Set among the oak-shaded blocks just south of downtown Athens, Milledge Avenue Baptist Church has long been a steady presence on South Milledge Avenue. The congregation is identified today less by its address than by the breadth of its welcome and the depth of its partnerships across the region. As the church puts it plainly, it is "an inclusive Christian community" that welcomes "the entire human family" without regard to race, age, creed, ability, marital or economic status, gender identity, or sexuality, and it is "fully inclusive of LGBTQ and gender at all levels - in leadership, in marriage, in our governing body, and in our congregation."
A Cooperative Baptist Identity
MABC is a member church of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and it shares CBF's commitments to Bible freedom, soul freedom, and church freedom - that is, the freedom of every Christian to interpret Scripture under the Holy Spirit, the priesthood of all believers, and the autonomy of each local congregation. The church is explicit that it is not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Inclusion is also written into its core values, alongside a stated commitment to religious freedom for everyone and the separation of church and state. Membership is open to baptized believers, and baptism by immersion is held up as the biblical example while baptism by sprinkling and pouring is also recognized.
Sundays at MABC
The week gathers around Sunday morning. Coffee and pastries begin at 9:45 am in the Gathering Room, giving way to Sunday School classes and small groups at 10:00 am. Worship starts at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary and is also broadcast on the church's YouTube channel. The service typically runs about an hour. Ushers hand out a printed bulletin at the door, and visitors are not asked to stand or introduce themselves during the service - though a connection card is available for anyone who would like to share their visit afterwards.
Worship is designed with families in mind. Children three and older are encouraged to attend the full service; the worship time includes a Children's Sermon, after which children in third grade and younger may walk upstairs with an adult helper to Children's Church on the second floor of the Kinney Children's Building. Worship bags and a Children's Bulletin with lectionary-based activities are available for young children who stay in the pews with their parents.
What to Wear, Where to Park
The church is candid about parking: the lots sit behind the building and are accessed from Marion Drive, with additional guest spaces along the Gran Ellen Drive side. Accessible parking is reached by entering from Gran Ellen Drive and following the driveway to the right. As for dress, the guidance is simple - "whatever makes you feel the most comfortable," since "you will see a wide variety of outfit styles each Sunday."
Children and Youth
Children's ministry centers on the Children's Wing. The nursery, staffed by volunteers and paid caregivers, serves infants through age five on the first floor; families receive a pager in case they are needed during worship. Preschool Sunday School is also on the first floor, and classes for grades K through 5 meet on the second. The church uses the Great Big Bible Walkthrough curriculum. Once a month, children and their parents are invited to Stay and Play after worship for lunch, games, and a slower afternoon. Seasonal events fill the calendar: an Easter Egg Hunt, a summer Pool Party, Passport Kids Camp, Kids Camp, Promotion Sunday and Blessing of the Backpacks, and a Christmas Party.
Youth ministry, led by Associate Pastor Dr. Ginny Dempsey, runs on the principle that faith and friendship belong together. Youth meet every other Sunday after worship for a couple of hours to share lunch, games, and a devotional, often choosing the topics themselves. The year is shaped around a Fall Lock-In, a Pumpkin Patch season in October when youth help unload and sell pumpkins, a Christmas Party, a February Winter Retreat focused on stress and anxiety, and a summer trip. The youth also partner with other area churches - Athens Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Oconee Street United Methodist - through a PRISM youth network.
Small Groups and Sunday Morning Classes
More than a dozen small groups and classes meet in homes, on Zoom, and around the church campus:
- Disciples Class. An adult Sunday School class that discusses current events alongside scripture and meets in Education Building Room 221 at 10:00 am, with a Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person.
- Fabulous Faithful Friends. A women's small group led by Martha Moore in Room 220 at 10:00 am on Sundays.
- Coffee and Conversation. A 10:00 am gathering in the Gathering Room for anyone who would rather share pastries than parse the lectionary.
- Sanctuary Choir. Rehearsals on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:45 am in the choir room downstairs. UGA music scholars sing alongside the volunteer choir.
- College Small Group. For undergraduates, led by Libby Grace Garrett, meeting after worship on Sundays.
- Young Adult Small Group. A gathering led by Clinton and Kayla Rogers and Susannah Pearson; new participants can reach out through the church office.
- Milledge Middle Ages. A small group geared toward people in their thirties and forties (though not strictly age-bound), hosted by Leia and Joe Berry every other Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
- Prayer Wraps. A handcraft ministry of knitters, crocheters, and quilters who meet monthly to make wraps for anyone who needs comfort. The group welcomes beginners and visitors.
Beyond the recurring groups, Men's Breakfast gathers at Mama's Boy at The Falls of Oconee on Tuesday mornings, and a monthly Fellowship Dinner rotates among local restaurants.
Music and Worship Arts
The Music and Worship Arts ministry is led by Dr. Anne Brittain, who joined the staff in January 2026 after years of service in Baptist churches across Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Karen Byrd, the church organist and wife of Pastor Nathan Byrd, accompanies worship. The Sanctuary Choir carries much of the music in Sunday worship and is open to new singers; UGA music students regularly join the ensemble as music scholars. Each year includes a Choir Retreat that previews upcoming music and welcomes the new scholars, and a Christmas season rich with seasonal choral worship.
Mission Partners Around Northeast Georgia
MABC is a deeply outward-facing congregation, and its mission partnerships read like a map of the Athens faith and service community:
- Family Promise of Athens. The church participates in Family Promise's rotating host weeks, providing meals, gift cards, and supplies to families with children experiencing homelessness.
- Jubilee Partners. A rural Georgia Christian community that hosts refugees fleeing violence and persecution; MABC supports their work of hospitality.
- Athens Area Diaper Bank. MABC serves as a drop-off location; a diaper bin sits inside the office entrance.
- Athens Recovery Warriors. A peer-led organization serving people impacted by the opioid crisis, mental health challenges, and substance misuse across several surrounding counties.
- Divas Who Win. A local nonprofit walking women through recovery from sex trafficking, prostitution, and addiction toward sustainable, independent lives.
- Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition - Athens. A cross-congregational group offering hospitality and safety for immigrants in the area.
- Interfaith Clergy Partnership of Greater Athens. A multi-faith gathering of local clergy working on shared community concerns.
- Abrahamic Alliance. A longstanding interfaith partnership that began after 9/11 between Al Huda Islamic Center of Athens, Congregation Children of Israel, and MABC, later joined by the Bahai Fellowship of Athens. The group has built Habitat for Humanity houses together.
On the denominational side, MABC supports the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia and CBF Global, Baptist Women in Ministry of Georgia, and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. The Table UGA, an inclusive campus ministry at the University of Georgia, is also a close partner.
Weddings, Funerals, and the Building
The church's sanctuary, education building, and Children's Wing host both weekly worship and life-event services. Weddings at MABC are treated as services of worship, and funerals are framed as "important" times to remember loved ones. Detailed wedding and funeral policies are available through the church office.
The People Who Lead MABC
The pastoral staff is led by Dr. Nathan Byrd, who grew into the church after moving to Athens in 2000 and joined the staff as pastor in 2019 after eighteen years of college ministry at the University of Georgia. Dr. Ginny Dempsey, an Athens native and UGA football fan, has served as Associate Pastor for Students since 2014. Dr. Anne Brittain became Minister of Music and Worship Arts in January 2026. Susannah Pearson, the Ministry Associate, and Sarah Pledger, the Nursery Coordinator, round out the staff team.
Staying Connected
The church's weekly newsletter, The Friday Flash, carries updates on classes, events, and service changes. Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, sermons are posted online, and giving can be made through the church's online portal or by mail. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at 1690 S. Milledge Avenue.