Southside Baptist Church sits on Greenhaven Drive in southeast Greensboro, North Carolina, a Southern Baptist congregation shaped by a single verse - Isaiah 6:8, "Here I am; send me." The church's pastor, staff, and members frame everything they do around that line, describing a vision in which every believer grows through "gospel transformation, loving community, and missional living." Sunday mornings bring a blended worship service at 10:00 AM, followed immediately by age-specific Growth Groups at 11:15 AM. Wednesday nights double up the Bible study offerings, and students gather for their own Rooted program at the same hour as the adult study.
Blended Worship on Sunday Morning
The Sunday worship service runs from 10:00 to 11:00 AM and uses what the church describes as a blended style. The congregation sings traditional hymns of the faith alongside Southern Gospel favorites and newer contemporary praise songs, accompanied by a praise band. Senior Pastor Howard McNeill preaches from the pulpit, and the service weaves together what the church calls "the sung word and the spoken word." The church's stated goal is to bring "each person to an intimate relationship with God," and the music is meant to enhance the preaching of the Word.
Musicians and singers are invited to join the worship team, and the church explicitly welcomes anyone willing to use their gifts. As the congregation grows, the staff notes that new ministry opportunities will arise at God's leading. The praise band is currently led by Interim Worship Pastor Simon Touprong, who steps into the role while the church searches for a permanent worship leader.
Growth Groups and D-Life: The Small-Group Engine
Southside calls Growth Groups "the first and most effective entry point" into the church. Most groups meet on campus at 11:15 AM on Sundays, right after the worship service, but the church also offers off-campus groups during the week for those who prefer a neighborhood setting. Growth Groups are open to every age, from preschoolers through adults, and provide Bible teaching in a smaller room. Pastor McNeill describes them as "the most essential ministry in which you could be involved and be discipled."
For adults who want something more, D-Life groups follow a six-part rhythm of fellowship, teaching, prayer, ministry, multiplication, and accountability. The D-Life model is published through a ministry called Livingthedlife, and the groups meet in homes around the area. Together, the two programs give Southside members a steady pipeline from the Sunday pew into meaningful, smaller community, and the church considers both the on-campus and off-campus settings equally valuable.
Children: From Nursery to TeamKID
The children's ministry partners with parents to help kids "begin to know God," with programming that runs in parallel to the adult schedule. During the 10:00 AM worship service, nursery care is available by request for the littlest ones; parents can email the church office to reserve a spot. At 11:15 AM, children from preschool through fifth grade join their own Growth Groups for Bible stories, learning activities, music, and games.
On the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, TeamKID (Kids in Discipleship) fills the church with energy. Children work through Bible memory, missions videos, application activities, and recreation, with the current curriculum called "Setting the Pace," an exploration of the theology of God, Jesus, people, the Church, the Bible, and the Christian life. TeamKID's KID stands for Kids in Discipleship, and every part of the program connects to teach life lessons.
Other recurring offerings include the Joyful Praise Children's Choir for first through eighth graders, which rehearses on the second and fourth Wednesdays from 6:00 to 6:45 PM, and Kids Camp, a monthly Saturday outreach at Village Park with a Vacation Bible School flavor that includes lunch, story time, and crafts. Seasonal events throughout the year include the Bunny Hop before Easter (with lunch, story time, crafts, and candy), Wild Wednesdays with dinner and a parent program, and Hallelujah Night, a free Halloween alternative the week of October 31 that includes dinner, crafts, candy, and a trunk-or-treat style of collecting treats. Children as young as four and as old as high school are welcome at most of these gatherings.
Rooted: The Student Ministry
Middle and high school students at Southside gather under the banner of Rooted. The Wednesday evening Bible study runs from 6:00 to 7:00 PM alongside the adult study, and on Sunday mornings at 11:15 AM the youth meet for their own Growth Group in the Youth Room. D-Life groups provide another layer of small-group discipleship for teens, using the same fellowship-teaching-prayer-ministry-multiplication-accountability model the adults follow. The aim of the student ministry is to show young people that "God calls us to so much more than what they see around them," and to give them a part in "something much greater than themselves."
Wednesday Bible Study with Pastor McNeill
Adults who want to dig deeper into the Sunday sermon text have two weekly options. Pastor Howard McNeill facilitates Bible study in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM and again at 6:00 PM. The same Wednesday evening hour is shared with the Rooted youth study, so families can arrive together and split into age-appropriate rooms. The studies are open to anyone in the community who wants to join, and the 11:00 AM option is a natural fit for retirees and daytime workers.
Highland Church: A Montagnard Sister Congregation
Southside sponsors a Montagnard church plant called Highland Church, which meets for worship in Southside's Fellowship Hall at 11:00 AM each Sunday. The two congregations - Southside's English-speaking service at 10:00 AM and Highland's 11:00 AM gathering - worship together in a combined service once each quarter. The partnership is one expression of Southside's commitment to missions and to Greensboro's Montagnard community. Highland maintains its own Facebook page for those who want to learn more about the plant.
Missions: Local, National, and International
Southside frames its mission work in three concentric circles. Locally, the church partners with Allen Middle School, the Ravens football and cheer team, and Village Park, and stocks a food closet to provide something to eat for neighbors who come by hungry. On the national level, the church has organized and donated items in support of Hurricane Helene relief in western North Carolina and supports missionaries throughout the United States through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Internationally, members have served the community of Calgary, Canada, over two consecutive summers, the senior pastor travels to Asia every year, and the church supports global missionaries through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.
Upward Soccer: A Spring Sports Outreach
Every spring Southside partners with Upward Sports to run a co-ed soccer league for children from K3 through fifth grade, ages three to eleven. The season runs from April through June, with one weekly practice and an eight-game schedule. The league is co-ed and designed to develop young athletes physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually, with equal playing time for every child and no tryouts, just brief player evaluations to balance teams.
Early registration opens in late October. Each player receives a reversible jersey and socks as part of the fee. Every coach and referee must complete a background check as part of the church's commitment to a safe environment for children and families. League Director Chase Greeson oversees the program. The Upward philosophy draws on Luke 2:52 - that "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" - and frames the league as one of Southside's primary bridges to unchurched families in the surrounding neighborhoods. Coaches commit to teaching beginners and challenging those with experience, while keeping a Christ-centered tone on and off the field.
Beliefs and Affiliation
Southside Baptist Church identifies as a Southern Baptist congregation and holds to the Baptist Faith and Message (2000) as its doctrinal statement. The church is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, headquartered in Cary, which also designed the congregation's online home. Members affirm classic evangelical convictions, including the authority of Scripture, the gospel of Jesus Christ as described in passages like John 3:16, and the Great Commission call to make disciples. The vision statement, drawn from Isaiah 6:8, anchors every ministry the church runs.
What Visitors Should Know
The church building sits at 1001 Greenhaven Drive in southeast Greensboro. Sunday morning begins with worship at 10:00 AM, followed by Growth Groups at 11:15 AM. Wednesday brings two adult Bible studies at 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM, with the youth Rooted study at 6:00 PM. Nursery care for the Sunday service is available by request. The pastoral staff includes Senior Pastor Howard McNeill, Next Generation Pastor Chase Greeson, and Interim Worship Pastor Simon Touprong. Sermons are posted to the church's YouTube channel, and giving is available online through Zeffy (no processing fees) or Amplify. The church office can be reached at 336-854-2140 or secretary@ssbcgreensboro.com.