On Robinson Road in Peachtree City, just south of Atlanta, Peachtree City United Methodist Church has built its identity around a simple, repeated phrase: For Our Neighbors. The tagline appears on the church's materials, in its mission language, and in the way every ministry is described. Lead Pastor Chris Bryant and the staff describe the church as a community called to connect its neighbors with the hope of the Gospel, and a glance at the bulletin board on any given week shows what that looks like in practice: a food truck Fall Fest for the whole county, a cancer-care team delivering meals, a Wednesday night small group meeting in someone's living room, a mission team packing boxes at Midwest Food Bank, and a livestream that begins each Sunday at 11AM.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30 and 11
Worship at PTCUMC happens in two distinct styles on the same campus. The 9:30AM traditional service fills the room with hymns, an organ, a piano-led choir, and the cadence of historic liturgy. The church describes it as somewhat formal but still warm and welcoming, a place where the congregation loves to laugh and is not afraid to clap. Woody Brown leads the traditional music ministry as Director of Traditional Worship and the Arts, and Jeanne Blood directs the handbell program that has become a fixture of the traditional experience.
At 11AM, the contemporary service gathers in a more intimate environment with a fully plugged-in worship team leading modern songs. The goal, in the church's words, is to sing a wide range of worship songs that usher people into the presence of God. Colby Davis serves as Contemporary Worship Leader, and a tech team led by Multi-media Producer Harrison Hopkins runs the cameras, slides, audio, and the 11AM livestream. Online worship follows the same 11AM hour through ptcumc.online.church, so people who cannot be on campus can still join the congregation in real time.
A first-time visitor is greeted at the door by a Welcome Team with coffee and donuts ready. The team is happy to show newcomers around, answer questions, and connect them with whatever ministry fits their family. Dedicated visitor parking spaces sit right up front, and the dress code is a relaxed "come as you are." Some dress formally, others casually, and many come straight from work.
For Our Neighbors: The 50 in 4 Direction
The phrase For Our Neighbors is not just a slogan. It is the name of a strategic direction the church has named 50 in 4: a goal of launching 50 neighborhood groups in the next four years. Pastor Chris and the staff are explicit about what that means. The purpose of the groups is not to grow the church. The purpose is to find unique ways to embody the hands and feet of Jesus for the people who live nearby. The church has become convinced that there are people in Peachtree City who are lost and alone, forgotten and isolated, hurting and in need, and that God has placed the congregation in the right place to reach them.
That conviction shapes everything from the way the church spends its budget to the way it talks about membership. Becoming a member of PTCUMC is described as a public declaration of faith in Christ, a commitment to mutual accountability, and a share in the work of connecting neighbors with the hope of the Gospel. Pastor Chris leads a membership class that takes a deep dive into what that commitment means, and baptisms happen throughout the year for anyone, at any age, who has not yet been baptized.
Kids Ministry: Embrace and Engage
Beth Green directs Kids Ministry under a simple promise: we want to make what matters most, matter more. The heart of the ministry is teaching kids to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbor as themselves. From Sunday mornings to special events to missions, every program is built to help kids grow in faith and discover their part in God's Big Story.
On Sunday mornings, programming runs during both the 9:30 and 11AM services for babies through fifth grade. Check-in opens 20 minutes before each service, the doors stay locked and monitored for safety, and every adult leader has passed a background check and is Safe Sanctuary certified. Safe Sanctuary is a program created by the United Methodist Church to protect kids, students, and vulnerable adults.
The environments are organized by phase. The Nursery cares for babies and ones in a staffed, secure room. The Pre-K program, called the Embrace phase, teaches three simple truths: God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Elementary and Preteen (K through fifth grade) make up the Engage phase, where kids develop relationships, ask questions, and learn to apply Jesus' words in Luke 2:52: I need to make the wise choice, I can trust God no matter what, and I should treat others the way I want to be treated.
Meagan Luschen serves as Associate Director of Kids Ministry with a focus on preschool and childcare, and the calendar is full of family touchpoints beyond Sunday morning. Each fall, the church celebrates rising third graders with a Bible presentation, blessing, prayer, and reception in both services. Each fall also brings a milestone moment for incoming kindergartners to ease the transition from preschool to elementary. The community's biggest kids event of the year is Fall Fest, a free evening of Trunk or Treat, food trucks, inflatables, costumed characters, music, and a candy-fueled night that draws families from across Fayette County.
Student Ministry: Affirming and Mobilizing the Next Generation
Gregory Meadows directs Student Ministry, which the church describes with a single line: discipleship that lasts beyond graduation. The system is built to cultivate students in grades 6 through 12 who reach out to their neighbors and connect them with Jesus. Four rhythms support that: inspiring worship environments, strategic relationships in small groups, transformational retreat opportunities, and consistent places to serve.
Middle school and high school each have their own shape. On Sunday mornings at 9:30, middle schoolers meet for Breakfast Club, a small-group styled discussion over breakfast in The Foundry, the dedicated student space on the first floor of the building. On Sunday evenings at 6:08, students gather for 608, a Fall and Spring experience of worship and small group time. Small groups are divided by gender and age so that students have a place to work out their faith in community. Confirmation is offered to seventh graders and their parents as a study and a rite of the church, a 10-week class held in the Spring or Fall with a parallel parent class.
Throughout the year, the calendar includes a fall retreat called Rooted, a Six Flags Frightfest lock-in, summer camps, and service projects that push students to be Christ's witnesses locally, regionally, and internationally. The church communicates with parents through regular emails and the Parent Cue app, and parents are treated as the primary spiritual influencers in a student's life. The math the ministry points to is simple: a parent has roughly 40 hours with a student in a typical week, while the church has about one.
Groups: Making a Big Church Feel Small
The adults of PTCUMC describe their Groups ministry with a single conviction: groups are the way a big church can feel small. Modeled after Jesus' ministry, groups are designed as places where people meet consistently, build meaningful relationships, grow in faith, and serve together. The Groups page repeats a Wesleyan line: we are designed to thrive together with other believers, and we grow better together.
Group offerings are broad. They include women's groups, men's groups, marriage and family groups, multi-generational groups, 55-plus groups, activity-based groups, and groups specifically for young adults and young families. Activity groups are a chance to gather around a shared interest, whether that means knitting blankets for hospital patients or hosting a community prayer walk. Most groups meet off campus in homes or at community establishments, some meet on campus, and they typically gather weekly or bi-monthly for 1.5 to 2 hours during the school year.
Registration opens twice a year, in August and January, and onboarding and offboarding line up with those same seasons. The church provides a childcare supplement for offsite groups at a predetermined rate so parents can attend. The Groups team supports members with message guides and PTCUMC Bible Study content, and Right Now Media is available as a free resource to anyone connected to the church.
Men's Ministry and Women's Ministry each host signature events. The men run an annual Cornhole and Corndogs tournament and a long-running Chicken-Que, a community event that brings together scouts, men's ministry, and the wider congregation. The women host Brunchy Bingo, a relaxed morning of food, bingo, and time around the table. Both ministries are designed to build friendships and faith foundations across every stage of adult life.
Weekday School: Play with a Purpose
Tucked into the same campus is the PTCUMC Weekday School, a Christian preschool and kindergarten program that has served the community for years. Cary Wilson serves as Director of the school, with Angela Berger as Assistant Director. The school accepts children from 6 weeks through kindergarten and operates under a clear philosophy: a child learns through play.
Classrooms are staffed with at least two Christian teachers who receive yearly educational training and are certified in CPR and first aid. The school is a certified Program of Excellence for Young Children with the United Methodist Preschool Association of the North Georgia Conference. The goal is to provide a nurturing environment in which children develop spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially at their own pace within an atmosphere of Christian love.
Programs are organized by age. Babies and ones learn through indoor and outdoor play, craft time, circle time, and a Bible story time. Twos and 2.5s add a second day option. The 3s and 4s add art, hands-on learning, music, physical education, and an introduction to Spanish in the 4s, and children must be potty trained to enter the 3s. Kindergarten emphasizes reading, writing, and math, alongside Science, Social Studies, Bible, Music, Physical Education, and Spanish. Most classes run from 9AM to 1PM, with options for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days a week depending on age.
Walking Through Hard Seasons: Care Ministries
Care Ministries at PTCUMC exist to encourage, listen, and walk alongside people on some of life's most difficult journeys. The team is led by Rev. Sean Robinson and a circle of trained volunteers.
Cancer Support offers prayer, cards, meals, visits, transportation, and regular communication to anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, either personally or in a loved one.
GriefShare is a 13-week support group built around a curriculum that names grief for what it is: unpredictable, non-linear, and real. Participants learn helpful ways of coping and gain support from others who understand.
Dementia Care Support gathers on the second Tuesday of each month at 10AM for anyone caring for a loved one with a dementia diagnosis, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy Body, and frontotemporal dementia. The group provides encouragement, resources, and a community of people who understand the journey.
Severe Mental Health Family and Caregiver Support meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30PM for families and caregivers of those living with severe mental illness. The group offers a variety of community resources and a place to share the unique challenges of caregiving.
The church also maintains a prayer team. Prayer requests can be submitted online, and a Prayer Partners list circulates requests to anyone who wants to pray from wherever they are. A separate Prayer List is shared with the congregation for ongoing needs.
The Garden of Celebration
At the end of the sidewalk in the south parking lot, the Garden of Celebration offers a quieter ministry of remembrance. The garden was dedicated in 2006 and constructed in 2012 as a sacred space to remember and honor those who have come before. Granite brick markers in the patio indicate individuals whose ashes have been received into the Garden, and additional memory bricks honor loved ones. The garden is supported by monetary gifts and volunteers who tend to it through the seasons, and the church welcomes inquiries about placing ashes or purchasing a marker in memory of someone.
Mission Partners Across Peachtree City and the World
PTCUMC's mission vision is to be a church that empowers people to live generously within the church, the city, and the world. A Global Outreach (GO) Team meets monthly to review and evaluate mission partners, discern how to allocate mission dollars, and develop long-term mission strategy. Mission Champions serve as bridges between the church and each partner.
Locally, the church supports Fayette Samaritans, a Christian ministry serving families in Fayette County with food, clothing, and emergency financial assistance. Real Life Center walks alongside those who are hurting in Fayette and Coweta counties through holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, relational, financial, mental, and spiritual needs. Midwest Food Bank shares the love of Christ by alleviating hunger and providing disaster relief, with a Peachtree City location that PTCUMC supports directly. Square Foot Ministry puts faith into action through construction projects that help seniors, disabled individuals, and low-income families attain safe, healthy homes. Central Night Shelter provides meals, a safe place to spend the night, and medical and foot care to those experiencing homelessness, and now includes street distribution of food and necessities.
Across the country and around the world, the church stands with Bishop Judith Craig Children's Village in Liberia, where the focus has evolved from sheltering children displaced by civil war and Ebola toward family reunification and supporting young adults aging out of the Village. CCCG cares for around 2,000 children in Guatemala in spiritual, educational, nutritional, and health development. Father's Care operates The Ark in Kyiv, a social rehabilitation and family restoration center for some of Ukraine's most at-risk children. Red Bird Mission has been providing ministries in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky since 1921 across education, health and wellness, community outreach, economic opportunity, and housing. UMCOR responds to disasters in the United States and around the world, with a guiding principle of being early in and last out. Wellroot, an agency of the United Methodist Church in North Georgia, restores children and families from trauma through Foster Care, Transitional and Independent Living, and Family Housing. Wesley Woods has been making retirement healthy and fulfilling for older adults of all income levels, races, and faiths since 1953.
The mission of the church, in the staff's words, is to tell His story and show His love in every way possible, in every place possible. Members can get involved by volunteering, giving, and praying.
What the Church Believes
PTCUMC teaches belief in a God who has always been Father to His children, whom He created in His image. The church confesses faith in a God who sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to make it possible for humanity to be adopted into the Father's family, and in a God whose Spirit lives within, brings people closer to Him, and empowers them to be agents of transformation in the world.
About Jesus, the church teaches that He was born of the Virgin Mary, was both fully human and fully God, and that His life, death, and physical resurrection accomplished what only God could accomplish: abundant life on earth and freedom from death. About salvation, the church teaches that the offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming humanity from all sin, and that this invitation is open to all people without exception and cannot be earned because it was given freely. About Christian living, the church points to Jesus' teaching that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself, and to John Wesley's articulation: first, by doing no harm; secondly, by doing all good of every possible sort; and thirdly, by attending upon all the ordinances of God, including worship, prayer, scripture, and fasting.
The church has taught a series called Beyond the Surface on how to read the Bible well. Scripture is described as a primary means of grace, not simply a book of answers, but a gift through which God illuminates lives and draws people into a relationship with Him. The Methodist tradition of think and let think shapes the way the church approaches difficult passages: faithful Christians may not always agree on every issue, but faith is rooted in following Jesus, extending grace, and allowing Scripture to transform how we live and love.
Plan a Visit, Get Connected
The church sits at 225 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Georgia, with the office open Monday through Thursday from 9AM to 3PM and reachable at 770-487-6499 or info@ptcumc.org. A connect card can be filled out online, and a Connect event meets periodically for anyone who wants to meet pastors and staff over pizza and learn about the ministries of the church. There is a next steps form for anyone ready to join a Group, serve, or connect with Kids or Students. Membership classes are led by Pastor Chris throughout the year, and baptism is available for anyone who has not yet been baptized or who wishes to reaffirm their baptism and faith.
Giving is offered online, through a giving app, by recurring gift, or in person by cash or check in either service. The church's communications team runs an ENEWS email list, a text group, an active Facebook and Instagram presence, and a YouTube channel that hosts the full sermon archive. The same hope shows up in every channel: a church that takes seriously the call to love God and love its actual neighbors, one week, one group, one family at a time.