Sundays on Dallas Highway
Marietta Nazarene Church sits on Dallas Highway on the western side of Marietta, Georgia, where Sunday mornings move at an unhurried pace before the 11:00 a.m. worship gathering. Coffee and light refreshments are set out at 9:30 a.m., and by 10:00 a.m. the building fills with the noise of children finding their classrooms, students settling into Bible study, and adults gathering in connect groups. Worship itself lasts 60 to 75 minutes and includes singing, prayer, and teaching the church describes as practical and rooted in Scripture.
Hospitality volunteers greet guests at the door, help families check kids into Kids Connect, and point first-timers toward the sanctuary. A welcome center in the lobby holds connect cards for visitors who would like a follow-up call during the week. The atmosphere is described by the church as casual: normal people from all walks of life gathering to worship and grow together.
The lead pastor, Andy Rutherford, leads a staff that includes Geoffrey Kishbaugh in spiritual formation, Gerry Carnes as pastor emeritus, Bryan Huff with students, Manuel Guillen Mendoza with the Hispanic ministry, Abigail Silverwood with children, and Andrea Kishbaugh with the nursery.
Ministerio Hispano: Sundays at One
In the youth building on the same campus, the Hispanic Ministry gathers at 1:00 p.m. each Sunday for a Spanish-language service of worship, teaching, and a shared meal. The ministry's vision is to reach the Hispanic community in Marietta, Dallas, and the surrounding area and to make disciples of Jesus. The church describes the congregation as a lighthouse of support, hope, and light for the Hispanic community, with a logo that captures unity, the strength of community, and the transforming power of mutual support. Those wanting more information are invited to reach out to Manuel Guillen Mendoza.
Kids from Nursery Through Fifth Grade
The children's ministry serves kids from nursery age through fifth grade and runs on two rails: a deep small-group hour and a high-energy large-group hour. At 10:00 a.m. on Sundays, kids break into age-appropriate small groups where The Biggest Story Curriculum walks them through the Bible as one unfolding story of redemption. At 11:00 a.m., the whole group comes back together for large-group teaching that mixes Bible lessons, games, and STEM activities drawn from the Wonder Ink Curriculum, which aims to answer four questions in the lives of children: God knows me, Jesus loves me, the Holy Spirit leads me, and I am a child of God.
Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. add a second weekly touchpoint. Three-year-olds through kindergarten gather for Kids K'Nex, with Bible lessons, games, and STEM activities designed to help them make firm connections to God's truth. First through fifth graders join Mind to Heart, an interactive program covering the Fruits of the Spirit, the Names of God, spiritual disciplines, purity, and similar topics, with hands-on projects that connect God's Word to everyday learning. Beyond the weekly schedule, the ministry runs Parent's Night Out, Vacation Bible School, and other events throughout the year.
Students on Wednesday Nights
The student ministry gathers for AMPED, a Wednesday-night program running from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The format is straightforward: a stretch of food, laughter, and games followed by worship, prayer, and practical teaching that aims to help students apply God's Word to daily life. On Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m., students join their own Bible study alongside the adult connect groups. The ministry's stated vision is helping students become disciples who glorify God and bless their community.
Women and Men
The women's ministry organizes a rhythm of recurring gatherings. Third-Thursday lunches anchor the calendar, with seasonal events building on that rhythm: an intergenerational tea in May for girls of all ages, Going Beyond Live with Priscilla Shirer in August, a Board and Brush night in the cafe in October, Friendsgiving in November, and the Georgia District Women's Retreat in Adrian, Georgia. The women also volunteer quarterly at Way Maker Women's Center.
The men's ministry brands itself around Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Two monthly touchpoints set the cadence: a First Thursday Firepit Fellowship at 7:00 p.m. and a Third Thursday breakfast at Big Doug's at 8:00 a.m. A hiking group and men's retreats round out the year, alongside other events.
Pickleball, Soccer, and the Recreation Ministry
Open-play pickleball draws neighbors and church members alike. Sessions run on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. The church also fields Upward Soccer leagues each spring for children from three years old through sixth grade, with games beginning in March. The recreation ministry treats these programs as both outreach and fellowship, with the gym and courts serving as a public-facing front door to the church.
Missions Near and Far
Marietta Nazarene supports missions through denominational channels and local partners. Globally, the church connects with NMI (Nazarene Missions International), which mobilizes the denomination for missions; NCM (Nazarene Compassionate Ministries), which supports children, families, and communities; and Samaritan's Purse, the disaster relief organization.
Locally, the church partners with organizations that provide long-term Christian care for children who lack a stable home environment and with a pregnancy resource ministry that supports women and families navigating unplanned pregnancies. The framing throughout the missions page is the same dual call that shapes the rest of the church: make disciples (Matthew 28:19) and bless the community (Matthew 5:14).
The Engage Pathway
For people who want to go deeper, Marietta Nazarene runs a three-step discipleship pathway called Engage. Know God introduces the church's identity and answers the recurring question, "What is a Nazarene?" Know Self explores personality, spiritual gifts, and the unique wiring God has given each person. Know Others walks through the biblical vision of community and helps people find a place to serve. Engage is offered twice a year in the fall and spring, with each session meeting at 5:00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon in the multi-purpose space. Light refreshments are served, and childcare is provided.
The Greater Things Project
The church's biggest current undertaking is the Greater Things Project, a campus renovation and expansion tied to the congregation's 75th anniversary in the fall of 2028. The driving motivation is that the existing facility has reached capacity. Two aging portable units are still in use, mechanical issues have grown, and the layout forces some ministry areas apart.
The renovation is designed to make better use of current square footage, retire the mobile units, build a clearly identified main entrance with a welcoming foyer, create a secure children's area, add a commercial kitchen, and put all ministry on one floor. Architect BGW of Salt Lake City and Legacy Builders of Cumming, Georgia, have drawn the plans. The estimated cost is between 3.1 and 3.5 million dollars, and the congregation is being asked to raise 85 to 90 percent of that in cash and in-kind gifts before approving the remainder as a mortgage. If funding is secured by the end of 2026, construction could launch in 2027 and finish in time for the 75th anniversary.
The project's framing is theological as much as practical. Citing John 14:12 - "whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things" - the church frames expansion as preparation: "Make room, and then I'll send people."
What Nazarenes Believe
Marietta Nazarene is part of the Church of the Nazarene, a global Wesleyan-holiness tradition that officially began in 1908 out of movements that emphasized a life-changing relationship with God. The denomination now includes thousands of churches in more than 160 countries, with the local congregation describing itself as part of a network of Nazarene churches across Georgia and around the world.
The word "holiness" sits at the center of Nazarene identity. The church explains it simply: holiness means being set apart for something meaningful - living a life centered on God, growing in love, purpose, and integrity with God's help, rather than striving for perfection.
The church's doctrinal summary covers the beliefs Nazarenes hold in common with the wider Christian tradition: one God experienced as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Jesus Christ as fully God, whose death and resurrection make salvation possible; the Holy Spirit as present and active today, giving gifts and guidance to believers; the Bible as the authoritative witness to God's message; human beings as made in God's image and broken by sin; salvation as a free gift received by faith; ongoing growth in Christian character through the Holy Spirit; and the reality of eternal life with God or separation from Him.
Joining in and Giving
The church office is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Worship is livestreamed, sermons are archived on the Church Center platform, and a YouTube channel (@mariettanaz) carries recordings. Online giving is available through the Church Center, by texting GIVE to (844) 745-5871, by mailing a check to the church address, or by placing a gift in the offering box at the entrance to the worship center. A weekly newsletter and a calendar of upcoming events are accessible from the main menu.