History

Southwest Christian Church is a product of the early 19th century Restoration Movement, which sought a return to the principles and practices of the 1st century Church described in the book of Acts. Prominent leaders like Barton W. Stone and Thomas and Alexander Campbell were interested in overcoming divisions in the Church by claiming to be “Christians only, but not the only Christians.” We consider ourselves a “non-denominational” Church, and as such, our leadership is formed from within our local congregation.

For 60 years, Southwest Christian Church operated in East Point, Georgia. In the last few years there we felt a strong call to move to Newnan, GA, and with the prayer and approval of the congregation, that process is was started. We purchased property on Hwy 29 near the Arbor Springs Plantation neighborhood and built on that property. We were blessed, in the interim, to rent space to meet in Palmetto, GA and celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on our new property in May of 2017.  Our building was completed and we began meeting in Newnan, GA in June 2018.  We continue to pursue our primary mission to worship God, serve others, and build community.

Relocation Update

After sixty years in East Point, Southwest Christian Church is following God’s call to move to Newnan. During this transition, we continue to worship in rented space at 504 Center St. near our Newnan property. You can see the progress for yourself at the site on Hwy 29 just south of Hwy 154.

The following points outline the steps in our relocation process so far.

• June 2013, the body of Southwest Christian Church voted overwhelmingly (97%) in favor of moving forward with the leadership’s proposal to purchase land for a new Church location in Newnan, GA.
• January 30, 2014 Southwest Christian Church officially closed on 15 acres of property near the intersection of Hwy 29 and Hwy 154 in Newnan! The property is ours, debt free!
• February 2014, the fund to purchase the land was expanded to include funds for the new building. Donations continue to be accepted.
• March 2014 a “Future Home of Southwest Christian Church” announcement sign was installed on our property in Newnan. Our property is adjacent to the Arbor Springs Plantation neighborhood.
• Fall 2014 Southwest continued to organize service projects for the Newnan community and one Sunday night worship service at Arbor Springs Elementary every month.
• September 2014 these services began to occur more frequently. Sunday morning and Wednesday night programming continued in East Point, along with a weekly Sunday night service at Arbor Springs Elementary.
• A new logo was carefully chosen, and is now on our Newnan property sign and all of our publications!
• February 2015 Weekly Sunday morning worship at Arbor Springs Elementary and Wednesday night programming at Harvest Park Baptist Church began. Sunday night services were discontinued.
• September 2015 the congregation approved (over 90% in favor) a plan to move forward by taking out a construction loan to begin building on our property in Newnan as soon as possible.
• Sunday, March 6, 2016 all Newnan services moved to 504 Center St. in Palmetto under the big blue water tower. East Point services continued for a time on Washington Rd. For this period, we considered ourselves one Church in multiple locations.
• August 28, 2016 was a very special homecoming Sunday and our final service in East Point. We had two baptisms that day and around eight hundred people with us to mark this pivotal moment in our Church’s history by worshipping with us one last time on Washington Rd.
• Homecoming also saw the launch of our LET’S GO campaign, intended to fund many of the furniture and fixtures for the new building. By August 2016, staff and leadership had committed over $300,000 in pledges over the next two years.
• September 2016, a lease-purchase agreement on our East Point Campus was finalized with the Church at Chapel Hill.
• Also in September 2016, all Southwest worship services and operations moved to 504 Center St. in Palmetto. Site work began on our property on Hwy 29, and interviews for contractors began.
• October 2016 site preparations continued and “curbing” began on our Newnan property. Pledges and gifts surpassed the halfway point in our fundraising campaign. The Church at Chapel Hill also began worshiping in the East Point building in October after some renovations. We hope that their many investments in the building will lead to their eventual purchase of the East Point property.
• Since beginning the LET’S GO campaign in August 2016, the Church has received gifts and pledges of over $600,000 for the next few years!
• The budget was approved by the congregation in January 2017 including funds to service an expanded construction loan as needed. Fencing and paving were completed, and construction on the building is expected to begin in May.
• A ground breaking ceremony was held Sunday, May 21, 2017! Around two-hundred past and present members took part as we celebrated the beginning of construction on our building.
• July 2017 much of the site prep was completed, various elements of the foundation were poured, and steel began to go up. The building began taking shape and people are getting excited!
• August 2017 saw the installation of over 45 mature trees on the property. Roofing work was begun, as well as the installation of interior walls. Also in August, Southwest provided lunch for the construction workers as a thank you for their long hours and hard work thus far. Things progressed quickly and the amount of work completed continues to impress.
• September 24, 2017 was Homecoming Sunday. In addition to a special brunch that featured aerial photos of the site captured with drone technology, the entire congregation was invited to a special “building signing” event. Hundreds of current and past members toured the site and were encouraged to write their names, memories, and meaningful scripture on the structure of the building.
• December 12, 2017 the Swofford Construction Company hosted a special BBQ lunch on the grounds for the many workers, contractors, and tradespeople who have gotten us this far. Southwest staff was honored to serve the workers and eat with them in what was the very first of many meals to come in the new building!
• February 22, 2018 the steeple was installed. Exterior is mostly complete, interior is coming along nicely!
• June 10, 2018 Dedication Service
• June 17, 2018 “soft opening” for church services in our new building.
• June 17, 2018 Open House from 2:00-4:00 pm
• June 24, 2018 Grand Opening! Please join us at our 9:30 or 11:00 service!

We are thankful to God for His providence in this effort so far and for the many hours of hard work by so many people to get us to this point. Please be in prayer as we work with contractors, continue to raise funds, and endeavor to sell our property in East Point.

As we go, remember Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

In everything we do, we seek to worship God, serve others, and build community!