Flat Creek Baptist Church gathers on a single campus just off Highway 54 in Fayetteville, Georgia, where two Sunday morning worship services, an active Sunday School hour, and a full Wednesday night of meals and ministry draw generations of families from Fayette and surrounding counties. The church's motto is "We are Living Proof of a Loving God to a Watching World."
Two Sunday Mornings, One Welcome
Worship is offered twice on Sunday. The first service begins at 8:15 AM and the second at 10:45 AM, with Sunday School for all ages meeting in between at 9:30 AM. First-time guests are asked to plan on arriving about fifteen minutes before the service begins, giving time to park, check in children, and find a seat before the music starts.
Greeters meet visitors at the Welcome Center near the Flat Creek Trail entrances, and guest parking is clearly marked. Those who would like help reaching the building can stand by their car and wait for a golf cart, or, if the handicap spaces are full or assistance is needed because of illness or injury, valet parking is available at the back Preschool Entrance. The service itself features dynamic, practical biblical preaching and multi-generational worship that blends a Sanctuary Choir, a Worship Band, and congregational singing in a variety of styles.
Dress is "come as you are." Suits and ties appear alongside jeans and flip-flops. The dress philosophy is captured in "man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Children's Worship is offered during both morning services in the Children's Building attached to the campus, and check-in uses state-of-the-art security.
Wednesdays Around the Table
Wednesday night at Flat Creek begins with a meal. Disciples Cafe serves from 4:45 PM to 6:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall, with a rotating weekly menu (recent menus have included BBQ, meatloaf, spaghetti, chicken, and fajitas) priced at six dollars for adults and four dollars for children. Families are asked to register by 11 PM the Monday before so a headcount can be made.
After dinner, the campus opens up by age. Preschoolers attend Mission Friends from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and Preschool Praise from 7:00 to 7:30 PM. Children in grades one through six gather for Royal Ambassadors (missions for boys) and Girls in Action (missions for girls) at 6:00 PM, with Kid's Praise following at 7:00 PM. Middle and high school students meet for Student Worship at 6:00 PM in their own space, and adults head to a slate of Fall Discipleship Classes that begin at 6:00 PM. Wednesday morning classes also meet at 9:30 AM, and a Tuesday morning Bible study for women meets at the same hour. Fresh Encounter, a weekly time of worship, Bible reading, and prayer led by Pastor Josh, meets in room A-101 from 6:00 to 7:15 PM.
Topics for the Fall Discipleship Classes rotate by semester. Recent offerings have included "Exodus" and "Exodus Pt. 2," "Esther," "Armor of God," "Mom Core," "I Want to Enjoy My Children," and GriefShare. A Support Group gathers on the third Tuesday evening of each month. Steve Newton coordinates the adult discipleship lineup and can be reached through the church office.
A Place for Every Child
Preschool Ministry serves children from birth through Pre-K under Preschool Director Hannah Lentz. The ministry meets during every Sunday service and Sunday School hour, and Wednesday evenings add Mission Friends and Preschool Praise. Events through the year include Vacation Bible School, VBS Music Camp, Kids Camp, summer activities, and Harvest Fest. All staff and volunteers working with children are trained through the Ministry Safe program.
Children's Ministry, led by Children's Director Mary Nama, walks students in the early elementary years through Bible Study, Children's Choir, and age-appropriate activities on Sunday mornings, with Wednesday nights adding Bible Drills and the Royal Ambassadors and Girls in Action missions groups. The staff sees these years as the foundation for a lifetime of faith and encourages service opportunities as children grow.
Students, College, and Young Adults
Flat Creek Student Ministry, directed by Minister of Students Ryan Appling, gathers sixth through twelfth graders for breakfast and Sunday School at 9:30 AM and for Student Worship on Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM. Each week the Student Praise Team leads an uplifting, exciting, and safe time, with teaching that challenges students to live as "worthy of our calling" in Colossians 3:17.
MNOW is the student ministry's annual weekend overnight event. Held on a Friday and Saturday in October, it brings students together for worship, a guest speaker, and mission projects in Coweta and Fayette counties. A Saints Alive trip to the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is offered to senior adults and families.
18/25 Ministries exists for the young adult years between high school and the early career. The group meets for Sunday School at 9:30 AM and for a Wednesday night small group at 6:00 PM, digging into God's Word, building community, and applying 1 Timothy 4:12 ("Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers").
Adults in Small Groups and Studies
Flat Creek's adult ministry centers on Sunday School at 9:30 AM, with two classroom zones: the A100 rooms downstairs and the A200 rooms on the upper floor (the main floor when entering through the Welcome Center). The small groups are Bible-centered and focused on three things: reaching people for Christ, teaching God's Word, and ministering to people in Jesus' name.
Think LifeChange is the church's discipleship and biblical counseling ministry. It meets on Thursdays from 3:00 to 6:00 PM and exists to help people "find hope, healing, and holiness in Christ" through discipleship, counseling, and Bible-based books, studies, and audio messages. Kerry Skinner and Alison Veazey oversee the program.
Marriage ministry gathers couples for the SoulMates Marriage Conference each fall, a weekend event featuring guest speakers and dedicated time for couples to grow closer together. Annual events such as the Ladies Christmas Event, the church's Stewardship Time team, and the SPARK Conference for ministry leaders round out the year. GriefShare meets as part of the Wednesday night class rotation.
Worship That Spans Generations
Music Ministry at Flat Creek is led by Minister of Music John Conrad, who plans and organizes worship services and music events and oversees the Worship Choir, Praise Band, and Praise Teams. The Sanctuary Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM and warms up in the choir room at 8:00 AM for the early service and 10:30 AM for the late service. The Worship Band rehearses at 7:15 AM on Sunday mornings and 7:30 PM on Wednesdays in the Sanctuary.
Children's and student music are woven into the same vision. Preschool Praise gathers the littlest singers on Wednesday nights, Kid's Praise meets older children at the same hour, and Student Worship features its own Student Praise Team. The worship philosophy is "worshiping Him in spirit and in truth," and the music ministry seeks to bridge generations through a variety of songs and styles.
The musical year includes several signature events. Hymns of the Harvest brings a bluegrass and gospel guest artist for an evening meal and concert each autumn. A Joyful Hallelujah is the church's annual interactive Christmas presentation with band, brass, choirs, and drama. Carols, Candlelight and Communion closes the year on a December Sunday afternoon and evening. The Flat Creek Podcast carries Sunday morning messages, including sermons by Pastor Josh and guest preachers, and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and Amazon Music. A RightNow Media account gives the congregation access to thousands of Bible study videos and resources.
Missions Near and Far
Beverly Turner leads the Missions Ministry Team. Each summer the church sends a team to Chanku Waste Ranch on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota, where they partner with the Oglala Lakota people on building projects and outreach. Locally, Angel Tree each Christmas season invites the congregation to provide gifts for families in need, with an Angel Tree Table set up in November and collections coordinated by Hannah Lentz.
The church also extends its missions footprint through events that train and resource other ministries. The SPARK Conference, hosted on campus in September, brings together lay leaders, children's, women's, men's, missions, student, worship, and small group leaders for breakout sessions designed to equip anyone involved in ministry.
Crossroads Christian School Comes to Campus
In August 2026, Crossroads Christian School will begin holding classes on the Flat Creek campus. The partnership reflects a shared vision for nurturing children academically and spiritually, and the school will operate independently with its own administration. Contact for the school is (770) 487-0677 or frontdesk@ccsadmin.org.
Building a Legacy
Flat Creek is in the middle of a building campaign titled "Building a Legacy. Shaping the Future." The campaign funds new worship, teaching, and family spaces designed for the multi-generational congregation the church has become. The groundbreaking goal is twenty percent of the eleven-million-two-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar total, with pledges and donations tracked through the New Build campaign. A video walkthrough of the proposed building is available. Giving to the campaign and to the general budget is accepted online through the church's Realm giving portal and by mail to the PO Box listed in the church directory.
Beliefs and Affiliation
Flat Creek Baptist Church holds to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as its Statement of Faith, the confessional standard of the Southern Baptist Convention. The church teaches that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that believers are called to share their faith and serve their neighbors. Sunday morning preaching walks through books of the Bible in a dynamic and practical way, and every ministry flows from the conviction that "life change happens when God's Word is brought to bear on life's struggles."
Leadership and Staff
Senior Pastor Dr. Josh Saefkow, a native of Creston, Ohio who holds a Doctorate from Gateway Seminary in Ontario, California, came to Flat Creek in December 2016. He is married to Kelsie Saefkow of Macon, and they have two daughters, Chloe and Sophie. Ryan Appling serves as Minister of Students, having grown up in Henry and Fayette counties and returned to Georgia in 2017 with his wife Kayla and their children. John Conrad joined the staff as Minister of Music in 2024 after four decades of ministry in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. Mary Nama leads Children's Ministry after more than thirty years of working with children. Hannah Lentz directs the Preschool Ministry, having grown up in Fayetteville and previously served as a children's minister in Prattville, Alabama.
The full-time team also includes Kyle Brooks as Director of Men's Ministry, Beverly Turner as Missions Ministry Team Lead, Rhoda Slaughter as Food Service Coordinator, Kim Green as Stewardship Team Lead, and Steve Newton as the coordinator for adult discipleship. Cassondra Cerniglia serves as Financial Administrator, James Stewart as Business Administrator, Gyorgy Kovacs as Facilities Manager, and Noah Eller as Media Coordinator.
Getting to Flat Creek
The church sits just off Highway 54 on Flat Creek Trail in Fayetteville. Visitors are encouraged to use the marked guest parking near the Welcome Center, where a greeter will be waiting to help with check-in. Sunday worship begins at 8:15 AM and 10:45 AM, with Sunday School at 9:30 AM. Wednesday nights include Disciples Cafe at 4:45 PM and ministry for every age group beginning at 6:00 PM. Messages are available each week through the Flat Creek Podcast, and giving can be made online or by mail. The church office can be reached at (770) 487-4890 or info@flatcreekbaptist.org.