On a wide stretch of Hudson Road on the east side of Griffin, Georgia, a brick church building has been the steady home of a congregation that traces its story back more than six decades. Eagles Way Church meets each Sunday morning at ten o'clock for worship, conversation, and teaching, and its life flows outward through children's ministry, a Wednesday night youth program, a full counseling practice, and mission partnerships that reach across Spalding County and around the world. The church's motto, "Faith. Hope. Love. For Every Life." sets the tone for a community that calls itself, simply, "a church showing God's unfailing truth, mercy and love."

From New Life Assembly to Eagles Way Church

The story of Eagles Way Church reaches back to 1964, when E. D. Goss founded a congregation called New Life Assembly and served as its senior pastor for the next twelve years. When he stepped aside, he passed the leadership to his son, Buren Goss, who had grown up in the church. In 1985, three local congregations, New Life Assembly, Evangel Assembly, and Integrity Christian Fellowship, came together under Pastor Buren's leadership to form a single non-denominational church that continued under the New Life name. A decade later, in 1996, the congregation was renamed Eagles Way Church. The new name came straight out of Isaiah 40:31: "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." That verse has framed the church's vision ever since, summed up in a single sentence: "A church fully devoted to Christ, deeply committed to one another, and boldly sharing God's love."

Pastor Buren and his wife, Barbara, have now served the church for more than fifty years. In 2026 the congregation marks that half-century milestone, and the church describes their ministry as a legacy that has "impacted countless lives." Over the decades, Eagles Way has grown, changed, and weathered seasons of difficulty, while remaining rooted in the stability of one family's continued pastoral leadership. The church teaches that its leaders "continue to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, embracing future change when inspired by God and guarding against man-made traditions that could hinder His work."

What Eagles Way Believes

Theology at Eagles Way is plain-spoken and Bible-centered. The church teaches that the Bible is God's inspired and trustworthy Word, revealing His truth and will for human lives. There is one God, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God's Son, who lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for believers. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer, guides into all truth, convicts of sin, comforts, gives spiritual gifts, and empowers for service.

The congregation holds that every person was created in the image of God to have fellowship with Him, and that the doors of the church are open to all. Salvation is a gift of God's grace made possible through Jesus. The church practices two sacraments, baptism and Communion, and teaches that God continues to work through prayer, healing, and healthy marriages within the community. Spiritual growth is the calling of every believer, to keep growing in body, soul, and spirit by becoming more like Jesus day by day. The church itself is described as "God's design for spiritual community, formed to glorify Christ and share His love with the world." Believers are encouraged to view the giving of their time, talent, and treasure as acts of worship that support God's work through the church. The church also confesses that Jesus will return and that God's Kingdom will be fully realized.

Sundays at Ten: The Worship Gathering

Each Sunday morning at ten o'clock, Eagles Way gathers in its sanctuary on Hudson Road. Coffee is ready at 9:30 AM for anyone who wants to settle in early, and the ushers keep things relaxed and welcoming for first-time guests. The service is built around worship and Bible teaching, with music led by Pastor of Music and Worship Michael Fulop. Children in first through fifth grade are invited to walk to the back of the sanctuary at 10:00 AM to worship with the congregation before heading upstairs to their classroom, though families are always welcome to keep children with them throughout the service.

Visitors who cannot make it to Griffin in person can join the gathering online. Sermons and worship services are posted to the church's YouTube channel, so people who travel, are sick, or simply want to revisit a recent message can view them at any time. Words & Thoughts also shares pastoral reflections, family devotionals, and member stories week by week, giving those at home an additional window into the church's teaching and life.

ewcKids: Helping Children Grow Into Fully Devoted Followers

Children's ministry at Eagles Way has been a passion project for decades and is currently led by Layna Fulop, who has volunteered and served in the children's wing for more than twenty-five years. Layna, who grew up in central New York before moving south to attend the University of Georgia, joined the church as a young adult and never left. She has served as director of EWC ministries and has taught Pre-K at Crosspointe Christian Academy, and she now oversees a program built around the conviction that "children have always been my heart."

The program's philosophy is captured in three short statements that children carry with them:

• God loves me.
• I can trust God no matter what.
• I am called to love others the way Jesus loves me.

The classrooms are split into two age groups. Crib through Kindergarten children are introduced to prayer and God's Word through interactive Bible stories, engaging crafts, short videos, and developmentally appropriate free play. Snacks and water are always on hand. Grades 1 through 5 work through "The Biggest Story," a curriculum that walks children through the entire arc of Scripture, from the Garden of Eden to the return of Christ, helping them see the overarching story of redemption.

Sunday morning in ewcKids runs on a simple rhythm. After parents check children in downstairs, the youngest group (Crib through Pre-K) can be dropped off in their classroom at 9:45 AM. At 10:00 AM, the older elementary children join their leaders in the sanctuary for the first part of worship, then head upstairs to their classroom. Parents pick everyone up after the service ends. To keep the conversation going at home, families are encouraged to ask questions after pickup, work through the take-home page together, and listen to "The Biggest Story" podcast, which is available on most streaming platforms.

EWC Youth: A Wednesday Night That Students Look Forward To

Middle and high school students (sixth through twelfth grade) gather for EWC Youth on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, with doors opening at 6:00 PM so that early arrivals have time to hang out before the program begins. The first Wednesday of each month includes a shared dinner for everyone. The youth ministry is led by Anna Takle, a fourth-generation pastor at Eagles Way who felt a call to ministry as a teenager and now pours that calling into the next generation. In Anna's words, "youth ministry isn't a secondary ministry to the church but THE ministry of the church," and her aim is to make sure that every student knows they are loved, valued, accepted, and "have greatness inside of them."

The format is built around belonging, friendship, faith, and fun. Students spend the evening in a space designed to feel like their own, with games, teaching, small-group conversation, and time to build the kinds of friendships that carry over into the school week. Updates, event photos, and announcements are posted throughout the week on the youth Instagram account.

Music and Worship: A Lifelong Love of Song

Music at Eagles Way is shaped by Pastor of Music and Worship Michael Fulop, a longtime EWC member, classically trained musician (Gordon State College), and the owner of a Beatles tribute band he has played in since high school. Michael first came to EWC after his family moved from Georgetown, Delaware to Griffin when he was young, and he has spent more than three decades volunteering with the praise band before stepping into the role of musical director. He also teaches guitar privately and brings a musician's ear to every part of the worship gathering. The Sunday morning worship team leans contemporary, with a full band supporting congregational singing, and the music is designed to give every age and stage a way to engage.

The Counseling Ministry: Walking With People Through Hard Places

Eagles Way takes seriously the conviction that "every person was created by God for meaningful, life-giving relationships." When those relationships break down, the church maintains a counseling ministry to come alongside individuals, couples, and families with hope, guidance, and practical tools. The ministry is led by Linda Langston, a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Director of Counseling. Linda holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Delaware, an M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University, and additional training through Elijah House Inner Healing and Theophostic Prayer Ministries. She runs her own practice, Linda Langston, LPC and Associates, and uses an integrative approach that emphasizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Counseling is offered on three tracks, and the right track is chosen together with the Director of Counseling after an initial conversation:

• Pastoral Counseling, offered by Linda Hardwick, a long-time ordained minister who has completed training through Elijah House Ministries and the Theophostic Prayer Ministry. Sessions are offered on a donation basis, with gifts encouraged but never required.
• Biblical Counseling, offered by Christie Arnold and Ron Walters, both certified through Elijah House and Theophostic ministries and deeply rooted in the life of the church.
• Professional Counseling, provided by Linda Langston through her private practice. Linda is in-network with Anthem of Georgia, BCBS, Aetna, and Meritain, accepts self-pay, and bills out-of-network plans on the client's behalf.

Pastoral and Biblical sessions are donation-based; professional sessions operate on a standard therapy fee structure, with health savings accounts, credit cards, debit cards, and cash all accepted.

Mission Beyond the Walls: Local, National, and Global

Eagles Way teaches that mission is about loving people both across the street and around the world, and the church channels that conviction through long-term partnerships with trusted organizations. Locally, the church actively supports Rushton's Hope, Five Loaves Two Fish Food Pantry, Abundant Life Soup Kitchen, Backpack Food For Kids, and Spalding Samaritans. Each March, the congregation sponsors and participates in the Dawg Dash Run for Food to raise awareness and funds for these vital ministries. During the Christmas season, the church partners with Angel Tree Prison Fellowship and Angel Tree Salvation Army to provide gifts for children whose parents are incarcerated or who are otherwise in need.

Globally, Eagles Way partners with Rescuing Lives and Ronald Gray Ministries, two organizations that work to bring hope, restoration, and the gospel to communities around the world. Both organizations have direct ties to the congregation and the broader Griffin community, and they remain ongoing relationship investments rather than one-off trips.

Words & Thoughts: A Running Conversation With the Church

One of the distinctive features of life at Eagles Way is Words & Thoughts, which publishes weekly posts from pastors, ministry leaders, and church members. Words & Thoughts covers a wide range of topics: family and parenting, marriage and faithfulness, fear and anxiety, gratitude in hard seasons, healing after trauma, and patient obedience when answers don't come. Each essay is a short pastoral reflection in the voice of its author. Recent contributors have included Buren Goss, Dusty Takle, Linda Hardwick, Layna Fulop, Anna Takle, Christie Arnold, Linda Langston, Mike Oliver, David Hightower, Ron Walters, Jason Torres, Will Doss, Brandon Grubbs, and others. Words & Thoughts also has a print-style newsletter that visitors can sign up to receive by email.

Get Connected: Small Groups, Women's Study, Men's Ministry

Beyond the Sunday gathering, Eagles Way offers several smaller communities where members can go deeper together.

The Well is the women's Bible study and fellowship group, open to every woman in the community. It runs in seasonal sessions on Wednesday evenings, and women are encouraged to invite friends who want to grow deeper in God and be encouraged.

Forged: Building Better Men is the men's ministry, meeting on Tuesday evenings to encourage men in their walk with Christ, their leadership at home, and their witness at work. The group meets off-site at 420 Wilson Road in Griffin.

Visitors are always welcome to drop in.

Giving, Communications, and Staying in Touch

Those who call Eagles Way home can support the church's ministry through online giving, set up through Pushpay and accessible from the Give page. Visitors who want to stay in the loop can subscribe to the weekly email newsletter, follow the church on Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to the church's YouTube channel for sermons, devotionals, and updates.

The office address is 100 Hudson Road, Griffin, Georgia 30224.

The Heart of the House: Grace, Family, and a Long View

Step back from the programs and the calendar, and the through line at Eagles Way is simple: the conviction that grace is not reserved for good people, that faith is a continuous journey of hearing God, and that every person encountered bears the image of the Creator. Those three sentences, written or quoted by Pastor Buren over the years, sit at the center of how the church sees itself and its neighbors.

What started as New Life Assembly in 1964 has grown into a multi-generational family of faith that includes infants in the nursery, fifth graders learning the storyline of Scripture, teenagers making life-shaping decisions on Wednesday nights, young adults stepping into their first callings, parents raising the next generation, and a founding pastoral family still at the pulpit fifty years later. Eagles Way is at once a local congregation with deep roots in Griffin and a sending community with partners across the country and the globe, and on any given Sunday morning at ten o'clock that whole story shows up at 100 Hudson Road, coffee in hand, ready to worship together.