A Church Born from Three Synods in North Cobb
First United Lutheran Church sits on Campus Loop Road in Kennesaw, in the North Cobb County area northwest of Atlanta. The congregation traces its origins to March 1972, when eight families began talking about starting a Lutheran church in their part of the county. Two months later, three Lutheran bodies, the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the Lutheran Church in America, agreed to come together and sponsor a new church plant. On May 21, 1972, First United Lutheran Church held its first service in the basement of the Elizabeth Firehouse on Bells Ferry Road.
The young church moved through several homes before settling into its own building. Worship relocated to Big Shanty Elementary School in March 1975, the same year Pastor John Hendricks accepted the call to become FULC's first permanent pastor. Land was purchased on Frey Lake Road in September 1975, groundbreaking was held on October 16, 1977, and the first services in the new building took place in July 1978. The congregation marked its 50th anniversary on June 8, 2025.
Sunday Mornings at Ten
Worship gathers every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at the FULC campus. The service follows the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's lectionary, a three-year cycle of Scripture readings that connects FULC with Lutheran congregations across the country and around the world. Recent Sundays have included sermons such as the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, preached by Pastor Randy Jones from St. Matthew 20:1-16.
For those who cannot attend in person, the most recent worship service is available online, and the YouTube channel streams and archives services for ongoing viewing. The church office is open Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; the staff is off on Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors are invited to RSVP through the I'M NEW page so the church can follow up with any special needs or questions before arrival.
You Belong Here: Values That Welcome Everyone
The congregation's opening line on its values page is direct: "You Belong Here." FULC acknowledges that many people have been hurt by the church and made to feel they cannot be themselves in a sanctuary, and it states plainly that this stops here. Five values shape the life of the church:
- Inclusion and the diversity of creation, affirming that everyone is made in the image of God.
- Humility and service, seeking opportunities to show mercy to those in need.
- Compassion and equity, working for healing and justice in the world.
- Relationships, through worship, music, prayer, study, fellowship, and mutual support.
- Learning and growth, embracing hard questions and continuing to discern God's plan.
What Lutherans Believe, in Plain Language
FULC teaches that all people are imperfect and are made right with God by grace alone, through Christ. There is no special prayer, state of mind, or good deed required. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God became one of us and took on the sin and suffering of the world. The gift of grace is received by faith alone on account of Christ, and believers live in the tension of still being sinful while trusting in forgiveness.
The congregation honors the Lutheran Reformation, which began on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther insisted that salvation could not be earned or bought. FULC draws on the Book of Concord, especially the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small Catechism, as key writings for the tradition. As the church puts it, "You are not born Lutheran and you are not baptized Lutheran. If you participate in the Lutheran tradition, you identify as a Lutheran Christian."
FULC is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, formed in 1987 through the merger of three Lutheran bodies. The congregation notes the ELCA's history of ordaining women as pastors beginning in 1970 and its 2009 decision to remove barriers to the ordination of LGBTQIA+ individuals as pastors and deacons. The ELCA has repudiated Martin Luther's anti-Judaic writings and is committed to Jewish relations and combating anti-Semitism. Through full communion agreements, FULC shares ministry with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, the Moravian Church, The Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church. The ELCA is also affiliated with the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches.
Life Together: Groups, Kids, Youth, Music
Ministry at FULC is organized around groups, children, youth, adults, music, and outreach. Small groups provide a setting for Bible study, prayer, and close fellowship. Children's and youth ministries walk alongside younger members as they grow in faith. Music ministry is led by Dr. Ben Wadsworth, who serves as Director of Music and Church Musician, supporting congregational singing and special musical offerings throughout the liturgical year.
The Wider Work: AA, Outreach, and Ecumenical Prayer
FULC's building is a hub for community life beyond its own members. Alcoholics Anonymous groups meet on the campus on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 6:00 p.m. The church also partners with nearby Mt. Zion AME Church for a monthly prayer meeting that rotates between the two congregations, a tangible expression of ecumenical relationship in North Cobb.
The congregation participates in the Lutheran World Federation, connecting FULC's local life to a global communion of Lutheran churches. Outreach efforts, volunteer opportunities, and a Prayer and Care form round out the church's ministry to neighbors near and far.
Meet the Pastor and Staff
Rev. Randy Jones serves as pastor of FULC, preaching and providing pastoral care to the congregation. The pastoral staff is supported by Jeni Griffin, Office Manager, and George Eliopoulos, Sexton. Dr. Ben Wadsworth directs the music program. The Church Council, which meets monthly to conduct the business of the congregation, is led by President Mike Hextell, with Diane Moulton as Secretary and Ron Emberg as Treasurer.
Plan a Visit
FULC welcomes visitors at 3481 Campus Loop Road in Kennesaw. Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by a time for coffee and conversation. The I'M NEW page offers a chance to RSVP and ask questions in advance, and the values page invites anyone who has ever felt unwelcome in a church to grab coffee with a pastor. Online giving is available through Vanco, and a weekly newsletter keeps subscribers connected to the life of the congregation.