Magnolia Baptist Church gathers on King Road in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where it is known for a church life built around worship, Bible study, music, discipleship, fellowship and service. Organized in 1950 as Westside Baptist Church, Magnolia grew from eight people and eight ministers gathered in the home of Mrs. Mattie Murphy to a congregation serving children, teenagers and adults at 148 King Road. The church calls itself a "church of opportunities," with many ways to worship, study, sing, serve and build relationships.
From Westside Baptist to Magnolia on King Road
Magnolia's story begins on October 20, 1950, when Westside Baptist Church was organized in the home of Mrs. Mattie Murphy at 109 S. 13th Ave. in Hattiesburg. Eight people were present, assisted by eight ministers, and Rev. W. A. Stonecypher served as the organizing pastor. That small beginning established the congregation that would later bear two names and find its home on King Road.
The congregation purchased the property at 2000 W. 4th St. on January 21, 1951, and held its first services in the original building on March 18, 1951. The church's early life was rooted in this former Hattiesburg property, where it developed the worship, teaching and community relationships that would shape its later work. On January 2, 1994, the church changed its name to Magnolia Baptist Church, due primarily to the rapid westerly movement of the city of Hattiesburg.
On October 8, 1995, Magnolia purchased a new tract of land in Lamar County for future development. Construction began in November 1997, and the first services in the new building were held on April 19, 1998. The move from 2000 W. 4th St. to 148 King Road established Magnolia's present home, where the church continues to gather for Sunday worship, Wednesday ministries, music, fellowship and service.
Greg Medenwald has served as pastor since November 1975, giving him a pastorate that spans the church's years under both the Westside and Magnolia names. He graduated from William Carey College in Hattiesburg in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion. His pastoral role places him at the center of Magnolia's stated mission to worship God, grow in discipleship and serve people through Christian ministry and fellowship.
A Sunday Built Around Worship and Study
Sunday at Magnolia follows a clear rhythm. Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m., Morning Worship begins at 11:00 a.m. and Evening Worship begins at 5:00 p.m. Celebration Choir practice follows the evening service. The nursery is open for all services, allowing younger children to be included in the church's gatherings while their families participate in worship and study.
Magnolia presents its services in a friendly atmosphere centered on Christian worship, Bible study, music, discipleship training and fellowship. The worship music deliberately ranges from traditional church hymns to contemporary praise songs, so the congregation does not have to choose between inherited hymns and newer songs. Scripture, congregational singing and the pastoral message are joined by the service presentation, which places lyrics, biblical passages and announcements alongside the music and preaching.
The two Sunday worship times give the church a full day of gathering, but Magnolia's ministry continues beyond the sanctuary. Sunday morning study is organized for different ages, young adults meet for their own weekly Bible study, and the evening service leads directly into choir practice. Every service is also available through the church's livestream, allowing absent members and visitors to participate from anywhere.
Scripture, Salvation and the Great Commission
Magnolia believes the Word of God is inspired, inerrant and infallible. It affirms the Trinity, acknowledging the deity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The church holds that faith in Jesus Christ is the one and only way to salvation and that all believers are eternally secure in their salvation. Its faith statement identifies the Scriptural mode of baptism for believers as immersion, and it names the evangelization of the world as the church's greatest mission.
Those beliefs shape Magnolia's purpose, which connects the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. The church seeks to obey the Great Commission by evangelizing its community and the world and helping converts. It also seeks to identify with Christ and grow in discipleship. In practice, that purpose includes obeying the Great Commandment by loving God through Christian worship and service and loving people through Christian ministry and fellowship.
The church's message is anchored in five biblical declarations:
- "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
- "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
- "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Evangelism, discipleship and service are not separate additions to Magnolia's worship. They are part of one purpose: to grow as a church, identify with Christ and love both God and people through worship, ministry and fellowship.
Bible Study for Every Stage of Life
Sunday morning Bible study at Magnolia is offered through small groups for children, teenagers and adults. The classes are designed to explore biblical teachings and discuss how those teachings apply to everyday life. Open discussion is part of the class experience, alongside prayer and fellowship. This approach gives people in different age groups a common activity while allowing each group to discuss the material in ways relevant to its own stage of life.
The Young Adult Bible Study meets weekly for people who want to deepen their faith and connect with others in a similar season of life. Its format is relaxed and welcoming, with opportunities to ask questions, share insights and support one another. The group studies Scripture in relation to the challenges and opportunities facing young adults and emphasizes fellowship, prayer, meaningful discussion and lasting friendships within the church community.
These classes are part of the discipleship training that Magnolia emphasizes throughout its church life. Bible study at Magnolia is not limited to one congregation, one program or one age. It offers a place for children, teenagers, adults and young adults to study Scripture, ask questions, pray and grow together in faith.
Wednesday at 6:15 and 6:30
AWANA, which stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, meets on Wednesday evenings during the school year from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. The program is nondenominational and open to children ages 3 through 5th grade. It runs from September through mid-May, with approximately 32 meetings during the year. A carline is available for drop-off and pickup, giving families a convenient way to accommodate the program's full schedule.
AWANA participants work through a handbook and earn awards while taking part in Bible lessons, Scripture memorization, whole-group activities, small-group time and recreation games. The lessons use the example of Christ to teach positive values and build character. Children also learn sportsmanship, how to work as a team and how to respect others. The church's AWANA ministry also supports missionary work and International Adopt-a-Club work through the program's weekly dues.
At 6:30 p.m., the same Wednesday evening includes Youth Assembly and worship. Magnolia's youth group provides a safe and welcoming environment for teenagers to explore their faith, build friendships and grow through Bible study. Its rhythm combines weekly gatherings, fellowship, outreach opportunities and activities that make spiritual growth part of a shared teenage experience. The nursery remains open for all services, including the midweek gathering.
From Traditional Hymns to Contemporary Praise
Music is a defining part of Magnolia's worship ministry. The church's music services range from traditional hymns to contemporary praise songs, with the goal of glorifying God and welcoming people with different musical preferences. This range gives the congregation room to sing familiar hymns, worship through newer praise music and participate in a service shaped by both.
The Celebration Choir welcomes singers of every age and skill level, from beginners to advanced vocalists. The choir leads the congregation in worship and comes together after Evening Worship for Sunday practice. Singing is joined by time to learn new songs, develop musical skills and build friendships in a supportive setting. The ministry makes room both for those who have sung for years and for people who are beginning to sing.
The Joyful Song Choir gives younger voices a place in that musical life. It consists of youth in 8th grade and under who sing and perform throughout the year, including during services and special events. The choir also presents plays that celebrate the message of faith, often during Christmas and Easter. Through singing, performance and theater, participants develop musical and theatrical skills while learning more about worship, teamwork and working together toward a shared goal.
Mission, Fellowship and Service
Magnolia's missionary life is especially visible through its Women's Missionary Auxiliary. WMA is composed of women authorized by local Baptist churches on the local, district and state levels. United in Christian growth, they support the ministries of their church and associations through personal ministry and youth auxiliaries. At Magnolia, WMA also supports missions and ministries both locally and globally, joining worship and service with encouragement among women.
The Brotherhood provides a parallel ministry for men through fellowship, spiritual encouragement and service projects. One visible expression of that work is a 12-by-12 covered outdoor cooking area near the Ministry Pavilion, built by the men of the Brotherhood. The Ministry Pavilion and outdoor kitchen have provided settings for worship, fellowship and shared meals, while the Brotherhood's broader ministry centers on bringing men together to serve.
Service also appears in the youth group's outreach activities and in AWANA's missionary support. These ministries give Magnolia's call to evangelize and serve a practical expression. The church has described its aim as being a growing church in a growing community, and its ministries connect biblical teaching with the use of time, gifts and relationships for worship, fellowship, missions and service to others.
Joining Magnolia's Worship from Anywhere
Every Magnolia service is livestreamed. Members and visitors who cannot attend in person can join from anywhere, and past services are archived on the church's YouTube channel. The livestream and archive make worship messages and musical worship available beyond the people gathered inside the church at 148 King Road.
The Media Ministry also enhances services in the sanctuary. Its presentation incorporates worship lyrics, Scripture and announcements in a visual flow with the music and preaching. That work supports both in-person and remote participants: in the room, the congregation can follow the words and passages of the service, while those joining from elsewhere receive the same elements alongside the livestream.
At 148 King Road, Magnolia Baptist Church remains a multi-generation Baptist congregation organized around Scripture, worship of Jesus Christ, discipleship, missions, music and service. Its story links the eight people who gathered with eight ministers in 1950 to a full rhythm of Sunday and Wednesday ministries. The same purpose continues to shape its life: to obey the Great Commission, identify with Christ, grow in discipleship, love God through worship and service, and love people through Christian ministry and fellowship.