First Baptist Church of Lithonia sits on Hillandale Drive in Lithonia, Georgia, in a sanctuary and fellowship hall built in the mid-1960s and oriented toward the I-20 expressway. The congregation traces its roots to a public meeting at the Lithonia School on December 31, 1847, and was formally constituted on February 18, 1848, making it one of the older Baptist bodies in DeKalb County. The current name is First Baptist Lithonia, and the church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention through its participation in the Woman's Missionary Union and the International Mission Board. Under the motto "A Place to Belong, A Place to Grow, A Place to Serve," the church offers a blended Sunday and Wednesday schedule, a long-running food ministry, a strong music program, and several intergenerational groups for children, students, adults, and seniors.
What Visitors Can Expect on Sunday Morning
Sunday School classes begin at 9:15 a.m., with coffee, juice, and snacks available in the gathering area from 9 a.m. Guests who want help finding the right class can stop by the Welcome Desk just inside the main entrance, where volunteers also save a reserved parking space in the upper lot for first-time visitors. The dress code is intentionally relaxed. Members arrive in everything from casual clothing to coats and ties, and visitors are welcomed to come as they are. The morning worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. and features a mix of choruses, hymns, and contemporary songs, supported by an organist, a pianist, and a rhythm section. The congregation describes its preaching as solid, Bible-based, and accessible to newcomers.
Parents of infants through age 3 can drop children off in the nursery, which is staffed by trained workers. Children ages 3 through 5th grade may remain in the sanctuary for the early part of the service and then be dismissed to Children's Church, where they are split into two age groups (ages 3-5 and grades 1-5) for stories, games, and crafts at their own level.
Wednesday Nights Around the Word and the Table
Wednesday is the other large gathering day at the church. Adult Bible Study meets twice, at 10:30 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m., giving morning and evening workers a chance to attend. At 6 p.m., children age 4 through 6th grade gather upstairs in the Children's Wing for Team Kids, a rotation of crafts, games, Bible stories, and a light snack. In the same hour, students in 7th grade and up head downstairs to the Youth Room for the youth group, where teaching is built around video, music, and interactive discussion. Both programs end at 7:15 p.m. A Wednesday morning Food Ministry also runs from 9 a.m. until noon, distributing grocery items to community members in partnership with the Atlanta Food Bank.
A Building with a Long Memory
First Baptist Lithonia has occupied four buildings in its history. The first was a one-room log house with a dirt floor, which doubled as the Lithonia School. The second was a frame building on the lot that is now the home of First United Methodist. The third sanctuary was constructed in 1861 on the corner of Stone Mountain and Main Streets and served the congregation through the Civil War and well into the twentieth century. The fourth and current home, a sanctuary with a fellowship hall, was built in 1964 to 1965 and dedicated in April 1966, set back from Hillandale Drive with its front face turned toward the I-20 expressway.
Downstairs in the present building, a small History Room preserves a striking collection of artifacts. Visitors can see a Bible presented to the church by John M. Phillips in 1882, a second Bible given by the Sunshine Class in November 1925, a stained-glass window salvaged from the downtown building, sports trophies from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, original platform chairs that match the present Lord's Supper table and podium, an organ from an earlier era, and a couple of pews. Photographs of every former pastor line the walls alongside the current pastor.
Pastors and Staff
Robert Lindsay has served as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Lithonia since June 2014. Before coming to Lithonia, he and his wife Barbara were church planters in Western Pennsylvania. He holds a Graduate of Theology degree from Liberty Bible Institute, a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, and a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary. The Lindsays have four grown children (Jim, Jake and Robin, Jona, and Joe and Christa) and nine grandchildren. Outside the church, the pastor enjoys camping, hiking, reading, an occasional round of golf, and home projects.
Linda McCullough is the Church Secretary and a fixture in the office. She has been a member of First Baptist Lithonia since 1956, began working in the church office in 1983, and has served full-time since March 1986. In her spare time she reads mysteries and Christian fiction, enjoys the ocean and lighthouses, and tends her yard in cool weather.
Janie Wells has been the church organist since 1959. She grew up at Lithonia First Baptist and studied piano and organ privately. She and her husband George have a daughter, two sons, and five granddaughters. Marva Kay Stewart has served as church pianist since 2008, having joined the church in 1985. A retired elementary school teacher of 43 years, she especially enjoys Southern Gospel tunes. She and her husband Tommy have been married for 50 years and have three adult children and three grandchildren. Artis Ricketts, known at the church as Brother Ricketts, leads the prayer team and coordinates the monthly phone prayer gathering.
Music That Has Outlasted Generations
The music ministry is anchored by longevity. The Sanctuary Choir leads worship every Sunday and presents at least two musicals a year. It is supported by Janie Wells at the organ, Marva Kay Stewart at the piano, and a rhythm section described as "upbeat drummers." Everyone is welcome to use their musical gifts in the choir, regardless of experience. The blending of older and newer musical styles - choruses, hymns, and contemporary songs - is intentional, giving the service a blended feel that fits longtime members and newer attenders side by side.
Children and Students
Beyond the nursery and Children's Church offered during the Sunday worship service, the children's ministry expands on Wednesday evenings with Team Kids, which combines Bible teaching, crafts, games, and a hands-on mission component. All children's workers agree to background checks, and the church is always looking for new volunteers with a heart for children and a love for God.
For students 7th grade and up, the Wednesday Youth Group meets from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in the Youth Room downstairs. Teaching is built around video and music, with a strong expectation of respectful behavior. Teens who regularly attend Sunday and Wednesday activities and who demonstrate maturity are eligible for special off-campus events, which have included Winter Jam at the Phillips Center, Faith Day at SunTrust Park, Operation Christmas Child shoe box assembly, Bold Mission Builder trips, Christian-themed movies, and Christmas lights and pizza outings.
Adults, Seniors, and Home Groups
Sunday School remains the backbone of adult life at the church. In addition to ongoing classes, the church offers short-term topical studies throughout the year, and guests can find help locating a class at the Welcome Desk. Home Bible Study Groups meet at varying times and locations in smaller settings for fellowship and growth, with seasonal men's and women's groups running for 6 to 12 weeks at a time.
Men meet monthly on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m. for a Men's Prayer Breakfast that includes fellowship, an encouraging devotion, and time for meaningful prayer. Volunteers can arrive early to help with setup; a $5 donation is optional.
Young at Heart is the church's seniors group, for adults ages 55 and up. It meets on the third Thursday of each month at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Participants typically bring a dish to share, enjoy a program of entertainment, and plan day trips to museums, gardens, and local attractions. Membership dues are $12 per year, with additional costs for trips.
The church also runs a Homebound Ministry that keeps a monthly bulletin board of homebound members. Volunteers choose a name and reach out by phone, card, or visit, making sure no one is forgotten.
Women's Missionary Union
First Baptist Lithonia has a long-standing Woman's Missionary Union, open to women of all ages, that engages in local mission projects and supports missionaries worldwide. Current projects include backpack buddies for elementary schools, collecting socks for the Atlanta Union Mission, a nursing home shopping spree, Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, financial support for missions, and providing school supplies for children. The WMU is organized into three groups: Baptist Middle Women, for younger women, which meets on the 2nd Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in individual homes or at Panera; Active Baptist Women, for mature women, which meets on the 2nd Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall; and Dayspring Baptist Women, for senior adult women, which is currently not meeting. The church is affiliated with the WMU Executive Board and the International Mission Board through its mission partnerships.
Reaching Beyond the Church Walls
Outreach at First Baptist Lithonia is a year-round rhythm of community events, supported by a volunteer team. Highlights include a Back to School Bash with book bag and school supply giveaways, sports clinics, a Fall Festival with carnival games and a giant slide, Vacation Bible School (a recent theme, "Emerald Crossing," walked children of all ages through Psalm 23 with games, snacks, crafts, music, and Bible stories), an Easter Egg Hunt, teen movie nights, and Hoop and Pizza Nights. Fellowship events for the wider neighborhood include Trivia Game Nights, concerts, movie nights in the Sanctuary, and Super Bowl Parties.
Two ministries take the church off-site. Ministry at Traditions sends volunteers to Traditions Health and Rehab on the 4th Sunday of each month at 2:30 p.m., where they lead music and Bible teaching for the residents. Yellow Brick House is a weekly Sunday morning ministry at 9:15 a.m. for elderly residents, who enjoy sweet music, Bible teaching, and the encouragement that comes from it. A Missions Team coordinates local mission opportunities such as construction, disaster relief, and a variety of teaching and serving ministries.
Live Wire: A Prayer Line for the Church
On the last Thursday of every month at 6 p.m., a phone-based prayer gathering called Live Wire links the congregation together. Anyone with a phone can dial 339-209-5380, introduce themselves, and join the call. Participants are not required to pray out loud - silent prayer is welcome. Artis Ricketts, the prayer team leader, fields questions about how the gathering works.
Christian Counseling Through FBL "CARES"
For those dealing with abuse or emotional struggles, First Baptist Lithonia offers Christian Counseling through its FBL "CARES" ministry. The acronym stands for Counseling for Afflicted, Restoration Emotionally and Spiritually, drawn from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. A peer counseling team provides the ministry at no charge, and those interested can leave a message at 770-482-8703 to schedule a call back.
A Weekly Food Ministry on Hillandale Drive
Every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon, the church opens its food ministry to the surrounding community. Recipients fill out a short intake form and receive groceries for their families at no charge. The ministry partners with the Atlanta Food Bank and is always in need of additional community volunteers to help with setup, distribution, and hospitality. The food ministry is one of the most visible ways First Baptist Lithonia lives out its calling beyond Sunday morning.
Getting Around the Church and Staying in the Loop
The church building houses the Sanctuary, the Fellowship Hall (used for Young at Heart, women's gatherings, and large meals), the Children's Wing upstairs, the Youth Room downstairs, the History Room, and the church office. The mailing address is P.O. Box 378, Lithonia, GA 30058, while the physical address is 6616 Hillandale Dr., Lithonia, GA 30058. The main phone number is (770) 482-8703. A weekly newsletter, The Lithos, is available as a PDF download. Sermon recordings are posted under the Sermons tab, and the events calendar can be subscribed to in iCal, Google, or Outlook format. Giving is facilitated through the church office and at the address listed above.
Beliefs and Identity
First Baptist Lithonia identifies as a Baptist congregation in the Southern Baptist tradition. The church's mission language centers on belonging, growing, and serving, and its practices reflect that focus: weekly Bible study, blended worship with both hymns and contemporary songs, a strong missions identity through the WMU and the International Mission Board, intentional ministry to children and youth, and consistent outreach to seniors, the homebound, and the wider Lithonia community. Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time or looking for a long-tenured church home with deep local roots, the congregation presents itself as a place where every age has a role and every member is known.