Mount Vernon Baptist Church calls Sandy Springs home, just minutes north of downtown Atlanta. Since 1956, this Baptist congregation has been shaped by expositional preaching, Reformed theology, meaningful membership, and elder-led congregationalism. Its central pattern is know, equip, and send: know God and one another, be formed for faithful living, and be sent with the gospel through the local church. That conviction connects a Scripture-centered Sunday assembly with Bible classes for every age, hospitality in church homes, local mission partnerships, support for churches and missionaries abroad, and preparation for church leaders.
Sandy Springs Since 1956: One Assembly, Three Purposes
Mount Vernon is a community of believers gathered in Sandy Springs since 1956. Each week, the congregation comes together as one assembly for biblically ordered worship. The purpose of that gathering is not simply to sing and hear preaching, but to fuel discipleship, evangelism, and mission through the local church. The local congregation is central: relationships are formed in worship, doctrine is taught and practiced, members are equipped, and those who are sent go from a community that knows and loves them.
Knowing
Knowing is a confidence in God's Word and covenant love for his people. Mount Vernon's hope is to know God by faith alone in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. As people come to know God through Christ, they also come to know his people and grow in meaningful relationships within a local church. This is not a detached pursuit of doctrine. The church wants theological understanding and love for God to become love for neighbors, expressed in shared worship, friendship, hospitality, accountability, and the ordinary care of a church family.
Equipping
Equipping describes a deliberate effort to help one another live for God's glory and for the good of others. By the Holy Spirit's power, members seek personal, regular, deliberate growth in Christlikeness, especially when the world pushes people toward discouragement or compromise. Scripture is the means of formation. Mount Vernon aims for people who walk in love, reflect Christ in what they do, and pursue holiness without separating sound teaching from an obedient life. This emphasis explains the church's substantial schedule of classes, small groups, conferences, mentoring, and resources for adults, students, and families.
Sending
Sending carries the church's commitment beyond its own doors. Mount Vernon supports qualified Christian workers and missionaries, desires mature disciples, and seeks the planting and strengthening of biblically healthy churches. The goal is for Christ to be exalted among people around the world. Sending is joined to staying: healthy local churches remain strong enough to keep supporting the work, and members remain accountable for one another even as they take the gospel into neighborhoods, ministry partnerships, and mission fields. The result is a church whose missions begin in relation to its neighbors and extend through local churches and workers around the world.
A Reformed, Biblical Center
Mount Vernon has adopted the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as its statement of faith. Its teaching is rooted in the divinely inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God, with Christ at the center of biblical revelation. The church confesses one living and true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and summarizes salvation as God's gracious work accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection, received through repentance and faith, and continued in sanctification and perseverance. These beliefs are not presented as detached propositions. They are the framework for worship, church government, teaching, evangelism, mission, and the shared commitments of members.
Scripture shapes the church's view of the congregation as an autonomous local body of baptized believers associated by covenant in gospel faith and fellowship. Baptism is believer's immersion in water in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience through which the church remembers Christ's death and anticipates his return. Mount Vernon holds the offices of pastor-elder-overseer and deacon, while men and women are gifted for service. Elders provide prayer, teaching, and oversight; deacons serve practical needs that help maintain unity.
The church covenant gives those convictions a shared shape. Members promise to walk in love, pursue knowledge, holiness, and strength, uphold doctrine, ordinances, and discipline, contribute to ministry and the relief of the poor, cultivate spiritual gifts, and seek the salvation of family and acquaintances. They also promise personal and family devotions, instruction of children, just dealings, purity, prayer for one another, aid in sickness and distress, and readiness for reconciliation. The goal of these commitments is visible Christlikeness: a church family whose shared life bears the character of God.
Expositional Preaching, Joyful and Reverent Worship
Mount Vernon's Corporate Worship Service runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon at 850 Mount Vernon Highway NW in Sandy Springs. Its aim is joyful, reverent worship that is Word-centered, Christ-focused, and Trinitarian. The service includes congregational singing, prayer, public Scripture reading, the preaching of God's Word, and the regular celebration of baptism and the Lord's Supper. It is one gathering of the whole church rather than separate programs for different kinds of attendees.
Music, Prayer, and the Reading of Scripture
A small group of musicians and vocalists leads a mix of old and new hymns and songs. The music intentionally balances joy and reverence as an expression of relationship with Christ, and musicians encourage wholehearted congregational singing. The spoken and sung parts of the service are equally intentional: worshipers hear prayers of confession, praise and thanksgiving, and pastoral intercession, along with readings from the Old or New Testament and the recitation of creeds and confessions. The prayers extend beyond the congregation to the needs of the church and the wider kingdom of God.
The Sermon and the Text
Expositional preaching is the church's clearest preaching commitment. The main point of the sermon is meant to be the main point of the biblical text. Preaching series usually alternate between Old and New Testament books, and sermons generally run about 50 minutes. The sermon and talk archive preserves messages by Bible book, topic, series, and speaker, including expositional messages and talks given at ministry conferences. This emphasis on the text runs through the church's adult classes as well as the Sunday assembly.
Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Baptism is celebrated regularly, and the church teaches believer's immersion as an act of obedience and testimony to union with Christ. The Lord's Supper is observed once each trimester at the morning service and monthly at the evening service. Mount Vernon extends an orderly welcome at the table to visitors who are baptized believers and members in good standing of another gospel-preaching church. The church's affirmation that meaningful membership matters is therefore joined to a concrete practice of receiving qualifying visitors in fellowship.
Participation and Attire
Visitors do not have to take part in every part of worship. A person who is not a Christian may listen and observe and is never expected to affirm or sing things they do not believe. Sunday mornings are usually marked by business or smart casual clothing, while evening services are more relaxed. Dress may be more casual or more formal, and the church's practical instruction is simply that visitors should come as they are comfortable. After worship, pastors hope to welcome guests personally and offer the chance to stay for fellowship. First-time guests can also complete a visitor form so a staff member can follow up after the visit.
The Weekly Rhythm: Sunday and Wednesday
Sunday begins with Sunday School from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Adults study inductively or topically, while children and youth have age-specific classes. From 10:00 to 10:30, Coffee Fellowship at Connections Corner behind the Main Hall gives members and visitors time to connect before worship. Corporate Worship follows from 10:30 to noon. The congregation also gathers for evening prayer from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Main Hall, with singing, a brief devotional from Scripture, and prayer. Guests are never asked to pray aloud, and children age four and under have a storytime and playtime during this gathering. Evening prayer is omitted on the fifth Sunday of a month and in months when a members' meeting takes place.
Wednesday has a similar rhythm built around shared study. A weekly Fellowship Meal runs from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall before classes begin. No reservation is needed, and first-time guests and children age three and under eat free. Equipping Matters classes meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Adults study a topical curriculum in summer and fall and inductive Bible study in winter and spring. The children's gathering covers newborn through fifth grade, while students in grades six through twelve begin with a game in the gym and continue with Bible study and discussion. The church does not hold Wednesday dinners or Equipping Kids classes during June and July.
Little Explorers Through Equipping Students
Mount Vernon organizes family ministry around the conviction that parents and the church partner to show the next generation the way of Christ. The church describes children as a heritage from the Lord and treats biblical teaching, worship participation, relationships with caring adults, and safety as parts of discipleship.
Preschool Ministry and Little Explorers
Preschool Ministry serves children from birth through age four. During Sunday School, teachers provide a safe and enjoyable place for children to play and learn simple biblical truths through the Truth:78 curriculum. Little Explorers offers childcare from 10:30 a.m. to noon during the morning worship service. Children hear Scripture, make crafts, play, and join Preschool Praise, a large-group gathering with singing and dramatic presentations of Bible stories. At the evening prayer gathering, the same age group has storytime and playtime. On Wednesday, preschoolers at Equipping Kids enjoy activities, crafts, choir, and biblical teaching through The Big Picture Story Bible.
Elementary Ministry
Elementary Ministry serves kindergarten through fifth grade with age-appropriate instruction from Truth:78. Sunday School classes teach the rich doctrines of God and the gospel, while Wednesday Equipping Kids combines songs prepared for Sunday worship, creative activities, and biblical teaching through The Biggest Story curriculum. Older elementary students also take part in large and small group youth teaching that combines topical and inductive Bible study.
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry reaches students in grades six through twelve and seeks to root them in God's Word, help them follow Christ in every area of life, and partner with parents in raising mature disciples. Sunday School provides age-specific teaching, large and small group discussion, and leadership from an adult volunteer. Wednesday Equipping Students combines a gym game with Bible study and group conversation. Three times each semester, an elder gives a special talk or hosts questions and answers. Monthly youth fellowships use church homes for a meal, games, and a devotion from Scripture, and the ministry also includes a monthly game and teaching, outings, and a winter retreat.
Safety and Special Needs
Children's safety is described through concrete practices rather than a general promise. A family ministry policy manual sets procedures under the oversight of Children's Ministry staff and elders. Volunteers must complete required training, background checks, and sexual abuse prevention before serving. Security personnel monitor the building during services, a medical emergency response team includes medical professionals, and the church continues to improve security, communications, and related infrastructure.
Children with special needs are welcome in classes and activities alongside their peers. Mount Vernon can pair a child with a trained volunteer who builds a relationship, helps the child participate, and supplies visual aids, sensory tools, or other accommodations. First-time families may provide a special needs visitor form before arriving so the Children's Ministry team can prepare. For families with children who remain in the service, children's bulletins help younger worshipers participate, and a Mother's Room offers a live video feed for those caring for infants.
Adult Classes and Relationships That Continue Through the Week
Adult study is built to produce understanding and faithful application. Weekly Sunday School classes and Wednesday Equipping Matters classes combine inductive and topical study, including classes on biblical literacy, theology, worship, guidance, and other subjects that shape a Christian view of life. The goal is not only greater knowledge but deeper love for Christ, stronger faith, and a life shaped by Scripture. The church also provides an adult library and a monthly journal called The Perspective for further reading.
Covenant Groups extend that study into homes. These small groups are made up of members and generally meet once every three weeks to discuss the previous Sunday's sermon. Their purpose is spiritual conversation, accountability, and prayer in the setting of personal relationships rather than another classroom.
Women's Ministry helps women of all ages build relationships with other sisters in Christ, including one-to-one connection. Three times each year, the ministry gathers for teaching and encouragement at a Fall Gathering, Christmas Brunch, and Winter Retreat. These gatherings support the broader aim of meaningful relationships across ages and seasons.
College students and young adults ages 18 to 25 gather for lunch and fellowship once a month. The aim is connection with other Christians and a greater understanding of the importance of belonging to and serving in a local church. The gathering connects Sunday worship life with the lives of students and young adults between major church seasons.
Meaningful Membership in an Elder's Church
Membership at Mount Vernon is deliberately meaningful rather than nominal. It is a commitment to Christ, to fellow Christians, and to being shepherded by the elders, with mutual care, accountability, and discipleship at its center. When needed, the church practices loving correction and church discipline aimed at restoring believers to joyful fellowship. Meaningful membership is also part of its missions, because the local church is the means by which disciples are made and sent.
The joining process has four clear stages. A person first attends Sunday morning worship and an evening service, then joins Knowing MVBC, a four-part class about beliefs, leadership, culture, and commitments. Sessions meet on a designated first Sunday every other month, with lunch and childcare provided. The class is required for membership but open to anyone interested in learning more about Mount Vernon. Next comes an interview with two elders, followed by guidance toward baptism, continued discipleship, the Church Covenant, and a vote of affirmation by the congregation.
The Church Covenant gives membership substance. Members pledge to walk together in Christian love, advance in knowledge, holiness, and strength, uphold the church's doctrine, ordinances, and discipline, give regularly to ministry and relief of the poor, cultivate their spiritual gifts, and seek to lead others into fellowship. Personal commitments include family devotions, training children in Scripture, just dealings, purity, prayer for one another, care during sickness and distress, and reconciliation when offense occurs.
Authority rests with the congregation. Members have final authority over membership, doctrine, and leaders, while biblically qualified men serve as elders and deacons. Elders pastor and oversee the church through prayer and teaching; deacons meet practical needs that foster unity. Ministry coordinators and staff carry responsibilities for adult education, women's ministry, children's ministry, missions, administration, worship support, member welcome, facilities, and the library and bookstall.
The Pastoral Team
Senior Pastor Aaron Menikoff has led Mount Vernon since June 2008. He earned an M.Div. in Biblical and Theological Studies and a Ph.D. in American Church History from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, previously served on staff at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and was an elder and interim pastor at Third Avenue Baptist Church. Brad Thayer has served since 2008 and oversees operations, finances, facilities, and general pastoral duties. Dustin Butts joined the staff in 2014 and oversees family ministry, adult education, and biblical counseling. Jeffrey Timmons oversees missions, evangelism, and membership. Charity Roe directs children's ministry and brings experience as an elementary educator.
Sending the Gospel: Local Partnerships and Global Mission
Mount Vernon's missions work begins with a conviction that sharing the gospel and serving people in need belong together in the life of a local church. The church partners with other Atlanta-area churches and ministries to reach people with the good news throughout metro Atlanta. Local partners include Sandy Springs Mission, Good Samaritan Health Center, Cobb Pregnancy Services, Atlanta Care Center, Wears Valley Ranch, McIntosh Baptist Church, and Trinity Church Kennesaw. These relationships support the aim of sharing the gospel naturally and regularly while serving those in need with a sense of urgency.
International partnerships focus on strengthening missionaries, local churches, and mission organizations whose commitments include the gospel of Jesus Christ as the hope of the nations and the local church as the means and end of the Great Commission. Mount Vernon is involved in the Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, Germany, Scotland, and the Dominican Republic. Members hear updates from supported workers and take part in mission gatherings that connect the global work to the life of the congregation.
Cooperation extends through ACME Fellowship of Churches, 9Marks, Reaching and Teaching International Ministries, The Pillar Network, the Greater Atlanta Baptist Network, and the Southern Baptist Convention. The common thread is the strengthening of biblically healthy churches and qualified Christian workers. Mount Vernon describes sending as a two-way movement: churches support missionaries and workers, and those workers help churches across nations become healthy, multiplying witnesses to Christ.
Equipping Churches by Serving Other Churches
Ministry at Mount Vernon is not confined to the congregation's own programs. The church deliberately serves other churches through conferences, leadership training, and a pastoral residency designed to model a healthy local church.
Feed My Sheep has been held annually since 2013 for pastors, church leaders, and pastors' wives. Its aim is to equip and encourage leaders in truth, leadership, and fellowship through a theologically rich, relationally warm, and accessible conference. A related two-day gathering for pastors' wives focuses on connection, encouragement, biblical counseling, and perseverance in ministry. Audio from past conferences is preserved as part of the church's wider sermon and teaching archive.
The full-time Pastoral Internship is a five-month residency for men pursuing full-time ministry. Interns observe the pastoral staff, join sermon preparation and leadership meetings, meet individually with lay elders, participate in the church's weekly gatherings, and read about 9,000 pages of material. Each reading prompts a written paper and weekly discussion with pastors. The church provides a modest stipend and sometimes helps arrange housing with a member. Students at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary may receive credit for participating.
The 9Marks Weekender presents the building blocks of a healthy church through sessions on membership, discipline, corporate worship, congregationalism, raising up elders, and Word-based ministry. It is oriented toward male elders and pastors, seminarians, those pursuing vocational ministry, and interested church members. The emphasis reflects Mount Vernon's conviction that a ministry philosophy is often learned by seeing how biblical principles are practiced in a functioning congregation.
Resources for Study and a Life of Giving
Sermons and talks are available by Bible book, topic, series, and speaker. The collection includes preaching on Christian doctrine, biblical literacy, family life, missions, suffering, and other subjects, as well as messages from guest preachers and conference speakers. A Bible reading plan called Take Up and Read is prepared to accompany the Sunday preaching plan, and each semester Mount Vernon publishes a Church Card that organizes sermons, classes, and other activities.
The adult and children's libraries are available for free use during weekly gatherings and office hours. The Bookstall, open on Sunday mornings in the foyer, offers a selection of theologically rich books for purchase. These resources support the church's conviction that study should continue beyond the gathering and become part of daily Christian living.
Giving can be made through online giving by debit or credit card or by electronic check, with the option to cover processing costs. Checks and cash are also received during the Sunday morning service, and the church accepts mailed checks and bank bill-pay gifts. Stock or other securities can also be given. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. General inquiries can be directed to info@mvbchurch.org or (404) 255-3133.
Mount Vernon's shape is consistent from the Main Hall to the children's classrooms, the small-group homes, and the training events. Sandy Springs is the center from which a gathered church knows God, equips people for mature discipleship, and sends members into families, neighborhoods, partner ministries, and churches throughout the world. The church that began in 1956 continues to organize its life around one conviction: the worship and glory of God belong to the whole people of God, formed into a church that knows and serves Christ together.