The History
The Lord officially launched Abundant Grace Baptist (AGBC) on July 9,1995. It was the outgrowth of a bible study that began with four families, in the home of Pastor Melvin and Sister Evette Jones. Under the leadership of Pastors Melvin Jones and James Dean Robinson, AGBC served the greater New Orleans area, but particularly, the eastern portion of the city, where the eventual church building was located. Our motto and mission were simple, reflecting a focus on evangelism, discipleship, and service. The Motto… Back to ministry where “ministry” means “People”!, complimented the Mission… “The continual building of the kingdom of Christ—to bring all men under the authority of the scriptures and into the service of the living God.” We were dedicated and committed to preaching and teaching the foundational message of ”The Gospel”.
In October 1999, we were blessed to move into our permanent church home, on Ray Avenue in New Orleans east, where we would continue to carry out God’s purpose for our church. In addition to weekly bible studies on Wednesdays and Sunday school and worship services on Sundays, we sponsored many teaching, evangelistic outreach, and service ministry events. We strived to be good stewards of God’s resources, both spiritual and financial, and looked to impact the surrounding community both independently and in partnership with neighboring churches. In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans, demolishing the church building and dispersing the membership throughout the country. By God’s grace, God preserved every member, and they ultimately united with churches in the areas to which they located. In accordance with God’s will, Phase I of AGBC, would end, having had ten years, 1995-2005, to fulfill God’s purpose and mission for this local church.
Post Katrina, Pastor Jones and his wife relocated to the Atlanta area, ultimately residing in the city of Douglasville, 25 miles west of Atlanta. After visiting numerous churches, Pastor Jones served stints as an Associate Minister at New Mountain Top B.C in Winston, GA, and Cornerstone B.C in Lithia Springs, GA. In January, 2015, the tenth year after Katrina, the Lord had plans to resume Phase II of AGBC, and on January 13th, 2015, Abundant Grace Baptist Church was resurrected, re-established, and re-launched in Douglasville, Ga, under the leadership of Pastor Melvin Jones. Our Motto and Mission are unchanged, but the Vision has been refreshed, thus the slogan, “Fresh in Fifteen (2015).”
We still believe and declare the foundational message of “The Gospel”, and are more compelled than ever to stand on the truth of His Word. Our goal is to “comfort the disturbed” and “disturb the comfortable” with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ! We are BACK to finish the purpose and mission of this church, in this local area, for such a time as this!