Hope on Highway 27 in Carrollton
Tucked along a tree-lined stretch of North Highway 27, about a mile south of Exit 11 on I-20, Mount Holly Church anchors a stretch of west Georgia just outside the Carrollton city limits. The church's catchphrase is a simple one: "No one's perfect. Everyone's welcome," and members will tell you that the same words show up on the home page, on the welcome banner in the lobby, and on the lips of the First Impressions team waiting to greet first-time guests. Mount Holly belongs to the Church of God denomination and carries that Pentecostal heritage in its worship, its teaching, and its expectations about the work of the Holy Spirit.
What brings people in is the combination of a steady Sunday morning worship service, a midweek teaching hour that pulls in the whole family, and a roster of small groups that fill the spaces between. On any given week, the building might host a couple's small group, a GriefShare session, a young adults Bible study, or a food pantry line that snakes around the parking lot before the Wednesday night classes even begin.
A Half-Century of Ministry in West Georgia
Mount Holly is marking fifty-one years as a congregation, with the anniversary milestone observed each September. The church's timeline has been shaped by long tenures of service: Lead Pastor Jeff Maxwell first joined the staff in 2019 as administrative pastor before being called as lead pastor on May 23, 2021. Pastor Jeff, a Carrollton High School graduate who grew up in west Georgia, met his wife Stephanie while their families served in the same church. They married in 1994 and spent two decades in youth and music ministry before stepping into full-time vocational roles within the Church of God. In April 2024, Pastor Jeff announced that Stephanie would step into a new role as worship pastor, joining him on the church's ministry team. The couple's two adult children, Bethany and Cameron, also serve on staff and on the praise team.
The leadership team includes associate pastors Cory and Jessica Lanier, who oversee the youth ministry, and Micky and Megan Summerville, who lead Mount Holly Young Adults. A board of elders - Scott Cunningham, David Mayes, Greg Johnson, Tim Pardoe, Anthony Reese, and Aaron Chapman - supports the pastors with financial and spiritual oversight.
Sundays at Mount Holly
Sunday is built around a single, deliberate rhythm. Two adult Bible studies meet at 10:00 a.m. - one in the Board Room, the other in the Choir Room - and visitors can be pointed to either by a volunteer at the door. Children's check-in opens at 10:30 in the lobby, and at 11:00 the whole church gathers for the Sunday Service. The service is offered in person and online, with a livestream carried on the church's website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
Worship runs the range from hymn classics like "Victory in Jesus" and "Because He Lives" to modern favorites such as "Goodness of God," "Same God," "Way Maker," and "King of Glory." Set lists often build from a high-energy opener to a quieter altar set. The worship team, which includes vocalists, instrumentalists, and the church's dedicated production crew, leads pre-service prayer at the altar, and that time of intercession is treated as part of the service itself rather than a separate gathering.
Children sit out the main service for age-appropriate programming: KidZone cares for infants through age four, while mhKidz serves kindergarteners through fifth graders with music, art, drama, devotions, and prayer. Parents are given a numbered card when they drop off their children; if they are needed during the service, their number is displayed on the center screen in the sanctuary.
The sermon typically comes from Pastor Jeff, though Youth Pastor Cory Lanier and guest preachers fill the pulpit from time to time. The recent sermon series has worked through texts like 1 Kings 17, Joshua 3, Exodus 33, and Revelation 2-3, with titles such as "When the Brook Dries Up," "Sanctify Yourself," "Resting in His Presence," and "What the Spirit Is Saying to the Church." Communion is observed several times a year as a focal point of the service, and the August communion gathering included a special prayer for students, teachers, and administrators heading back to school.
Wednesday Nights: The Midweek Refuel
Wednesday is treated as a second front door. At 7:00 p.m., the Midweek Refuel opens with age-appropriate classes that run simultaneously across the campus. Nursery is available for newborns through age four, Girls and Boys Clubs meet for kindergarteners through fifth graders, MHYTH gathers students in sixth through twelfth grade, Mount Holly Young Adults meets in the church offices building, and Pastor Jeff teaches the Pastor's Class for adults thirty-one and up. Newcomers can join any of the classes at any point in the term - there is no formal registration, and a class location map is available for anyone who wants to find their room.
The Midweek Refuel functions as both teaching hour and small-group entry point. It is the night most newcomers are encouraged to try, because the format is informal and the classes are short enough to fit into a busy week. For adults, it is also the night the food pantry opens - generally on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. - so families can pick up groceries before classes begin.
Kids, Youth, and Young Adults
Mount Holly invests heavily in the next generation, with distinct ministries for each stage of growing up. KidZone and mhKidz cover birth through fifth grade on Sunday mornings, while Girls and Boys Clubs add Wednesday night programming for elementary-aged students. The children's wing uses a secure check-in system and a clean nursery that is available during every service, Sunday and Wednesday alike.
MHYTH, the youth ministry for sixth through twelfth graders, is led by Cory and Jessica Lanier. The group meets on Wednesday nights at 7:00, participates in regular outings, and maintains an active presence on Instagram at @mounthollyyth. Past youth-led services have included messages like "Winter Is Coming" and "Holy Ghost Shake-Up," and youth members regularly serve on the production and worship teams.
Mount Holly Young Adults is built for eighteen- to thirty-year-olds who are navigating early adulthood. Led by Micky and Megan Summerville, the group meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 in the church offices building and occasionally gathers off-site for bonfires, bowling, lunches, and other outings. Programming includes volunteer-led testimonies, teaching from ministry leaders, and open, in-depth Bible discussion. There is also a parallel small group called "The In Between," run by Cory Lanier, geared toward eighteen- to twenty-two-year-olds and held twice a month at Gallery Row Coffee.
Grow Groups: Small Groups for Every Season
Small group ministry at Mount Holly runs under the banner of Grow Groups, with the tagline "Growing Deeper, Living Connected." The church frames these groups as the place where real spiritual growth happens beyond the Sunday and Wednesday services, and the lineup covers nearly every demographic and life stage.
The Israel Group, led by Aaron and Wendy Chapman, starts a new round in late October and meets monthly in The Hall, exploring the biblical significance of Israel and the Jewish people. The Life Enhancement small group meets on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. in The Hall with Earl Sailors and Michael Howell. The Chapman Group gathers married couples on the last Sunday of each month. The Ray Group, led by Shannon and Heather, meets on the first Sunday of each month for adults in various stages of life. Verse Mapping with Kim Cargal and Miko Green meets on the last Monday of each month and uses the James Method to study Scripture one verse at a time. Coed Sports with Chase Smith gives teenagers and adults a chance to play softball and other sports in a Christ-centered environment.
Several short-term classes rotate throughout the year. GriefShare, led by Sandra Houston, walks participants through grief and healing after the loss of a loved one. Uncover Marriage, led by Lee and Linda Olvey, is a ten-week marriage experience built around curriculum from Anthony and Shannen Braswell. A nine-week Financial Class with Cory Lanier launches in October and explores what the Bible teaches about money. Other recurring offerings include women's Tuesday morning Bible studies with Diane Bentley, men's Bible studies with Ken Amandolia, and a ladies' midweek group with Shelley Amandolia.
The Mount Holly Food Pantry
The Mount Holly Food Pantry has become one of the church's most visible outreaches. Operating out of the church offices on the Highway 27 campus, the pantry is open on select Wednesdays from 4:45 to 6:00 p.m. - generally the first and third weeks of the month, though closures can happen around holidays or school breaks. There is no appointment required, no income requirement, and no cost, and the pantry is open to anyone in need regardless of spiritual background.
First-time visitors need to bring a government-issued ID and proof of residence (such as a current water or electricity bill). After signing in, households receive one bag of food, with contents varying based on donations and supply. Typical items include canned meats and vegetables, dried pasta, beans, cereal, bread, rice, soups, peanut butter, fresh produce in season, and bottled water. Personal care items - deodorant, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, and socks - are also available as supply allows. To serve as many families as possible, the pantry allows one visit per household per month, with emergencies handled case by case.
Jessica Somers directs the food pantry, and a steady stream of volunteers - many of them church members - keeps the operation running. The pantry's current needs list reads like a standard grocery list: canned beans, corn, peas, pasta, soups, rice, peanut butter, coffee, sugar, flour, hot dogs, bacon, and produce such as potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes. Donations are accepted during regular services, and financial gifts can be earmarked for the pantry through the church's online giving platform.
What the Church Believes
Mount Holly holds to the Church of God's Declaration of Faith, which its website lays out in full. The church believes the entire Bible is the verbally inspired, error-free written Word of God. Salvation comes through repentance, which the church teaches is commanded by God and necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Water baptism follows salvation and is performed by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Holy Communion is observed as a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, with the bread representing his body and the cup representing his blood.
The church confesses one God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and affirms that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, buried, raised from the dead, and now seated at the right hand of the Father as Intercessor. Justification, regeneration, and the new birth come through faith in the blood of Jesus, and sanctification follows the new birth through faith, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. Holiness is the standard of living for God's people.
The Pentecostal distinctives are clearly stated: the church believes in the baptism with the Holy Spirit after a clean heart, evidenced initially by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. It believes divine healing is provided for all in the atonement, observes the Lord's Supper along with the washing of the saints' feet, and looks for the premillennial second coming of Jesus - first to resurrect the righteous dead and catch away the living saints, and then to reign on the earth for a thousand years. The church also affirms the bodily resurrection, with eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Worship, Prayer, and the Presence of God
Across the church's vocabulary, the phrase "the life-changing presence of God" shows up again and again. Pastor Jeff has described his own calling as carrying both the heart of an evangelist and the role of a pastor, and the church frames its mission as leading people into that presence. Worship services open with pre-service prayer at the altar, and the Wednesday night class schedule is built around what the church calls "refueling" - a weekly touchpoint in the middle of the week for prayer, teaching, and ministry.
Prayer is woven into the life of the church beyond the services. An online prayer wall accepts requests and praise reports, with the option to submit anonymously. The Tuesday morning Intercessory Prayer gathering in The Hall focuses on lifting needs, believing for miracles, and covering the church, families, community, and nation in prayer. A team of staff and volunteers pray over each request that comes in.
Men, Women, and Senior Adults
Three adult ministries round out the church's ministry lineup. Better Men, the men's ministry for those thirteen and up, meets for breakfasts, dinners, fellowships, and outings under the leadership of Ken Amandolia. Fearless Ladies, the women's ministry also for thirteen and up, gathers for spiritual growth, service, outreach, and fellowship, with Stephanie Maxwell as ministry leader. Cheerful Hearts, the senior adult ministry for those fifty and older, meets monthly for dinners, fellowships, and outings under the direction of John and Jan Palmer.
Giving and the Anniversary Offering
Mount Holly practices tithing as an act of worship, with online giving, text-to-give at 678-257-1237, in-person giving during services, and a mail-in option at the church's address. Each September, the church observes its anniversary with a special offering that goes above regular tithes. In 2026, the fifty-first anniversary offering supports both ongoing ministry and facility needs, including a Principal Partnership program that allows members to give above their regular tithe to reduce the church's mortgage principal. The church frames this effort as an investment in the future: paying down debt now frees up ministry dollars for years to come.
Visiting Mount Holly
For anyone planning a first visit, Mount Holly's approach is simple: come as you are. The church notes that what you wear is less important than showing up, and that the parking lot has both general and handicapped spaces plus a cart shuttle to the front entrance. First-time guests are greeted in the lobby by the First Impressions team and offered a Connect Card to fill out - completing it comes with a thank-you gift. Nursery care is available during every service, and children's programs begin at 11:00 on Sunday mornings with check-in opening at 10:30.
Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and a phone call to 770-537-3370 connects visitors with staff. A Connect Card can also be filled out online by texting "MountHolly" to 97000. The Mount Holly Podcast carries each week's sermon to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and the church's own site, and services are available on demand in the Full Services archive. Whether someone arrives at 10:00 for Bible study, 11:00 for the main service, 4:45 for the food pantry, or 7:00 on Wednesday night, the building has a place for them.