation, hope, peace, joy, and love. The youth ministry leads reflections on the Advent narrative from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, inviting worshipers to experience the journey to Bethlehem through the fears, joys, anxieties, and peace of those used by God to bring the Savior into the world.
Each December, the church holds a Christmas Service of Remembrance for those who have lost loved ones. A Tree of Remembrance is placed in the sanctuary, and families are invited to hang ornaments in memory of those they miss. The service features singing and the spoken word and gives space for grief and gratitude alongside the joy of the season.
During Thanksgiving week, the church hosts its annual Thanksgiving Around the Table Meal. The graded choirs lead in Thanksgiving worship, followed by a shared meal and a time of devotion.
The church also runs a Pumpkin Patch on the property each fall on a self-serve basis, with pumpkins, corn shocks, and other fall decor. All proceeds from sales go to the East Maiden Sanctuary Fund.
Visiting East Maiden
Visitors are warmly welcomed at East Maiden. Childcare is offered for little ones, from birth through pre-kindergarten, who are not yet ready to sit out in the sanctuary during Sunday services. Pastor Austin and Youth Minister Brandon Godfrey both make it a point to greet newcomers.
Restrooms are clearly marked and easy to find. Men's restrooms are behind the sanctuary, through the door on the right when entering the breezeway. Women's and family restrooms are in the building directly behind the sanctuary, through the first door on the right from the breezeway, and immediately on the left.
Those who wish to give can do so online through the church's iDonate page, and anyone with prayer requests or questions can reach the church office by phone or email. Worshipers who cannot attend in person can watch services on Facebook.
With its choir program, Sunday School classes for every age, a youth ministry rooted in Scripture, the Explore Archery program, and seasonal traditions that span the church year, East Maiden Baptist Church continues to serve as the extended hand of Christ to Maiden and the surrounding community.