Elizabeth Baptist Church is a Metro Atlanta congregation with four campuses and a ministry life that stretches from nursery classrooms and youth groups to food access, urban farming, care ministries, and global missions. It is known for Bible-based, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-led teaching, expressive worship, and a mission to multiply disciples who make a difference.
Sunday Worship Across Four Metro Atlanta Campuses
Worship is offered at four locations, with the Atlanta campus also serving as an online worship gathering. The same church gathers at these weekly times:
- Atlanta Campus: 4245 Cascade Rd SW in City of South Fulton. Sunday services are at 7:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and noon, both in person and online, followed by online-only worship at 6:00 p.m.
- Smyrna Campus: 2581 Spring Rd. Sunday worship begins at 8:30 a.m.
- Douglasville Campus: 2990 Bright Star Rd. Sunday worship begins at 10:45 a.m.
- Marietta-Austell Campus: 1521 Hurt Rd SW. Sunday worship begins at 10:45 a.m.
The 6:00 p.m. Atlanta service and Wednesday Night Bible Study at 7:00 p.m. are available through live online worship.
All are welcome at EBC worship. Large families, reunions, ministry teams, and special guests can request group seating and the appropriate level of hospitality. The Hospitality Ministry greets people with warmth, Doorkeepers for Christ help guests and members feel comfortable as they enter, and the Parking Ministry guides and assists members and guests with parking. Transportation Ministry provides timely, safe transportation to services for members in need. Hands That Speak provides American Sign Language interpretation during worship and other experiences as requested. The main office is at 4245 Cascade Rd SW in Atlanta, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with phone 404-691-3146.
From a 1928 Taliaferro Street Storefront to Cascade Road
The church began in 1928 when six members of Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta took a step of faith and established Elizabeth Baptist Church, naming it for Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. In March 1929, Reverend E.D. Florence and the members moved to a storefront at 100 Taliaferro Street. Auxiliaries were formed to help people grow spiritually, socially, and economically, with Christ at the center of the ministry.
That foundation continued under a succession of pastors. Reverend Milner led from 1936 to 1938; Reverend Gates moved the congregation to 556 Tatnall Street in 1940; and Reverend R.L. McKibbins was appointed in 1945. James E. Hightower, Sr., one of three deacons ordained under McKibbins, became pastor in 1959.
Under Hightower, Elizabeth moved to 3675 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and grew to more than 2,500 members. By 1969, more than twelve ministers had been licensed or ordained, and a Bible study curriculum was developed to establish members in the faith. Hightower's philosophy of ministry was Bible-based, Christ-centered, and Holy Spirit-led. A new sanctuary was added in 1982. In 1990, the church purchased 29.6 acres on Cascade Road and received 4.5 additional acres. It moved to 4245 Cascade Road in November 1996 under Bishop Craig L. Oliver and later acquired 80 more acres.
One Church with a Mission Beyond Atlanta
Church leadership developed its mission, vision, values, and purpose in 2007. The mission is to lovingly lead lost individuals into a relationship with Jesus Christ and to develop mature believers. Its witness is described as Jerusalem, meaning Atlanta; all Judea and Samaria, meaning state and national communities; and the uttermost parts of the earth, meaning global ministry.
The Great Commission shapes the church's emphasis on making disciples and multiplying churches. Its Global Outreach work equips and mobilizes members to make disciples of Jesus Christ and establish churches among nations, beginning in greater Atlanta. This outward movement grows from a firm emphasis on spiritual development through Life Groups, Bible Institute, Bible study, and personal discipleship.
Elizabeth operates as one church in multiple locations. The Collaborative Preaching Team is a coed group that brings a consistent message to live preaching through an exegetical approach grounded in the Word of God. Members are encouraged to carry biblical teaching into daily life, strengthen their faith, and share love and hope with others.
New Members classes explain where the church is going, what it believes, and how it is structured. Sunday classes meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., and Tuesday classes meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Completion prepares a person to consider becoming an official member and joining the shared work of reaching the world for Jesus one person at a time.
Worship Where Music, Movement, Lyrics, and Theater Meet
The Worship and Arts Department uses musical, movement, lyrical, theatrical, and technological expressions to create an uplifting and informative worship experience. Music opportunities include worship teams, choirs, ensembles, soloists, and instrumentalists. The department also serves the surrounding Metro Atlanta community through creative ministry.
Creative opportunities extend to modern, hip-hop, liturgical, and steppers dance; spoken word and rap; mime; acting, writing, directing, staging, and wardrobe; and communications such as film and television acting, on-camera speaking, voice acting, and voice-overs. People can contribute through artistic performance, production, technical support, or administrative assistance. The Collaborative Preaching Team complements these varied worship expressions by keeping the preached message consistent across the church's locations.
Greenhouse: From Three Months Through Twelfth Grade
Greenhouse is Elizabeth Baptist Church's children and youth department. It offers in-person, Zoom, and on-demand programming centered on Bible lessons, interactive activities, hands-on learning, corporate worship, small-group discipleship, fellowship, and service to others. The ministry emphasizes a safe, fun, and nurturing environment in which children and teenagers can grow in Christian principles.
- Nursery: Ages 3 months through kindergarten
- Children: Grades 1 through 5
- Youth: Grades 6 through 12
Nursery and elementary programming meets in person at 9:30 a.m. at the Atlanta campus and at 10:45 a.m. at the Douglasville campus. The online youth gathering is available by Zoom at 9:30 a.m. and noon on Sundays, with additional video opportunities for families and students.
God's Little Seeds provides a Christ-centered environment for children with special needs ages 3 to 7 while their parents attend worship. It serves children with or without a diagnosis at the Atlanta campus during the 9:30 a.m. and noon services. The ministry provides tailored learning experiences but cannot accommodate children who require medical attention or may present a danger to other children or leaders.
Greenhouse also connects families with Cub Scouts for kindergarten through fifth grade, Scouts for ages 11 to 17, and Upward Sports for ages 5 to 12. These programs emphasize character, community service, leadership, respect, citizenship, fitness, and sportsmanship. Outreach Basketball serves males and females ages 13 to 19.
Life Groups, CAMP, and a Place for Every Season
Life Groups gather weekly in supportive, relational settings where younger adults, young adults at heart, and seasoned church members can grow together. Groups meet in person or online, making room for community, spiritual growth, accountability, and discovery of God's purposes for their lives.
CAMP provides another style of connection. These virtual groups meet through Zoom for 30 minutes each week to worship, hear encouragement from an EBC leader, and discuss practical ways to live out faith together and apart. CAMP operates in eight-week sessions four times a year. Membership is not required, and people can participate from wherever they live.
EBC Vibe serves young adults ages 18 to 32, while S.A.L.T., Single Adults Living in Truth, engages single adults through interactive conversations and social events. S.A.L.T. gatherings explore thoughtful topics and include activities such as game nights and sing-alongs. Participation does not require church membership.
Women of Worship meets every fourth Saturday at 9:00 a.m., with breakfast served at registration. Meetings can also be watched through YouTube and the EBC online campus. The ministry hosts retreats and an annual conference focused on worship, instruction, spiritual growth, fellowship, and personal development.
Building All Men, or B.A.M., challenges and equips men through biblical teaching, prayer, discipleship, brotherhood, accountability, and service. Its emphasis is on spiritual leadership at home, in the church, at work, and in the community. Other ministries include Golden Years for people 55 and older, marriage enrichment for couples and newlyweds, and Toastmasters for developing extemporaneous speaking skills.
EBC Cares: Food, Education, Tax Help, and Healing
EBC Cares is the outreach arm of Elizabeth Baptist Church. It empowers communities through education, sustainability, and compassionate service through scholarships, urban farming, free tax preparation, tutoring, benevolence assistance, and partnerships with community organizations.
More Than Food is a food pantry that provides free food, community connections, and a welcoming environment. It also seeks to improve food access and promote healthier choices by using the Supporting Wellness at Pantries ranking system. The pantry collects items such as produce, beans, grains, protein, canned goods, and other foods that support balanced meals.
The Urban Farm at 4191 Cascade provides natural and organic vegetables, fruit, and herbs for people who are food insecure or have limited access to healthy food. It creates opportunities for people with green thumbs to plant, weed, and harvest, and for school-aged children to learn. Its produce also serves seniors, sick and shut-in members, and food-insecure families. One of the site's eight acres is designated for food production in the first phase. The farm's work goals include distributing fresh produce each week to 100 to 125 seniors while using sustainable and regenerative growing methods.
V.I.T.A. provides volunteer income tax assistance, and tutoring opportunities connect students with volunteer tutors. Celebrate Recovery offers a Christ-centered environment for people seeking recovery and celebrating God's healing from life's hurts, habits, and broken patterns. Compassion in Action responds to emergency and crisis situations in the congregation and Atlanta community.
Additional care ministries include DivorceCare support, GriefShare resources, and Our Journey of Hope Cancer Care Ministry, which offers spiritual support to people facing cancer and those who love them. Encouragers provides counseling and discipleship support, while the Nurses Ministry assists with illness or accidents. Health and Wellness Ministry offers education on health issues, and a broad mental health resource collection includes crisis, suicide prevention, veterans, postpartum, disaster distress, and LGBTQ support resources.
Local Neighbor Love and Global Church Multiplication
Local Missions seeks to meet physical and spiritual needs by listening to God, one another, and neighboring communities. Its goal is the flourishing of neighborhoods spiritually, economically, politically, educationally, legally, in health care, and through relief efforts. Creative local outreach has included the Taste of Grace Food Truck, the Donna Center, and the Hosea Helps Mommy and Me event.
Global Missions carries the same multiplication emphasis beyond Atlanta. Elizabeth partners with ministries to make disciples and multiply churches among nations, with work named in Ghana, Haiti, India, Kenya, Jamaica, Romania, and South Africa. Its local and global outreach is expressed through the motto, Inciting one another to multiply the breakthrough love of God.
Bishop Craig L. Oliver and Lady Chi'Ira Oliver
Bishop Craig L. Oliver, Sr. serves as Senior Pastor and became Elizabeth's sixth pastor in 1995 at age 21, after serving as its youth minister. He had accepted his calling at 16. His R.E.A.L. Experience stands for Restoring Hope, Empowering People, Advancing the Kingdom, and Leaving a Legacy. His preaching combines careful biblical teaching with practical points for spiritual growth and daily application.
Lady Chi'Ira Oliver leads Women of Worship and serves as a minister in her own right. She seeks to encourage women to become Titus 2 women who strengthen their homes and minister to their families. Under her leadership, W.O.W. has developed retreats, monthly gatherings, and an annual conference centered on worship, instruction, fellowship, and women of faith.
Black Culture, Media, and Everyday Formation
Elizabeth's Black Culture and Commerce work highlights Black-owned businesses in Atlanta, Black-owned national brands, and Black-owned children's brands. Black Cinema adds film and cultural media to that focus. Media and devotional resources such as RIGHTNOW Media and the 5-10-15 Daily Devotional support ongoing Christian formation.
Elizabeth Baptist Church's story links a small Taliaferro Street beginning with a four-campus Metro Atlanta ministry and a global vision for multiplication. Greenhouse, Life Groups, Worship and Arts, care ministries, EBC Cares, and local and global outreach all serve the church's calling to lead people into relationship with Jesus Christ, develop mature believers, and multiply compassionate disciples who make a difference.