Northside Baptist Church gathers on 54th Street in the north side of Columbus, Georgia, where it has served the neighborhood as a Southern Baptist congregation for decades. The church is pastored by the Rev. Jerry Speer, who has led the church since June 1981, and is supported by a full team of ministry leaders who teach, shepherd, and care for members from the nursery through senior adulthood.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School and Worship
Sunday School meets at 9:15 AM for every age, with classes for babies through 5th grade, students in 6th through 12th grade, and adults grouped by life stage. Morning Worship begins at 10:30 AM in the sanctuary and is the main weekly gathering for the whole church. The Celebration Choir opens the service as a reminder of being in the presence of a holy God, followed by congregational singing with the praise band and a sermon from the pastor. Nursery care is available during the worship hour for children from birth through three years old, and children from age four through 3rd grade are invited to NBC Kids Worship in a newly renovated Children's Worship room.
The service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel and on Facebook (Northside Baptist Church), so anyone unable to attend in person can follow along. Anyone wishing to join the church, accept Christ, or rededicate their life during the livestream can call the church office at (706) 324-7183.
Wednesday Nights: AWANA, Students, Prayer, and Choir
Wednesday is the church's main ministry night, with something for every age. AWANA runs from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall (Room 200) for children ages 2 through 5th grade, blending Bible teaching, scripture memorization, games, music, and snacks. The program is divided into Puggles (2 to 3), Cubbies (4 to 5), Sparks (Kindergarten through 2nd grade), and TNT (3rd through 5th grade). NBC Student Worship meets the same hours for students in 6th through 12th grade, with games, music, and teaching aimed at life today. A church-wide prayer meeting follows at 7:00 PM, and the Celebration Choir rehearses at 8:00 PM in the Choir Room.
Children, Nursery, and Students
The children's ministry meets children where they are. Sunday School for K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 graders uses a curriculum that mirrors what parents study at the same hour, so families can talk about the same Bible passage at home. NBC Kids Worship during the 10:30 service includes worship songs, interactive activities, and a creative Bible message. Children's Choir rehearses on Sunday afternoons at 4:45 PM.
The Nursery serves children from birth through 4 years old during the Sunday School hour and from birth through 3 years old during worship, with the goal of letting little ones know that God made them and loves them. It is located in Room 307 of Building C, with parking right next to the building for drop-off convenience. Parents check children in with a leader at the door, leave a cell phone number in case of need, and label all belongings. Snacks begin in the 1-year-old classroom, and any allergies should be noted at check-in. If a child cries for more than 10 minutes, a text goes to the parent.
Northside Students, for 6th through 12th graders, focuses on games, music, and a message that applies to teen life. Students also follow the same Sunday School curriculum as adults so families can study together. The student ministry can be found on Instagram at @northside.baptist.students.
College, Adults, and Senior Adults
The College Ministry meets on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM for Bible study, fellowship, and discipleship, and is also present on Facebook and Twitter. Young Adults, Adults 35-45, Median Adults, Adult Ladies 45-65, and Adults 45-55 and 50-65 each have their own Sunday School classes led by named leaders.
Senior Adults gather as the Glory Group on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the Fellowship Hall (Room 200). Other senior classes include Adult Couples 60-70, Adults 65 and Up, Ladies 65-75, Ladies 70-80, Ladies 80 and Up, and Men 60 and Up, each with a long-time teacher. A Women's Fall Bible Study meets on Thursdays at 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM, September through October.
Music and Worship Arts
Music is woven through everything the church does. The choir begins each Sunday service, and anyone is invited to join year-round without audition. The praise band leads congregational singing, and instrumentalists with at least a year of experience are welcomed. A team of volunteers runs sound and lights each week. Colossians 3:16 shapes the philosophy: the word of Christ dwelling richly as the church teaches and admonishes one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Beliefs
Northside Baptist Church holds to The Baptist Faith and Message, the statement of generally held convictions used across the Southern Baptist Convention. Scripture is treated as God's revelation, written by men divinely inspired and free from error. The church affirms one true God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity and incarnation of Jesus Christ; the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction, worship, and service; and the creation of man in God's image, marred by sin and redeemed through Christ. Salvation is offered freely to all who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. The church practices baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper as acts of obedience, observes the first day of the week as the Lord's Day, and looks for the personal and visible return of Christ, heaven for the redeemed, and hell for the unrighteous. The church holds that church and state should be separate, that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and that children from the moment of conception are a blessing from the Lord. Stewardship of time, talent, and possessions is taught as a Christian duty, and cooperation among churches is encouraged while each one remains self-governing.
Pastor and Leadership
The Rev. Jerry Speer has served as pastor since June 1981. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama (1974) and a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1977), and has served as a Vice-President of the Georgia Baptist Convention, President of the Georgia Baptist Preaching Conference, and Chairman of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee. His life verses are Proverbs 3:5-6. JD Hardwick serves as the Next Generation Pastor, overseeing children and student ministry. Giving is available online through Pushpay, and the church office can be reached by phone at (706) 324-7183 or by email at nbc@nbcga.org.