Shady Grove Baptist Church stands on Shady Grove Road in Murphy, North Carolina, and is known in the community as one of the friendliest churches around. Its welcome is emphatic: everyone is welcome. Shady Grove is committed to Jesus Christ, bases its teaching on God's revealed word, the Bible, and sees the local church as a place of encouragement, strength, direction and fellowship. The church is at 198 Shady Grove Rd, Murphy, NC 28906.
A Welcome on Shady Grove Road
The church says its doors are open and that it is always happy to meet new people. It describes the congregation as an 'oasis of peace' amid life's trials and hardships, and considers fellowship necessary for a Christian's spiritual health. The welcome is stated simply and emphatically: 'ALL are Welcome!'
Shady Grove wants people to trust Christ for forgiveness and direction, grow in their relationship with him, and find encouragement and strength through the local church. Bible teaching and Christian fellowship are central to the church's life.
Sunday School, Worship and Wednesday Study
The church's regular week has four listed gatherings, with Bible study and worship spread across Sunday and Wednesday.
- Sunday School: 10:00 a.m.
- Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m.
- Sunday Evening Service: 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday Adult Bible Study and Youth Program: 6:30 p.m.
These gatherings take place at the church's address on Shady Grove Road in Murphy.
Preaching and Singing at Sunday Worship
Sunday morning worship commonly includes biblical preaching, congregational singing and choir participation. Recordings identify these elements across many morning services, while some Sunday evenings include guest speakers or choir-focused segments. Special singing marks Easter and homecoming. Fifth-Sunday gatherings have also joined Shady Grove with Oak Grove, Mt Liberty and Notla Baptist churches for shared singing.
A broad collection of worship and Bible-study recordings is available in the church's service videos. It includes morning and evening worship, Wednesday studies, baptism services, Christmas plays and seasonal meetings, preserving a long view of the church's preaching and music.
A Shared Wednesday Evening
Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. is both Adult Bible Study and Youth Program. The combined evening gives adults and young people a regular, Bible-centered gathering. The church's invitation is direct: 'Come join us as we Study God's Word.'
The ABC of Faith at Shady Grove
The church offers a simple three-part outline for becoming a Christian. Its sequence moves from recognizing personal sin to believing in Jesus and confessing him as Lord.
- A - Admit that you are a sinner. The church uses Romans 3:23: 'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.'
- B - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31 is presented with the words, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.'
- C - Confess Jesus as your Lord. Romans 10:9 connects confession with belief and salvation.
The ABC outline is followed by a prayer that expresses faith in Christ's death, receives him as Lord and personal Savior, and promises to serve God. The prayer closes by asking for salvation in Jesus' name.
The Sinners' Prayer
The church offers this prayer: 'Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior. I promise to serve you to the best of my ability. Please save me. In Jesus' name, Amen.'
What Shady Grove Teaches
Shady Grove's beliefs are specific and grounded in Scripture. The Bible is identified as the inspired, only infallible and authoritative Word of God, and Jesus Christ is affirmed as the only way of salvation.
- God: The church believes in one God, eternally existent as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus Christ: It affirms Christ's deity, virgin birth, sinless life and miracles, along with his vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood, bodily resurrection, ascension to the Father's right hand, and personal return in power and glory.
- Salvation: Repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ result in regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation.
- The Holy Spirit: The Spirit's present ministry includes his indwelling life in believers, enabling the Christian to live a Godly life.
- Resurrection: The church believes in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, with the saved receiving eternal life.
- The church and evangelism: True believers are members of Christ's body, the Church, and evangelism is the responsibility of both the church and each Christian.
- Marriage and sin: The church affirms God's plan for marriage as one man and one woman for life. It states that homosexuality is not a valid alternative lifestyle and is sin, while also teaching that it is not unforgivable and that the redemption available to all sinners is available in that situation.
A Monthly and Seasonal Rhythm
Weekly services are supported by regular leadership meetings, Communion and observances spread throughout the church year.
- Deacons' meeting: The first Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
- Finance Committee meeting: The fourth Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
- The Lord's Supper: Every fifth Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
- Conference: The first Wednesday of January, April, July and October.
- Homecoming and Decoration Day: The first Sunday in June, with special singing and a dinner.
- Easter Sunday: Special singing at 10:00 a.m., followed by worship at 11:00 a.m.
- Pastor Appreciation Month: Observed each October.
These observances show how worship is interwoven with church organization, congregational singing, shared meals and recognition of pastoral leadership.
Summer VBS and Young People
Vacation Bible School is a recurring summer ministry at Shady Grove. The church has held multi-day VBS gatherings, with a different theme used from year to year. For young people, the Wednesday Youth Program supplies a regular Bible-study setting alongside the church's adult study.
The church's calendar also includes baptism services, welcomes for new Christians and occasions when someone receives a Bible. These gatherings sit alongside Vacation Bible School and the continuing work of Bible teaching and worship.
Homecoming, Meals and Music
Food and music anchor the yearly calendar. Easter dinners, fall festivals or fellowship with bingo, Christmas meals and Christmas plays have been regular features alongside Homecoming and Decoration Day in June, which includes special singing and a dinner. Easter also begins with special singing at 10:00 a.m. before worship at 11:00 a.m.
Music continues through the congregation's life beyond a single service format. Preaching, congregational singing, choirs, special singing groups and shared singing with neighboring Baptist churches all have places in the worship rhythm. Baptisms and the welcoming of new Christians are also celebrated as people join the church.
Missions and Wider Fellowship
Mission awareness appears in both Sunday and Wednesday settings. The church has presented a foreign missions report and an account of an Armenia mission trip. Its connected Baptist resources include the Cooperative Program, International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, NC Baptist Men and WMU.
Shady Grove has also welcomed guests from Truett Children's Home and joined six other churches for March for Jesus. Fifth-Sunday singing has connected Shady Grove with Oak Grove, Mt Liberty and Notla Baptist churches, placing its local fellowship within a broader Baptist network.
Pastor Gerald Derreberry and Bible-Centered Teaching
Reverend Gerald Derreberry serves as pastor. Alongside that pastoral role, the church gives regular times to adult Bible study, youth participation, deacons, finance work, Sunday school and worship. Its central aim is to help people trust Christ, grow in relationship with him and find encouragement and strength through the local church.
The Bible remains the stated authority for teaching, while the church emphasizes evangelism as a shared responsibility. Bible study, prayer for spiritual direction and the encouragement supplied by fellow believers form the church's understanding of pastoral and congregational life.
A Cemetery and an Open Welcome
Shady Grove Baptist Church also has its own cemetery, known as Shady Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
The church's steady rhythm is Sunday School at 10:00 a.m., morning worship at 11:00 a.m., evening service at 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday adult Bible study and youth at 6:30 p.m. Around that rhythm are a Bible-centered message, an emphasis on Christian fellowship, singing and special occasions, mission awareness and a consistently warm welcome. Shady Grove Baptist Church's own summary is simple: committed to Jesus Christ, grounded in God's word and open to everyone.