On Lawndale Drive in Greensboro, North Carolina, a multi-generational Baptist family has made its home for decades. Lawndale Baptist Church describes itself with a single line: "All for the Glory of God." The church family is made up of all ages, races, and backgrounds working together to bring glory to God, and that conviction shapes nearly everything on the property at 3505 Lawndale Drive. Worship is intentionally intergenerational, teaching is verse-by-verse through books of the Bible, and the entire ministry calendar is built around making disciples who make disciples.
A Biblical, Intergenerational Family
Lawndale names five core values that drive its ministry: Biblical Worship, Intergenerational Ministry, a Discipleship Culture, Family Equipping, and Leadership Development. The church is convinced that the glory of God in a united church matters more than preferences about style, and that older believers discipling younger ones is the normal Christian life. Services, groups, and training events are designed to bring the generations together rather than sorting people by age and interest.
Biblical Worship here means hymns and spiritual songs that are theologically rich and accurate, paired with sermons that walk through a text of Scripture verse by verse, most often as part of a series through a single book. Discipleship happens from the pulpit, in small groups, in families, and one-on-one. Family Equipping treats parents and grandparents as the primary disciple-makers of the next generation, and the church partners with them at home. Leadership Development is intentional about identifying and sending leaders and teachers, including into vocational ministry.
Sunday Mornings at Lawndale
Sunday mornings begin at 9:15 am with Life Groups for every age and stage of life, from infants through senior adults and including intergenerational classes. The current classes are studying and discussing the New Testament together.
At 10:30 am the congregation gathers in the Worship Center for the worship service, which runs about 75 minutes. The atmosphere is casual, welcoming, and family-friendly. Worship is described as biblical and blended, the teaching is biblically based, practical, and challenging, and there is no dress code. Services are offered both in person and online, with a livestream available. Recent sermon series have worked through the Gospel of Luke as part of the church's emphasis on "Discipleship 201," an extended walk through the middle section of Luke's Gospel.
Families visiting with young children are encouraged to enter through the rear entrance under the covered walkway, or to ask a greeter for help getting children where they need to be. Sermon notes and a children's bulletin are available for the service.
Midweek Bible Study and Life Groups
Wednesday nights at 6:15 pm bring the church back together for a Midweek Bible Study in which pastors rotate through topical studies. The class is open to all ages, and during the school year a family dinner is offered beforehand so all ages can fellowship together. The audio is released as the Midweek Podcast on Spotify.
Life Groups meet on Sunday mornings, while additional small groups meet at other times for men, for women, and for intergenerational study. Seasonal Bible Studies go deeper into books of the Bible or specific topics, with meeting days and times varying by group. Discipleship Groups, sometimes called D-Groups, gather at various times and locations throughout the week.
Children and Students
Children's Ministry at Lawndale recognizes that foundational concepts of God are often set by age twelve and seeks to partner with parents. On Sunday mornings at 9:15 am, children build relationships with permanent, screened teachers who walk through age-appropriate curriculum. At 10:30 am, Extended Teaching (ET) classes staffed by screened parents care for babies through kindergarteners during the worship service. Children in first through fifth grade worship with their parents in the service and can pick up a children's bulletin.
Wednesday nights during the school year bring preschoolers and children together for Olympians (first through fifth grade) and Gopher Buddies (four-year-olds through kindergarten) at 6:15 pm. The night opens with a high-energy rally, moves into small groups, and closes in worship. Seasonal activities include basketball camps and leagues, a Parent's Night Out, and Vacation Bible School.
Lawndale Students, designed for grades 6 through 12, follows "The Disciple's Path": Reach the lost, Connect with the Church, Learn the Bible, Grow in Discipleship, Serve in Ministry. Students meet on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am for Equip Discipleship and on Wednesday nights at 6:15 pm for Fusion Worship, with optional hangouts afterward. Seasonal events include Summer Camp, a Student Weekend, a Fall Weekend, and Serve Weekends.
College, Young Adults, and Single Adults
Lawndale College gathers college-aged young adults from across the Triad for teaching, small group discussion, and fellowship. The College Life Group meets Sundays at 9:15 am in Room 322.
The Young Adults ministry serves single and married adults from roughly age 21 to 32 who are transitioning from college into professional life. They meet for a Life Group on Sunday mornings and additional small groups for men and women during the week. Cookouts, hiking trips, weekend retreats, and game nights fill out the calendar.
Single Adults (35 and up) find their own Sunday morning Bible study groups along with dinners, activities, day trips, and weekend retreats throughout the year.
Senior Adults at Lawndale
Senior Adults are a vital and visible part of the church family. Pastoral care for seniors and their families is led by the Senior Adults Pastor, with hospital visits, calls, and personal counseling offered as needed.
Ministries to and through senior adults include a Senior Adult Ministry (SAM) Team that plans and implements programming, an Annual Widows Banquet hosted by the Deacons, and The Voices of Experience, a senior adult choir formed more than twenty years ago. Serving Our Seniors (SOS) reaches homebound members with prayer, visitation, cards, letters, and seasonal care packages, and offers short-term encouragement to people walking through difficult seasons. Prime Time Council hosts monthly luncheons and seasonal day trips, while Care for the Giver is a monthly support group for caregivers. Last Touch Ministries helps people prepare for end-of-life decisions, and Grands Raising Grands supports grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Ladies' Ministry
Lawndale's Ladies ministry connects women of all ages through Bible study, mentoring, service activities, and retreats. Sunday morning Life Groups for women meet at 9:15 am, and Women's D-Groups meet at various times during the week.
Three ongoing Bible studies anchor the ministry: a Precepts Bible Study taught by Marjorie Martin on Tuesdays at 10 am using Kay Arthur studies, and the Weekly Word for Women taught by Dr. Donna Navey on Wednesdays at 9 am in the Worship Center. Two annual events bring women together across generations: the Mary and Martha Meal in the spring and the Lawndale Ladies Retreat in the fall.
Family Equipping at Home
Family Ministry at Lawndale treats the home as the primary place of discipleship. Parents and grandparents are coached to be disciple-makers, and the church partners with them along the way.
Marriage ministry includes premarital and marriage counseling offered through Pastor Rodney Navey, with recommended resources drawn from Gary Thomas, Paul Tripp, John Piper, Wayne Mack, and Tim Keller. Parenting ministry equips parents with resources from Chap Bettis, Paul Tripp, and Donald Whitney, and provides a "Milestones Map" for marking spiritual milestones in a child's life. Grandparenting ministry encourages older believers in the unique calling of investing in the next generation.
Missions, Outreach, and ESL
Missions at Lawndale extends well beyond the building. Internal ministries include Shepherd's Shelf, a once-per-week food pantry for families in need, and Lilies of the Field, a referral-based clothing closet. The Cancer Ministry gathers current and former patients and caregivers weekly for support and fellowship. Hope in the Journey is a fellowship for women who have experienced the loss of a spouse. Pregnancy Loss Support is offered through a dedicated form. Desert River Ministry guides women out of post-abortive hurt toward healing. The Law Enforcement Outreach supports Greensboro's men and women in uniform, and Serve Our Schools partners with Guilford County Schools for beautification, repairs, teacher support, and student care.
English as a Second Language (ESL) is a major front door to the community. Three levels of English classes meet Sunday evenings from 4:30 to 6 pm in Room 316, and a Sunday ESL Bible Class runs from 3:45 to 4:15 pm. A separate adult literacy group helps speakers who can converse but want to learn to read. About 120 languages are spoken in Guilford County, and the ministry frames itself as evangelism in action.
Mission partners include Piedmont Baptist Association at the local level, NC Baptists and the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina at the state level, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and Guidestone at the national level, and the International Mission Board (IMB) for international work. The church also partners with Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child.
Lawndale Weekday School
The Lawndale Weekday School, also called the Children's Learning Center, is a ministry of the church that provides a distinctively Christian school environment. The aim is to minister to families in need both inside the church and in the surrounding community and to give children satisfying experiences that support intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social development. Programs are organized by developmental age, and registration runs on a school-year calendar.
Athletics and VBS
Athletics at Lawndale uses gospel-centered sports to connect the church and reach the lost. A winter basketball league serves grades K through 12, summer basketball camps run by grade level for grades 1 through 6, and seasonal pickleball and pickup basketball games round out the year for older ages.
Vacation Bible School is a weeklong program for children from age five (by August 31) through completed fifth grade. The week runs from 9 am to noon and includes Bible lessons, games, crafts, snacks, mission time, and high-energy worship. Family Night on Wednesday evening invites parents to see what their children have been learning. Registration is free, and all teachers and volunteers complete background checks.
What Lawndale Believes
Lawndale holds to the Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 edition, and considers its statements to be consistent with Scripture. The church teaches that God is one and exists eternally in three co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father sent the Son on a rescue mission and adopts believers into His family. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose again after three days, and will one day return.
The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and serves as counselor, comforter, and teacher. The Bible is the inerrant, God-breathed written Word and the final authority for faith and life. Humanity is created in God's image but inclined to sin, which is what alienates people from God. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
Marriage is designed by God to be between one man and one woman for a lifetime and is meant to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church. Parents are the primary disciple-makers of their children, with grandparents and the church partnering in that work. The church itself is described as the bride of Christ, with the local church gathering regularly to worship, encourage, and be equipped for ministry.
Pastors and Staff
Dr. Rodney Navey serves as Lead Pastor. He holds an MDiv and DMin from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and previously served at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Indian Trail and at Calvary Church in Charlotte before returning to Lawndale in March 2021. Dr. Curt Dean serves as Executive Pastor and has been on staff at Lawndale for 27 years, with degrees from UNC-Charlotte and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Jimmy Jackson, the Missions Pastor, has served Lawndale since 2000 and is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Cliff Stewart is the Senior Adults Pastor. Luke Earwood is the Connections Pastor and leads the College ministry.
Dr. Scott Toth is the Technical and IT Director. Noah Darnell is the Music and Worship Director. Nathan Morrison and Abby Miller share Children's and Family Director responsibilities. Lee Anne Wade serves as Women's Director (Volunteer). Martha Stone is the Weekday School Director. Kelsey Hargett is the Communication and Design Director.
Plan a Visit
Visitors are welcome to come as they are, with no dress code. Life Groups meet Sunday at 9:15 am and the worship service begins at 10:30 am. A welcome area called Guest Central is set up so first-time visitors can be met and greeted. Those who want to take a next step can join the Life at Lawndale class to learn about the church's mission, beliefs, core values, strategy, staff, and practices. Baptisms are scheduled regularly, and a baptism interest form is available for those considering the next step.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and is closed on Friday. Giving is available online through Church Center, and the Midweek Podcast, sermon catalog, recommended books, and reading plans for the Old and New Testaments are all available online as well.