Welcoming You Home at Macon Road
Whitten Baptist Church sits at 6773 Macon Road on the east side of Memphis, a place where the welcome begins with a single phrase: "I Belong." The church describes that phrase as a promise that no matter where a person has been, where they are, or where they are going, they can find someone who understands. The congregation takes seriously the idea that strength is made perfect in weakness, and the family at Whitten is known for gathering as much around shared scars as around shared victories. Surrender to the Holy Spirit, love for one another, and a willingness to proclaim the Kingdom to all sit at the center of the church's identity.
The Purpose Behind the Pulpit
The stated purpose of Whitten Baptist Church is to introduce people to the love of Jesus and, in His family the church, to develop them to Christ-like maturity, and to equip them for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world in order to magnify God. Leadership frames the church's calling around two ancient commands: a great commitment to the great commandment and to the great commission, and a confidence that this commitment will build a great church.
A Family of Pastors
Three members of the Shipley family share the pulpit at Whitten. Rev. Jeff Shipley serves as Senior Pastor, with Rev. Josiah Shipley as Senior Associate Pastor and Rev. Jeremiah Shipley as Associate Pastor of Education. Rounding out the pastoral team, Rev. Christian J. Torres serves as Associate Pastor for Youth and Evangelism. Around them, Hunter Wilson leads worship, Vicki Davis directs the women's ministry, Jim Matousek leads the men's ministry, and Jake and Michelle Romo direct children's ministry.
Sundays at Whitten
Sunday morning at Whitten begins at 9:15 a.m. with Sunday School for every age, followed by corporate worship at 10:30 a.m. A new members class meets at 4:00 p.m. alongside children's classes, ministry-in-training, and other elective classes running from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The day closes with a Bible study at 6:00 p.m. The worship hour carries a traditional feel: a brass band and a jazz band rehearse weekly, a choir practices midweek, and the congregation gathers for the central act of preaching and praise.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
Wednesday is the church's other weekly gathering. The kitchen begins preparation at noon for a 5:00 p.m. fellowship meal, after which the building fills with classes. Nursery opens at 6:15 p.m. for the youngest, and at 6:30 p.m. adults gather for Bible study while Royal Ambassadors and Girls in Action meet, youth classes gather, and the choir rehearses.
A Building That Hosts Many Congregations
Whitten's campus serves as home to several church families beyond its own Sunday morning body. Marantha Church meets on the property on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and again on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m., with a youth gathering on Friday nights and additional Saturday services as well. An Ethiopian congregation gathers for worship on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. and for prayer on Saturday at noon. The result is a campus that hums with multiple worshiping communities throughout the week.
Ministries from Preschool to College
Preschool care is offered for newborns through four-year-olds during both Sunday and Wednesday Bible study hours, directed by Carol Allred and Sandra Matousek. Children's Church meets at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings for grades K through 6, using skits, games, and grade-specific curriculum. Royal Ambassadors is a Bible-centered class for boys in grades K through 6 taught by men, while Girls in Action is a missions-minded class for girls in the same grades. The youth ministry, for grades 7 through 12, meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Annex and on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., teaching students to read and apply Scripture and to grow as a family. Sunday School also includes a college class designed for ages 18 to 26.
Women of Whitten and the Brothers of Whitten
The Women's Ministry, known as WOW, is open to any woman eighteen and over. The group shares monthly dinners, fun activities throughout the year, and an annual WOW Retreat, directed by Vicki Davis with assistants Kandice Alger and Marissa Burkett. The Men's Ministry, the Brothers of Whitten, gathers men eighteen and over for service projects around the church, backyard barbecues, and an annual spring fishing and camping trip, led by Jim Matousek.
Where Addicts Recover
W.A.R., or Where Addicts Recover, is an addiction recovery ministry that meets on Thursday evenings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Annex. The ministry welcomes anyone looking for a change of heart, a changed life, and a solid foundation on which to build recovery.
Crowns of Thorns and SOG MMA
For those who ride, the Crowns of Thorns Motorcycle Ministry exists to inspire, lead, and minister with the biker community and beyond, riding for Jesus and spreading the good word. For those who train, SOG MMA offers adult mixed-martial-arts classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m., opening the church's reach into a different kind of community.
Sermons, Podcast, and a Wider Reach
Whitten Baptist uploads its Sunday morning sermons and Sunday evening Bible studies to Facebook and YouTube, with a broader archive available through the Let's Church platform. The church's Point Taken Christian Podcast tackles tough issues covered in popular media and aims to model a consistent Biblical worldview for an unpredictable culture. Online giving is available through the Church Center app, and gifts can also be mailed to the church office. Each year Whitten participates in several mission trips, most recently to Humacao, Puerto Rico, with members invited to give to the missions fund with the memo "Missions."