Following Jesus Together on Cooledge Road
On Cooledge Road in Tucker, Georgia, Northlake Church of Christ is a congregation that has practiced following Jesus together for more than sixty years. Members and guests gather in an auditorium where the songs are unaccompanied and the communion table sits in the middle of the room. Northlake is known in the Tucker and Clarkston area for something harder to pin down than a single style. It is the community's willingness to ask honest questions, to welcome people of every background, and to send its members out the door and into the needs of the city.
The motto that anchors the church is "Following Jesus Together." With over sixty years of history, an a cappella worship tradition, weekly communion, and a deeply diverse congregation, Northlake offers a home for families, singles, international members, refugees, longtime Southerners, and newer neighbors alike.
From Decatur to Cooledge Road: Over Sixty Years of Walking Together
Northlake's roots reach back more than sixty years, when the church began in the city of Decatur and gathered God's people in that older neighborhood for decades. After years in Decatur, the church relocated to its present home at 1625 Cooledge Road in Tucker, where it has now been for several decades. The move brought the congregation into a part of Georgia shaped by longtime residents, newer immigrants, and the nearby Clarkston community, one of the most internationally diverse communities in the United States.
The geography is formative. Northlake's leaders describe friendships that now stretch across Tucker, Clarkston, Decatur, and beyond, and the church's outreach commitments follow the same map. Tucker-area neighbors come to the Clothing Closet; Clarkston-area schools and refugee families come for after-school tutoring and resettlement support; Predisan, the church's longtime mission partner, sends short-term teams to Honduras.
A Cappella Worship, Weekly Communion, and Open Arms
On Sunday mornings at 10:30, members and visitors gather for an hour-long service of singing, prayer, scripture reading, and a sermon led by one of the church's ministers. The worship is unaccompanied, the long-standing custom of the Churches of Christ. Worship Minister Chris Armstead, who has led the music ministry since 2019, describes his goal as "crafting a cappella worship experiences that embrace diversity and encourage participation." The auditorium fills with the voices of children, parents, and elders singing together.
The center of the service is the weekly observance of communion. Trays of bread and grape juice are arranged on several tables in the middle of the auditorium, and members and visitors are welcomed to gather around them as they remember the cross and the resurrection. Gluten-free bread is available. Northlake's own worship page describes communion as the spiritual center of worship, a moment when "we experience true community that comes with being part of the new family God is making in this world."
Worship is opened with hugs, handshakes, and conversations that fill the room before the first song. Members describe Sunday morning as a time to "reconnect with our family and meet new faces." Children from two years old through sixth grade stay in worship until the sermon, when they are invited to attend their own age-appropriate worship time.
What a First-Time Visitor Will Notice
Northlake is unusually direct about the questions first-time visitors carry, and answers them on its visitor page.
Will I feel put on the spot? The church's goal is that everyone feels welcomed. You will not be asked to wear a name tag or stand in front of the congregation. Members love meeting new people, so visitors typically receive many warm greetings and lots of conversation.
Can I take communion? Yes. The communion is described as "a time for those who believe in Jesus Christ to come together and communally acknowledge His centrality to our faith through the sacrifice of His life." The trays of bread and grape juice are available to everyone; gluten-free bread is also provided.
What about my kids? Nurseries and cry rooms are offered for infants. Children two years old through sixth grade worship with their families until the sermon, when they can attend their own teaching time. The church's view is that worship is a great opportunity to model spiritual practices for children and to reinforce their sense of belonging.
What should I wear? Whatever is comfortable. Members and visitors wear anything from suits and dresses to jeans, shorts, and traditional clothing from a variety of countries and cultures.
Will I be asked to give money? No. The collection is offered for members, who support the work and operations of the church and "practice generosity toward God." Visitors are not expected to give.
If a Sunday cannot be attended in person, services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, and the church describes its worship as "where we share common ground as believers and serves as a connection point for all aspects of our faith."
Children's Ministry: Nurturing Faith from Nine Months Old
Northlake's Children's Ministry seeks "to nurture the seeds of faith growing in every child as they walk in The Way of Jesus." Sunday mornings begin with Bible classes for children from nine months old through sixth grade, meeting from 9:15 to 10:15. Children two years old through kindergarten receive additional training for worship during the sermon hour. First through sixth graders take part in a special Kids' Message Time during the sermon before returning to their families.
On Wednesday evenings, Bible classes for children three years old through sixth grade meet from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Crystal O'Neal, who grew up at Northlake and is a certified early-childhood-through-sixth-grade teacher, leads the ministry along with assistants Abbey Law and a ministry assistant named Hser Kay, and deacons Allie Goodson and Brandon Johnson.
The Children's Ministry has four priorities. Children grow in service, with the church believing kids can do great things as they learn the way of Jesus through authentic service. Children grow in worship, with a special part in the congregation and a worship time of their own. Children grow in learning, with Bible classes introducing them to God's great story from infancy. And children grow in belonging, forming relationships, participating in church life, and being recognized by the larger congregation.
Safety is treated as central. Volunteer leaders undergo background checks, complete training in safe-environments for children, and commit to holding each other accountable to the church's safe-children policies.
Youth Ministry: Flourishing in Community
The Northlake Youth Ministry, often called NYM, gathers seventh through twelfth graders under the leadership of Paul Mvukiye-Reeser, who holds a degree in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb University and a Master's in Restorative Justice and Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Paul also serves as Director of Outreach for the church and sits on the leadership team of Re'Generation Movement, a local peacebuilding organization.
On Sundays, seventh through twelfth graders meet for Bible class from 9:15 to 10:15. Wednesday evenings include a dinner and devotional from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The youth are known for mixing worship, service, and "crazy-fun events." Service has become a natural expression of love for the group, with teens serving locally in their neighborhoods and schools and taking part in service trips to communities in other states.
The ministry's promise is captured in a line from its own page: "We promise you'll never be walking alone." Mentors, devotional leaders, and pastoral staff care for each teen's academic, social, and family life, as well as their physical, mental, and spiritual health. Brian and Page Ikeda serve as deacons over the ministry, and a ministry assistant named Hser Kay supports both the youth and children's work.
Adult Classes, LIFE Groups, and Wednesday Bible Studies
Adult spiritual formation at Northlake is shaped by Lauren Calvin Cooke, the Adult Spiritual Formation Minister, who holds a Ph.D. in Religious Education from Emory, an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb. She teaches, preaches, and creates opportunities for members to grow in faith and fellowship.
Four adult Bible classes meet on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15. The Chapel hosts a study through the Pastoral Epistles, facilitated by Sam Vernhes, on church culture then and now. Room 202 hosts "Finding God in the Workplace," facilitated by Lauren Calvin Cooke. Room 204/205 hosts the Young Adults and Parents Class, where adults discuss the previous week's worship and sermon. Room 203 hosts the International Fellowship Class, a relaxed gathering for international members for whom English is a second language, with fellowship, a review of the Sunday scripture, and prayer.
On Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m., LIFE Groups meet in homes and other locations around the metro area. LIFE Groups are described as "the core of growing discipleship and supportive church life," with the letters standing for Love, Involvement, Fellowship, and Evangelism. Brent Wiseman, an elder, coordinates LIFE Groups.
On Wednesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., the Ladies' Bible Study meets in Room 204/205. On Wednesday evenings, the Men's Bible Study meets at 6:30 in the Forum downstairs. A separate Book Study Group gathers at 7:00 p.m. and considers "contemporary as well as classic writings helpful to our understanding of challenges in today's world." Members have worked through Eugene Peterson's A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society and other titles. The book study meets both in person in Room 204/205 and online through Google Meet, with a phone-in option for those joining remotely.
Women at the Table and at the Pulpit
For decades, Northlake has invited both women and men to fully participate in its assemblies, ministries, and leadership. In a five-month study during 2009 and 2010, the congregation engaged in prayerful study and conversation about the full participation of women in all areas of church life. In February 2010, the elders released a statement summarizing what had been learned and announcing the decision to welcome full participation in ministry, worship, and leadership from both women and men.
The 2010 statement argued that "to allow some to use their gifts and others to be restricted runs counter to the inclusive nature of the gospel message." In 2019, the church revisited the discussion during the elder-selection process, and the elders reiterated that both female and male nominees for elder would be welcomed. While none of the women nominated chose to serve at that time, Northlake continues to offer training for ministry volunteers, mentorship, and support to encourage women in leadership roles.
At Northlake today, women lead ministries, teach children's and adult Bible classes, preach, and serve at the communion table. Worship Minister Chris Armstead described in his own statement what he finds hopeful about Northlake: "From elders offering congregational prayer, to young children reading Scripture, to young men and women in the youth group preaching or sharing testimony, to families presiding over communion together, and often in a variety of languages, the Image of God is beautifully represented by the diversity of our church family."
Clothing, Food, Grief Care, and Outreach to Neighbors
Northlake's community outreach is led by Paul Mvukiye-Reeser, who serves as Director of Outreach. The church collaborates with local nonprofit and community development partners on people-centered approaches that address the needs of Tucker, Clarkston, and surrounding communities.
Clothing Closet. As part of Northlake's involvement with NETWorks, the Clothing Closet provides free clothing to neighbors in the Tucker and Clarkston area on the first, second, and third Wednesdays of each month from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Friendly volunteers help shoppers find seasonal clothes for everyday needs, job interviews, and other needs. The closet accepts clothing donations only (no kitchen or household items), and small men's clothing is in constant demand.
NETWorks Food Distribution. NETWorks Co-op Ministry distributes food on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., with preparation and organization on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Northlake members assist in the store and behind the scenes.
GriefShare. A fourteen-week Christ-centered grief support program meets on Sundays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Forum, the educational building. Each session works as a stand-alone, so anyone is welcome to enter the program mid-cycle. Sessions feature video seminars, a workbook, group sharing, and a small fee that includes the participant's book. Topics include "Is This Normal?," "Challenges of Grief," "Grief and Your Relationships," "Guilt and Anger," "Stuck," and others. Suzie McCluggage, one of the elders, registers participants.
Community Garden and Soccer. Northlake has opened its property to refugee neighbors to host a community garden and a soccer organization, giving refugee families space for food and recreation.
Willow Branch After School. Member volunteers tutor students at Willow Branch Apartments in Clarkston Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Tucker Cold Shelter. Through Tucker First United Methodist Church, Northlake members serve as overnight hosts on cold nights for people in need of shelter, based on overnight temperatures.
A Home for Everyone DeKalb. Volunteers prepare and deliver bagged meals to people experiencing homelessness in Decatur.
Decatur Christian Towers. Members assist residents at this Decatur senior housing community with minor tasks and small projects.
Inspiritus. Volunteers walk with refugee families being resettled in Clarkston.
Embrace Refugee Birth Support. Volunteers provide birth support for refugee women in the Clarkston area.
Upper90. Volunteers mentor and coach in a refugee youth soccer program in Clarkston, supplementing the church's on-site soccer organization.
Predisan: Following the Spirit to Honduras
Beyond the metro area, Northlake has long partnered with Predisan Health Ministry in Catacamas, in the Olancho region of Honduras. Predisan has served that underserved region since 1986, providing primary health services, addiction rehabilitation, community development, young-leader scholarships, and pastoral care. More than three hundred Honduran professionals and technical personnel work for the mission, including eighteen chaplains who serve a population of over 150,000.
Northlake supported Predisan's founding missionaries, Dr. Robert and Doris Clark, as well as later missionaries including Celia Lett, Karen Gage, and Kyle and Bety Huhtanen. The church currently contributes to Predisan's pastoral work and sends short-term teams each year. Several Northlake members serve on Predisan's board of directors.
A Long Walk on Racial Reconciliation
Northlake has named racial reconciliation as a continuing part of its calling. The elders' statement on racism, posted in 2020, confesses that "racism and prejudice in any form are sinful and in violation of the teachings of Jesus." The statement grounds its claims in Genesis 1:27 (God created humankind in his image), 1 Corinthians 15:3 (Jesus died for all), Mark 12:31 (love your neighbor), Philippians 2:3 and 2:7 (value others above yourself, take on the nature of a servant), and Galatians 3:28 ("we are all one in Christ Jesus").
To support the church's work, members maintain a Racial Reconciliation Resources page with book recommendations such as The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby, The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, and I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown. Members also participate in "Be the Bridge" groups developed by Latasha Morrison, which create small multi-racial spaces for honest conversations about race. As a guide, the church borrows Aboriginal Australian activist Lilla Watson's words: "If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."
Ministers and Elders
Northlake's preaching ministry is led by Ike Reeser, who has been ministering at Northlake since 1985 and now serves as Preaching Minister. He and his wife Gwyn have four children, Paul, Isaac, Allie, and Taw Mu, and five grandchildren. Ike holds degrees in Bible and in Conflict Management.
Worship Minister Chris Armstead has been serving Northlake since 2019. He holds an Ed.D. in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University, a Master's in IT from the University of Phoenix, and a BBA in IT Management and International Business from Lipscomb University. He and his wife Charity have one son, James.
Crystal O'Neal serves as Children's Minister. She grew up at Northlake, is a certified teacher for Early Childhood through sixth grade, and is married to Shane. They have four children: Penelope, Joe, Amelia, and Hazel.
Lauren Calvin Cooke serves as the Adult Spiritual Formation Minister. She holds a Ph.D. in Religious Education from Emory, an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb. She and her husband JP have two sons, John and Leo.
Paul Mvukiye-Reeser serves as Youth Minister and Director of Outreach. He holds a degree in Theology and Ministry from Lipscomb University and a Master's in Restorative Justice and Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. He lives in the Clarkston community with his wife Maura and their two children, Salvares and Shyne.
The Northlake elders provide pastoral care, oversight, and leadership across the church's ministries. They are selected by the congregation through an affirmation process every three years. Current elders include Patrick Bradshaw (Finance, Human Resources, Pastoral Care), Kevin Clayton (Campus Stewardship, Children's Ministry, Fellowship, Youth Ministry), Suzie McCluggage (Community Outreach, Global Outreach, Youth Ministry), Anne Page (Adult Spiritual Formation, HR and Staff, Worship), Mary Shearon (Children's Ministry, Community Outreach, Compassion and Assistance), and Brent Wiseman (Communications, Finance, Worship).
Deacons provide hands-on support across ministries including Adult Spiritual Formation (Marion and Sandra Baggett, J.P. Cooke), Campus Stewardship (David Carne, Shane O'Neal, Kimbra Wiseman), Care Ministry (Faye Holland, Gwyn Reeser as volunteer coordinator), Community Outreach (Benjamin Basnet, Doris Graham), Compassion and Assistance (Aaron Zee), Children's Ministry (Allie Goodson, Brandon Johnson), Finance (Neal Stubblefield), Global Outreach (Sharon Kemp), Worship Ministry (Monica Bradshaw, Shanon Crane, Grace Hall), and Youth Ministry (Brian and Page Ikeda).
Reading the Bible Together
Scripture shapes Northlake's communal life beyond Sunday morning, and two long-term reading plans support members and friends. An annual "Read the Bible in a Year" plan walks through the entire Bible across a year while following the rhythms of the church calendar. Each day includes four to six chapters of the main text, a psalm, one or two verses of Proverbs, and a weekly reading challenge incorporating other spiritual practices. A separate "Reading Through the Bible" plan uses The Bible Project's "One Story That Leads to Jesus" plan, which includes two passes through the Psalms.
At the time of writing, the church was also walking through the book of Revelation together week by week, with audio readings of each chapter, sermons tied to specific passages, and a series of Gustave Dore's nineteenth-century engravings paired with the readings.
Sermons and Teaching
Sermons are preached by the church's ministers and by guest preachers drawn from the congregation, including Patrick Bradshaw, Brent Wiseman, Peter Cariaga, Sam Vernhes, Grace Hall, and others. Recent series have included books of the Bible like Philippians and topically on the Ten Commandments. Past series have explored the Sermon on the Mount, the Parables of Matthew, the Psalms, Esther, Jonah, and Daniel under headings like "Living Faithfully in a Hostile World" and "Learning to Live with Doubt." Sermon videos can be watched on the church's YouTube channel.
Quick Facts for Visitors
- Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m.; Bible classes for all ages meet at 9:15 a.m.; LIFE Groups meet at 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday offerings include a ladies' Bible study at 10:00 a.m., a youth dinner and devotional at 6:00 p.m., children's classes at 6:30 p.m., the men's Bible study at 6:30 p.m., and the book study group at 7:00 p.m.
- The Clothing Closet is open 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the first, second, and third Wednesdays of the month.
- GriefShare meets 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays during its season, in the Forum.
- Online giving is available through the church's giving portal.
- Sermons are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
- The building is at 1625 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA 30084. The office number is 770-414-8717 and the email is info@northlake.org.
Northlake's call is captured in one sentence from the elders' statement on racism: "We believe there is no longer Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." That conviction, alongside more than sixty years of weekly communion and a cappella singing, continues to shape the life of the church on Cooledge Road.