Leading Others to Love and Follow Jesus
Anthony Grove Baptist Church sits on Anthony Grove Road in Crouse, a small community in Lincoln County, North Carolina. The church's motto, "Leading Others to Love and Follow Jesus," captures its purpose and shapes everything from Sunday morning worship to midweek Bible study, from children's ministry to senior fellowship. Anthony Grove is a Great Commission Baptist Church whose doctrinal beliefs are reflected in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Its mission is to reach people for Jesus Christ and disciple them to be passionate followers of Christ.
Sunday at Anthony Grove
Sundays follow a steady rhythm built around two worship services and a slate of Bible study and discipleship gatherings.
- Sunday School runs from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM for all ages.
- First Worship Service begins at 8:30 AM.
- Second Worship Service begins at 11:00 AM.
- Discipleship meets at 5:00 PM in the evening.
The two morning services give families a choice of times, and the late-morning Sunday School hour fills the gap between them. The evening Discipleship hour is where members dig deeper into specific Bible studies during the spring and fall quarters.
Wednesday Family Night
Wednesday nights at Anthony Grove follow the same pattern almost every week of the year. A Family Night Supper runs from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, giving families a chance to eat together before the evening programming. Bible Study follows from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Together, the supper and the study form what the church simply calls Family Night, a midweek anchor for members of all ages that includes its own livestream on YouTube.
Children's Ministry
Anthony Grove partners with parents to help kids begin to know God and grow in their understanding of His Word. Classes run from babies through fifth grade, with age-appropriate Bible teaching and engaging activities led by caring adult leaders. Children also gather for Children Blast, a large-group time where they worship together, hear an exciting Bible message, and learn what it means to be part of the Anthony Grove family. Each summer the church hosts Vacation Bible School, with recent themes such as "Junkyard Redemption," where children explore God's redemption plan through Scripture.
Student Ministry
Two distinct ministries serve the next generation at Anthony Grove.
Impact Youth is the middle and high school ministry, dedicated to making disciples of Jesus in the next generation. The leadership focuses on teaching students how to "Live It Out," even in the face of peer pressure, and offers a powerful Wednesday night message, summer camp, and a steady calendar of activities. The youth group also runs fundraising events, such as the Impact Youth Breakfast Fundraiser held between Sunday services.
Ignite Young Adults is dedicated to college-age students and young adults in the church and community. The group meets to praise God, grow through the Word, and go into the world as disciple makers who want to see the Kingdom of God grow. Recent studies have included "Experiencing God," led by Pastor Michael Purcell.
Adult Life Groups
Adults at Anthony Grove find community in three main groups.
Men's Ministry helps men grow in their walk with Christ while using their skills and talents to meet the needs of the community. The men also share in wild game cookouts, fishing trips, and other activities, and have worked through studies such as Tony Evans's "Kingdom Man."
Women's Ministry is committed to meeting the needs of women inside and outside the congregation. The women meet regularly to fellowship and support each other, and they serve as an outreach for military, foreign, and local missions. Their annual events include a Christmas Bazaar and a spring Luncheon and Parade of Tables, both of which raise money for missions.
Goodtimer's Ministry is the senior group at Anthony Grove. Whether members are retired, tired, or active as ever, the Goodtimer's offer refreshment, ministry, and meaningful interaction. A mentoring component lets older believers help disciple younger believers as the whole church grows in Christ together.
Discipleship Classes
Anthony Grove runs quarterly Discipleship Classes on Sunday evenings during the spring and fall. Each class focuses on a specific area of life and how to grow in Christ in that area. The program centers on Matthew 28:19-20: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you."
Recent and recurring class offerings include:
- Fan the Flame with Pastor Dennis Bean
- I'm Saved, Now What? with Pastor Trey Newton
- Financial Peace University with Michael and Kimberly Melton
- The World of the End with Cyndi Hyleman
- The Heart of a Warrior with Pastor Dennis White
- 5 Pillars of Christian Growth with Nathan Bean
- The Battle Plan for Prayer with Cyndi Hyleman
Each quarter begins with a church-wide Potluck, when members share a meal and hear directly from the leaders about the classes being offered for the coming season.
Divorce Care
Anthony Grove hosts DivorceCare, a support ministry for people working through the pain of separation and divorce. Led by Kim Sain and Pastor Dennis White, the program meets regularly and is open to anyone in the community who wants to attend. The church anchors this ministry in Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit."
Special Nights and Community Events
Beyond weekly services, Anthony Grove builds a yearly rhythm around several beloved traditions.
Night to Shine is the Tim Tebow Foundation prom-style evening for people with special needs. Anthony Grove hosts the local celebration each February, welcoming guests for an extraordinary night of friendship and fun.
Hallow-Him takes the place of a traditional Halloween celebration. Held on October 31 each year, it features themed car trunks, free snacks, food trucks, music, and rides, all gathered under a banner that celebrates the light of Christ.
From Darkness to Dawn is the church's annual Easter drama, a powerful two-part presentation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that takes place over Holy Week.
Big Iron Saturday Car Show brings car, truck, and bike enthusiasts to the church grounds each September for trophies, a silent auction, raffles, homemade ice cream, funnel cakes, and live music.
The Light at the Table is a Christmas-season program for families carrying the weight of loss, reminding them that joy can return even in the hardest seasons.
The church also partners with community health efforts by hosting an annual Blood Drive and supports disaster relief through Baptists on Mission.
Worship Online and Giving
Anthony Grove livestreams its services on YouTube, with recent Wednesday night and Sunday morning services available for viewing at any time. Giving is available online through a secure form. A weekly bulletin can be downloaded in PDF form, and a monthly newsletter called "The Grove" is released the first of each month and available at the church's Connection Desk.
The Pastoral Team
A full staff of pastors and ministry leaders shepherd the church.
- Dr. Rev. Dennis Bean serves as Senior Pastor.
- Pastor Trey Newton is the Youth Pastor.
- Pastor Robert Haynes serves as Associate Pastor.
- Pastor Adam Rose is the Worship Minister.
- Tricia Crocker is the Children's Minister.
- Pastor Dennis White is the Minister of Discipleship.
- Pastor Michael Purcell is the Minister of Communication.
A School Building for the Future
Anthony Grove Baptist Church operates an on-campus Christian school that parents can enroll their children in for a first-class education that raises up soldiers for Christ who love and serve others. A Harvest Offering is taken each November to support the construction of a new school building, an investment in building on what God has begun in Christian education.
Visiting Anthony Grove
The church is located at 100 Anthony Grove Road in Crouse, North Carolina. The main phone line is (704) 435-6001. Sunday services are held at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM, with Sunday School between them at 10:00 AM and Discipleship in the evening at 5:00 PM. Wednesday Family Night begins with supper at 5:30 PM followed by Bible Study at 6:30 PM.