On a quiet stretch of Woodlawn Road in the small town of Mansfield, Georgia, Mansfield Baptist Church has built its identity around two verbs - sharing and shaping. The motto, "Sharing Christ, Shaping Christ Followers," runs across the church's printed materials and web pages, and it gives a name to everything from Sunday worship to Wednesday night Midweek to the seasonal Vacation Bible School. The congregation gathers in a worship center that has long felt full on Sunday mornings, and a Building Exploration Committee has already drawn up renderings for a 20,400 square foot addition that would roughly double the sanctuary's seating, add an activity center with a basketball court and two pickleball courts, and create room for three new small group spaces and four offices.
Two Sunday Mornings on Woodlawn Road
Worship at Mansfield Baptist takes place at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM each Sunday in the sanctuary, with both services following the same order: congregational singing, prayer, Scripture reading, and expository preaching that lasts sixty-five to seventy-five minutes in all. The 8:30 service is livestreamed on Facebook Live each week and later made available for on-demand viewing. A second hour, 9:45 AM, sits between the two services and is reserved for Small Groups - the church's main setting for Sunday School-style Bible study, broken into classes by age, grade, and stage of life.
Dress at Mansfield is whatever a guest finds comfortable. Jeans and sports coats routinely share the same pews. Bibles are available in the Worship Center for anyone who did not bring one, and the church encourages visitors to fill out a guest card so the team can welcome them personally.
Mansfield Kids
Children's ministry at MBC, branded as Mansfield Kids, partners with families "to share Christ and shape Christ followers." The week is structured so that every age has a clear, age-appropriate environment from birth through fifth grade.
- Preschool (Birth-K4). Childcare is provided at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 AM. The preschool room is intentionally Christ-centered, safe, and secure, and the ministry's stated posture is that "kids are worth our best time, energy, and love."
- KidzWay Worship (K-5th). During both morning services, kindergartners through fifth graders begin in the sanctuary with their families. After the music portion of the service, children are dismissed to KidzWay Worship for a gospel-centered lesson and worship designed just for them. Children's ministry leaders meet the kids at the back of the sanctuary and walk them to the dedicated KidzWay room.
- Kids Small Group (9:45 AM). Graded small groups gather on the Kids Hallway between services for Bible study tailored to each age.
- Mission Kids (Wednesday, 6:30 PM). Wednesday nights include Mission Kids for K through 5th grade, teaching children about serving God by serving others and involving them in hands-on mission projects. Nursery is provided for infants and toddlers.
Seasonal family events round out the year, including Vacation Bible School (an "Illumination Station VBS" is planned for June 1-5, 2026, for preschool through fifth grade), Centri-Kid Summer Camp at Brewton-Parker College for second through fifth graders, Cookies with Santa, Easter Jam, and family outings such as a Southern Belle Farm day each fall.
Mansfield Youth
The youth ministry at MBC welcomes middle and high school students to a graded and gender-specific Small Group on Sundays at 9:45 AM in the Youth Building at the end of the children's hall. On Wednesdays, MBC Youth meets in the same building from 6:30 to 7:30 PM for fellowship, teaching, and discipleship aimed squarely at teenagers.
Outside the weekly rhythm, students have several annual trips and retreats to choose from: a Winter Retreat, Disciple Now weekend, Super Summer Wednesdays, and a week of Summer Camp. Past summer camps have included Student Life Camp at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center (June 15-19, 2026, with a $50 deposit) and an earlier session at Laguna Beach in Panama City Beach, Florida. The youth Instagram page (@mbc_yth) keeps families posted on upcoming events.
Midweek at MBC
Wednesday night at 6:30 PM is the church's Midweek gathering, and the church describes it as "the perfect time to recharge, reconnect, and grow in your faith with others." From 6:30 to 7:30 PM, four parallel gatherings meet across the campus:
- MBC Youth in the Youth Building for middle and high school students.
- MBC Kids down the children's hall for K through 5th graders.
- Men's Gathering (Forged) for men to connect, study God's Word, and be encouraged to lead with faith and purpose.
- Women's Gathering for women to grow in faith, share life together, and dig into Scripture through teaching and discussion.
Once a month, the Wednesday night pattern shifts. On the last Wednesday of the month, all ages come together for a Unified Night that begins with a shared meal at 6:30 PM, followed by a time of prayer, worship, and a brief church conference. Children and youth are dismissed to their ministries after dinner, while adults remain together for a dedicated season of prayer for the church, the community, and one another.
Small Groups by Stage of Life
MBC describes a Small Group as "a community of people who commit to growing spiritually and live intentionally alongside one another in the regular rhythms of life." Small groups are the primary context for discipleship at the church, and the 9:45 AM hour on Sundays is filled with classes designed for nearly every stage of adulthood. Adult classes include:
- The Young Married & Career Class (Adam & Kirsten McQuaig and Micah & Anjewl Compton) for young marrieds and young adults, with a focus on the exposition and application of the biblical text.
- New Beginnings (Cory & Angie Craver) for young couples with or without children, with teacher-led sermon discussion and intentional fellowship outside of class.
- Feeders (Asher & Karen Dozier and Adam & Brittany Morgan) for families with children, centered on sermon review, application, and shared experiences.
- Real Life, Real People (Darrien & Nancy Costley) for empty nesters who want a more intimate setting for transparent dialogue and prayer.
- College & Young Adult (Steve Knowles) for students and young adults in the transition from high school into college and the workplace.
- Branches (Shannon & Darlene Hudgins and Shane & Niki Waddleton) for parents of college students and early-phase grandparents, with a heavy emphasis on prayer, in-reach, and outreach.
- Upper Room (Charlie & Lynn Henderson) for a lighthearted, energetic atmosphere, mostly 55 and older, using Explore the Bible from LifeWay.
- Seekers (GW Davis), a traditional, Bible-teaching class mostly 60 and older that also uses Explore the Bible.
- Everyone Always (Brian Shuler) for those walking into the life of the church through a season of transition, following the current sermon series.
A separate group, launched by Stacy and Janet Hutcheson, serves young career adults - particularly those who are not married but established in their careers.
Adults: Forged, Ladies, and 50+
Beyond Sunday morning Small Groups, MBC's adult ministry organizes around three named tracks. Forged is the men's ministry, designed to challenge and encourage men to be faithful leaders in their homes, workplaces, and communities through discipleship groups, service projects, and special events. Ladies Ministry offers women of all ages Bible studies, fellowship gatherings, and seasonal events to deepen faith and build Christ-centered friendships. 50+ Ministry gathers adults aged fifty and older for social gatherings and mission opportunities.
Special Needs Ministry
Cory Craver, the Associate Pastor, also leads the church's Special Needs Ministry. MBC believes every individual is created in the image of God, and the ministry is committed to loving individuals with physical, emotional, or developmental challenges along with their families. Two practical offerings are central: a sensory-friendly room, staffed with trained volunteers and available during the 8:30 AM service for those who may find a typical worship environment overwhelming, and a series of family-centered events throughout the year - respite nights, fellowships, and seasonal gatherings - designed for connection and support.
Sharing Christ, Shaping Christ Followers
The church's mission statement is also the church's strategy. MBC organizes spiritual formation around three interlocking gears: Gospel, Practices, and Advancement.
- Gospel centers on belief in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the life transformation that follows, and the ability to articulate the good news to others. The church uses the Three Circles evangelism tool from the North American Mission Board.
- Practices are the three spiritual disciplines MBC emphasizes as essential to growth: personal devotion, corporate worship, and group engagement.
- Advancement is the outward-facing gear, structured around the local church, the local community, and the nations. MBC pursues this through local outreach, short-term mission trips, and partnerships with global missionaries.
To support that strategy, MBC runs a Discipleship Pathway with four stages - In Need of Christ, Initially In Christ, Intentionally Growing in Christ, and Investing Christ in Others - and offers a Growth Track beginning in 2026 with two options. Roots is designed for anyone new to following Jesus or looking to build a stronger foundation in their faith. Multiply is an intensive track for disciple makers who want to lead, teach, and live sent at home, in the workplace, and around the world. Both tracks meet on the fourth Sunday of the month across two semesters (January-April and July-October).
Other discipleship resources include a churchwide Fast held January 20-24 each year with downloadable fasting guides, Old Testament and New Testament reading plans, a church library open on Sundays and Wednesdays, and a year-round roundup of recommended podcasts and books.
The Mansfield Building Project
In 2025, a Building Exploration Committee presented the congregation with renderings for a substantial expansion. The plan envisions a 20,400 square foot building attached to the current worship center by a covered breezeway. Highlights include a sanctuary with up to 660 moveable seats, an activity center with a basketball court, two pickleball courts, and roll-up doors opening to a covered patio overlooking the playground, plus three 750-square-foot small group spaces, four offices, two handicap-accessible bathrooms with showers, a laundry room, and a large central lobby. Existing worship space would be repurposed for additional Next Gen ministry.
The Building Exploration Committee is made up of Archie Baker, Lacey Creech, Cory Craver, Neal Dose, Karen Dozier, Charlie Henderson, Stacy Hutcheson, Tim Lemonds, Tom Reich, and Brian Shuler. Following feedback gathered through an online survey, the church has set a Commitment Sunday for October 4, with groundbreaking to follow once official drawings are purchased.
What We Believe
Mansfield Baptist Church has adopted the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as its general statement of belief. At the heart of that confession is a high view of Scripture as God-breathed, true, and trustworthy; one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ; salvation by grace through faith; the autonomy of the local church; the ordinances of believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper; and the family as a foundational institution. The church also affirms the priesthood of every believer, the priesthood limited to qualified men as defined by Scripture, the Great Commission as the church's missionary mandate, and the historic Baptist commitment to religious liberty and the separation of church and state.
A shorter list of "Our Beliefs" appears on the church's introduction page: that Jesus Christ is at the center of everything, that He lived a sinless life, died in our place, rose again, and is coming back; that God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the Bible is God's accurate and authoritative Word; that sin has separated each person from God; and that forgiveness and a fresh start come through repentance, faith in Jesus, and commitment to His will.
Meet the Team
Neal Dose has served as Lead Pastor since January 2023. He and his wife Jessica have three children: Mary Logan, Ellie, and Charlie.
Brian Shuler joined the staff in August 2024 as Executive Pastor. He is married to Jolynn, and they have two sons, Bo and Jack.
Cory Craver serves as Associate Pastor with responsibility for Special Needs Ministry and Stewardship. He and his wife Angie have one son, Cale.
Jessica Compton is the Children's Director and the wife of David Compton, the Worship Director. They have two children, Anthony and Ansley.
Hunter Lesley joined the staff in November 2025 as Youth Ministry Resident. He is married to Alyssa.
Terri Biggers serves as Office Administrator and can be reached through church@mbclife.org.
Getting Connected at MBC
Anyone who wants to take a next step can fill out a guest card online, sign up for Growth Track, attend the MBC Life membership class, or simply show up on Sunday. Visitors can plan a visit through the church's website, give online through Planning Center Giving, or mail a check to the PO Box. The building sits at 101 Woodlawn Road in Mansfield, just minutes from the small town square, and the church's calendar - including seasonal events like the Boots Scootin' Bingo Ladies Night at the Mansfield Community Center, the Churchwide Chicken BBQ, the Onward Dinners, and the annual VBS - is updated monthly for families who want to plug in between Sundays.