A Place of Faith and Acceptance
April 9th, 2026
Community Church of God is a multi-generational congregation. The community is nothing short of kind, welcoming, and homely. Their roots in Macon are well-established, and according to their history, they have been around since 1896. Their founders were four women, former slaves, who were excluded from the Methodist churches and leadership positions. They eventually followed their hearts to associate with the Church of God, later forming the Community Church of God. Their first location was 283 Grant Avenue, which one member we spoke with described as a “family church.” In 2014, the I-75 construction separated the community there, and they moved to their new location, 5555 Bethesda Avenue, to improve their community outreach and make a real difference. The members of Community Church of God make welcoming, accepting, and caring for new members a top priority.
The Church is located on the corner of Rocky Creek Road and Bethesda Avenue. It is a large single-story building and very modern. From the road, the front of the church looks into the Sanctuary and is almost entirely glass. It stands out greatly, is incredibly spacious, and readily welcomes its members. The space itself is modern and easy to navigate, and the Sanctuary has plenty of seating. The room is full of natural lighting from the glass corner, with a wooden podium in front of the stage. There are two new TVs in the Sanctuary, near where the double doors are located, so people who may sit near them with bad eyesight can see the service up close. The space is decorated in a minimalist way, with flowers at the entrance and flora near the side doors.
Historically, the Community Church of God was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement and the promotion of equality, with women serving not only as leaders but also ministers. Their community is something that encourages a feeling of comfort and security because everyone is joined by a common love for their faith. This encourages them to become involved through volunteering. This was our experience with one of the congregation’s ushers! He loves the congregation deeply and is involved in various other activities, including participating in the nights for senior citizens, where he is available for transportation, as well as volunteering for Daybreak.
The Community Church of God also gives back to those around them by giving care packages to college students, because the cost of education is often so high that people can’t afford basic necessities. They have a soup kitchen, a food pantry, and are now working with the Bloomfield area to improve access to education, the high poverty and teen pregnancy rates, as well as the largely present negative feelings of young African-Americans in their early 20s.
Reverend McClendon and his congregational members highlight their success in the form of the Upward Bound program that was created to improve education for African-Americans. Upward Bound helps to prepare and train students to attend Mercer and other universities that would give them a better future. The congregation’s overall goal is to help break the cycle of poverty, neglect, and lack of education in disenfranchised neighborhoods through community service and investment into things like educational opportunities, a health clinic, economic development, computer labs, job training, and more.
The Community Church of God is heavily involved with its members as well, hosting a weekly Men’s Fellowship Night, Senior Night, and Bible Study, but also registrations for a fundraising scholarship banquet, the Georgia Women’s Fellowship Conference, a “Hands-On” event to help clean up Bloomfield, and many meetings for various topics. Their Senior Night has someone who does their nails, fixes their eyebrows, and things like blood pressure/glucose screenings to make sure they’re healthy.
The Community Church of God gives visitors and newcomers three things: a purple drawstring bag with their information inside, a branded pen, and a card to fill out with their information. They also stream their services and post the latest one on their website, but update their Facebook page with certain events and weekly recordings of the service every Sunday. Their sound booth is manned by two dedicated men, and they added two TVs to their Sanctuary in addition to the screen they have strung up for the projection of the service.
The Community Church of God is a vibrant community that feels like one big, happy family, and they welcome first-time visitors with open arms. The moment we stepped through the entrance, we were greeted by the friendly door greeters and the “Head Greeter” at the welcome center. They gave us the warmest welcome, and they always handed out a special purple welcome bag for first-time visitors. This hospitality is not just a part of their routine, but it’s their way of making visitors feel right at home.
Over the course of our multiple visits, members often recognized us by offering warm hugs and asking about our lives and school goals. They were very kind and asked how we were doing. We also met a gentleman who spoke with us about famous Black historical figures, since it was Black History Month. He introduced us to his wife, who was very friendly, and they both asked us what we were studying in college.
Brother Henry, the usher from our first visit, was happy to see us and said he was glad we came back for the second time. It had been a month since we last visited, but the warm welcome made it clear that we had made a lasting impression. It was a positive moment to see that the members of the congregation still remembered who we were.
During the service, this community spirit is truly alive as the congregation is encouraged to move around and meet new people. These interactions are heartfelt. They range from friendly waves and handshakes for newcomers to warm hugs among familiar members. The atmosphere brings together people of all ages. Elders follow the traditional service rules, while younger people lead. After the service, they even made TikTok videos in the lobby. It’s a place where young people’s culture and traditional beliefs can both exist together.
The worship atmosphere ranged from ‘mellow’ to ‘high-energy” depending on the type of worship that day. Although the service doesn’t have a printed program, new visitors can still follow along because the flow of the liturgy feels natural and welcoming. They just need to rely on “insider knowledge” or the help of those around them. The congregation actively participates in the service. The mood shifts between solemn moments and high-energy expressions of faith, such as clapping, dancing, and saying “Amen” or “Yes, Lord.”
The atmosphere was especially lively on “Youth Sunday” when we visited. On this day, the young people were the focus. One young man took the podium for the opening prayer, and then the Youth Choir took over. We were blown away by their talent. One younger girl in particular stood out with her powerful and impactful voice, which seemed much larger than her small frame.
Looking around the room, it was moving to see the different reactions, as older members mostly stayed seated with smiles and serious, proud expressions, the rest of the congregation was on their feet. The joy of being together and celebrating as a family is an experience that is spiritually uplifting, as is the worship itself.
Music was the most important part of the service. It had the power to bring a room full of people together, uniting them into a single, harmonious body. When instruction was given to cross our arms and grasp the hands of our neighbors to sing “We Shall Overcome,” the music was used as bonding glue. The music and the singing made a big, modern place feel small and safe.
The worship style is Gospel, but the music changes between intimate worship and collective praise, encouraging everyone to clap, dance, and sing along. It was led by a passionate choir and skilled vocal lead whose voices ranged from soulful, heartfelt pieces to acapella versions of “We Shall Overcome.”
While the music at Community Church of God is very powerful. During our interview with the praise and worship leader, he told us that he has a very different personality when he’s leading praise and worship than he does in his daily life. He said that he’s “not much of a talker” in his everyday life, but when he gets on stage and picks up a microphone, he feels like he has a strong connection with the community. This personal change shows why the choir’s singing was so captivating. This worship leader has been with the congregation since he was a baby. For him, singing isn’t about performing. It’s a way to “bring the community, which is focused on family-oriented-community “closer together.’
The attire of the church’s members shows that they respect the sanctuary and are proud of the history that brings the congregation together. The dominant dress code is “Sunday Best,” which includes formal suits, ties, and “Pentecostal hats.” The church’s clothing shows respect in a few simple ways. By dressing in their Sunday best, members show that they take the service seriously and want to give their best to God and the community. Dressing in this formal style shows that the members see the sanctuary as a special and holy place
The ushers have a professional uniform which consists of black pencil skirts, white button-ups, and black flats. Ushers take their responsibilities seriously and are dedicated to serving others. Members also wear colorful scarves or neckties, which display a sense of pride in their heritage.
This cultural pride was apparent during Black History Month, where the congregation wore bold African prints. However, the church is very open-minded. While the older members stick to traditional, formal clothing, the youth often wear casual sneakers, pants, and shirts. The community values its traditions, but it’s also open to accepting anyone, no matter what their background is.
The Community Church of God has a historical, meaningful background that makes it familial. The members truly care and work hard to give back to their community, putting their efforts into their own events and volunteer opportunities in their area. There was an undeniable feeling of belonging that did not come from the building or the space, but from the relationships between the members that are incredibly kind to each other. This community and this congregation are a real family that is always accepting new members.
This article was written by Jamiah Jasmin and Lily Choy, both of whom are Neuroscience majors at Mercer University.
The Macon Religious Communities Project 