The church was called into existence A.D. 30, on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For several hundred years the members of the early church remained true to Jesus' teachings and to those of the apostles. But, by the mixing of Jewish teachings, the practices of pagan converts to Christianity, and other wordly influences, the church of the New Testament became lost.

In the early part of the 16th century, Martin Luther broke the shackles of established religion and encouraged all followers to open the Bible for their own understanding. Later, Calvin and Wesley encouraged the growth of ideas regarding the sovereinty of God and the question of more spirituality in the church. It was at this time that many of the denominations we know today came into existence.

Early in the 19th century there was a movement to lay aside the teachings and traditions of man and to return to the Bible as one's sole source for direction. Among those involved in this movement were Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Campbell. They aimed, not to start another church, but to call the people back to the church of the New Testament. This was the beginning of the "Restoration Movement".


Athens Christian Church is a congregation of believers striving to worship God through the forms of the early church and in the tradition of the Restoration Movement. Acting as a locally autonomous congregation we are part of no denomination, independant of man made organizations, seeking only to serve God through the means demonstrated to us in the lives of the apostles and the early church.

On February 15, 1968 approximately thirty people met for the first service of the new Athens Christian Church. Robert D. White was called as the first minister, and he served from May 1968 to August 1969. After meeting in the Masonic Lodge for a short time, a large two story building on Prince Avenue was rented. In September 1968, the congregation voted to purchase 5.8 acres of land at the intersection of the By-Pass and Tallassee Road. A 110 foot x 50 foot building was erected on the site. It housed the auditorium, offices, kitchen, nursery, and seven classrooms.

The first service was held in the building on October 26, 1969. From October 1969 until July 1971, Bernard Riley ministered to the congregation at Athens Christian Church. Brother Riley was then called to a professorship at Atlanta Christian College.

Richard Funea took his place in August 1971. The ministry of Richard Funea was marked by two devastating tornadoes which struck in April and May 1973. The building received substantial damage as a result of these storms. Brother Funea served Athens Christian Church until May 1975.

Carl Shearer came on the field in August 1975. His period of ministry was noted for much creativity in all aspects of worship. Serving with Brother Shearer were two youth ministers from Atlanta Christian College, Paul Chappell and Mark Henderson. In 1977 a Building Study Committee was formed. This committee bore fruit with the building of what is our present sanctuary, fellowship hall, nursery, and offices. Construction was begun in July 1978. The finished building was dedicated on October 28, 1979 -- almost ten years to the day of the dedication of the original building. The first building was remodeled into classroom space and a chapel.

With the departure of Brother Shearer in May 1980, Tom Phelps was called to the pulpit of Athens Christian. He arrived on site in August of the same year. In June 1982 Brother Phelps responded to the call of a church in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Melvin Greenway came to Athens from a ministry in Louisville Kentucky in November 1982. His ministry was concluded here when he accepted the call to a new church work in West Marietta in September 1987.

Marvin Westfall served as a part-time youth minister and then interim minister until January 1988. On January 3, 1988 Mark Clark began his ministry with Athens Christian Church. Mark took another position with the First Christian Church in Longmont Colorado in August 1994.

Jerry Thompson was the senior minister at ACC from December 1994 through 1995. Tim Bolen accepted the pulpit in May 1997 and stayed through 2000. Richard Kaiser came to ACC from Covington Christian Church in February 2001 and ministered to us through November 2004. Marv Westfall began his full time ministry here in July 2005.