A family on Annistown Road
For decades, Annistown Road Church has gathered at 4554 Annistown Road in Snellville, Georgia, a Southern Baptist congregation planted in the southern Gwinnett County area that also extends into neighboring DeKalb County. The church describes itself as a diverse, "come as you are" kind of community that welcomes every season of life, and tells visitors there is no need to dress up - just be yourself.
One sentence runs through everything the church does: "Love is why we share Jesus and live in community." From that motto flow four values that shape the congregation's life together - Gather, Grow, Give, and Go.
Sundays in two movements: 9:00 Life Groups and 10:30 worship
Sunday at Annistown begins at 9:00am with Life Groups - small gatherings of five to fifteen people who commit to pursue biblical community together. Modeled on Acts 2:42-47, these groups meet on campus each Sunday before the larger gathering. At the same 9:00am hour, preschool, kids, and student ministries also open, so the whole family can be in their own group before joining together later in the morning.
At 10:30am the whole church gathers for worship, both in person and online. The service typically runs about ninety minutes and centers on Bible-focused music led by the Annistown Worship Team. The leadership describes the feel as a band, minimal production, and authentic worship "in Spirit and in truth" - prayer, congregational singing, giving, and the reading of God's Word rather than a high-gloss production.
Lead Pastor Joe Lewis preaches an encouraging, Bible-based message; occasionally guest speakers fill the pulpit. Students who have been in their own 9:00am Life Groups join the rest of the congregation for the 10:30 hour.
Midweek: a Genesis study and a brotherhood of men
Wednesday is built around two distinct gatherings, each with its own purpose. On Wednesday mornings at 10:00am in room B101, Lead Pastor Joe Lewis leads a verse-by-verse study of Genesis. The class aims to walk through the book in depth, and participants enter through the office entrance to find the room.
Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm focus on Annistown Men. These meetings take place on the first and third Wednesdays of every month in the Dining Room, with dinner available from 6:00pm to 6:30pm for $5. The gatherings center on biblical maturity, accountability, servant leadership, spiritual disciplines, and living on mission. Topics rotate through stress, servant leadership, spiritual disciplines, and biblical foundations. The leadership is direct about why this is a priority: empowering the men of the church and community to lead in their homes, serve in the church, and impact the world around them.
Currently no childcare or other programming runs on campus during the Wednesday evening men's hour, though the church has indicated a hope to add more in the future.
What to expect on a first visit
Annistown works hard to make first-time guests feel at ease. The Sunday gathering runs about ninety minutes starting at 10:30am, with both in-person seating and online streaming available. Clothing runs the full range - from suits and dresses to T-shirts and shorts - so visitors can wear what makes them comfortable.
Children are welcome at both the 9:00am and 10:30am hours through Annistown Kids, with childcare provided during the worship gathering. Families bringing children are encouraged to arrive fifteen minutes early to check in. Annistown Students meet for Life Groups in the Student Building at 9:00am and then join the main worship gathering at 10:30am.
Visitors who want a head start can fill out a Plan a Visit form through Planning Center to let the church know they are coming. A digital Connect Card is offered to anyone who has already attended.
Annistown Kids and Students
Annistown Kids, directed by Kids Director Carmen Lewis, is a space where children can discover the love of Jesus in a way that is inviting and exciting - through fun activities and crafts, engaging Bible lessons, and a welcoming, safe environment staffed by caring leaders. Check-in opens at 9:00am for the Life Group hour and continues through the 10:30am worship gathering.
The student ministry serves young people with the same goal of growing in faith and building lasting friendships. It offers engaging activities, biblical discussions, and an encouraging environment for students to explore their relationship with Jesus while positively impacting their peers and the wider community. Invite some friends and join Annistown Students.
"Love is why": the four values
Everything the church does is gathered under one sentence: "Love is why we share Jesus and live in community." Out of that flow four values:
- Gather - come together in worship and Bible study.
- Grow - grow in faith in Jesus and in relationships with one another.
- Give - give generously to support the global church, missions, and the next generation.
- Go - go out as a church beyond the walls, sharing the Gospel, serving the community, and partnering with others.
What we believe
Annistown Road Church is a cooperating member of the Southern Baptist Convention and affirms the historic Baptist Faith and Message. The church's published statement of beliefs lays out eighteen articles covering the Scriptures, God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), man, salvation, God's purpose of grace, the Church, baptism and the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Day, the Kingdom, Last Things, evangelism and missions, education, stewardship, cooperation, peace and war, religious liberty, and the family.
Baptism at Annistown is by immersion of believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, viewed as an act of obedience that symbolizes the believer's death to sin and resurrection to walk in newness of life. The Lord's Supper is observed as a symbolic memorial of the Redeemer's death and anticipation of His return. Scripture is treated as the totally true and trustworthy revelation of God, the supreme standard for Christian faith and practice.
On the family, the church teaches that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime, and that children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. The office of pastor is reserved for men as qualified by Scripture.
Groups for every season: Men, Women, Students, Kids, and 55+
Beyond Sunday morning Life Groups and Wednesday programming, the church maintains five ongoing ministry communities:
- Men's Ministry - fosters spiritual growth, fellowship, and service among men of all ages, encouraging faith, leadership development, and meaningful service projects.
- Women's Ministry - a community where women of all ages grow in faith through worship gatherings, fellowship events, and service projects that encourage one another and make a positive impact in the community.
- Student Ministry - engages young people in biblical discussion, fun activities, and an encouraging environment that supports their relationship with Jesus.
- Kids Ministry - nurtures children with crafts, Bible lessons, and compassionate leadership.
- 55+ Ministry - connects older adults for Bible study, mutual support through life's transitions, and service to the church and surrounding community.
Reaching out: partners around the corner and around the world
Annistown partners with a number of organizations to live out the "Go" value. Southern Baptist missions are central: the International Mission Board (IMB), taking the gospel to unreached peoples worldwide, and the North American Mission Board (NAMB), assisting churches in planting healthy, multiplying, evangelistic Southern Baptist churches across the United States, Canada, and beyond.
On the local level, the church partners with the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry (reaching out to neighbors in need so they may find encouragement, love, and hope), Families 4 Families (a faith-based foster care agency), Georgia Wellness (faith-based, life-affirming reproductive healthcare), True Partnership Christian Academy (individualized Christian education), and BSF: Bible Study Fellowship (global in-depth Bible study).
The 300 Strong vision
Annistown has named a God-sized vision for its next chapter, called the 300 Strong Campaign. Inspired by Gideon's three hundred in Judges 7, the campaign seeks to raise $300,000 above the regular church budget to enhance the campus - a new, secure children's ministry area, renovated bathrooms, updated audio/video/lighting, replaced flooring, refreshed student and adult spaces, modern security systems, and improved landscaping - while pursuing doubled impact in attendance, baptisms, and shared testimonies over the next three years.
Every gift is managed with integrity and accountability under the oversight of a Finance Team, pastoral leadership, and a Campaign Finance Team, with quarterly updates shared with the congregation. Anyone can take part by praying, pledging above regular giving, participating in service, and promoting the story of what God is doing.
New Members Class
For those who want to make things official, Lead Pastor Joe Lewis teaches a four-week New Members Class held every other month at 9:00am in the Connect Room (to the left when facing the Worship Center). Across four weeks, participants discover what it means to be a Spirit-led follower of Jesus, dig into what the church believes about God and other foundational topics, learn how to find and use their spiritual gifts, and pick up tools for sharing the gospel in their own circles of influence. At the end of the class, attendees have the chance to become members and are plugged into a Life Group and a serving area.
Facility rentals
The Annistown campus is also available to the wider community for weddings, funerals, receptions, parties, conferences, and meetings. Spaces include:
- Dining Room - seats up to 60, with round eight-foot tables, chairs, projector, and sound system.
- Kitchen - large space with ovens, a stove, and a deep fryer for catering or events.
- The Foundry - the church's community meeting space with a smart TV, surround sound, and dimmable lighting, comfortably seating 30 to 40 with optional slim six-foot tables.
- Worship Center - open-stage auditorium that comfortably seats up to 300, with projectors and sound system, suited to wedding ceremonies and funeral services.
Stay connected
Worship services are livestreamed on Sundays at 10:30am, with the sermon archive and podcast available through YouTube, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Giving is offered online, by recurring gift through the Church Center app, by the dropbox outside the Worship Center, or by mail to the church address. A Planning Center form makes it easy to plan a first visit, request prayer, or find a Life Group to join.