DISTINCTIVES
Elders
Our pastors/elders are persuaded of the importance of teaching systematically through books of the Bible, of relationships over programs, and in their duty to serve the church through building congregational consensus. They believe in the priesthood of the believer, believer’s baptism, the doctrines of grace, new covenant theology, the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, the Chicago Statement on the inerrancy of Scripture, the Nashville Statement on sexuality, historic Christian orthodoxy, early church practice, the regula fide, and the Five Solas (Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria).
About Stephen Atkerson
Stephen E. Atkerson (M.Div., Mid-America Baptist Seminary) helps church leaders discover simple growth strategies given by Jesus to the early church. For over 30 years, he has worked with evangelists, missionaries, church planters, and pastors in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. He planted the Atlanta Reformation Fellowship in 1991, is president of the NTRF.org, and author of New Testament Church Dynamics.
About Chris Brown
Chris was born again while serving in the 82nd Airborne. After Bible college, he pastored a traditional Baptist church in Virginia for over 20 years, building it up to 800 in attendance. Out of biblical conviction he now serves in leadership at our 80-member church that purposely follows early small-church practice. Chris holds honorary doctorates from Texas Baptist College and Carolina Baptist College. He is convinced of the doctrines of grace and new covenant theology. Chris and his wife Karen have six grown children and nine grandchildren.