You may have some questions about The Church @ The Ridge.

Hopefully, we can answer some of them here. If you need more details or have a question that's not addressed here, feel free to e-mail us at info@churchattheridge.com.

Why did you start another church in this area? Aren't there enough already?

There are other churches in Paulding County, but not nearly enough to reach the number of people moving into this area. Paulding County is the fourth most unchurched county in Georgia (89% of the residents of the county do not attend church). Within a 5-mile radius of our location, there are over 60,000 people. While there are several churches in this area, there are not enough to reach all of this community. We need to plant more solid, Bible-teaching churches in Paulding County! We need churches of all shapes and sizes to reach our diverse community.  Our desire is to one day multiply by planting more churches in the community, region, nation and the world. We also feel the need to build a church that will impact another generation. Paulding County is the youngest county in Georgia (the average age is just over 30). We desire to be a church that will be real and relevant to young adults and to young families.

Where did The Church @ The Ridge come from?

The Ridge was originally a church plant from West Ridge Church in Dallas, GA. Our first service was held on April 16, 2006. In addition, we were assisted by partnerships with several other churches including First Baptist Church of Woodstock and First Baptist Church in Smyrna.

What should I expect at your worship gatherings?

 You will experience a quality, contemporary style of music, real-life stories, authentic community, creative arts, and relevant teaching from God's Word.

What about children and preschoolers?

Our desire is to be a family-centered church that will provide quality foundational learning and worship experiences. We love children and provide a safe and secure environment for our little ones in which parents can feel confident. All of our workers go through a complete screening process including background checks and training before working in the preschool and children's ministry areas.

What about middle & high schoolers?

Part of being a family centered church is to provide relevant experiences for teenagers as well. Currently, our students gather on Sunday evenings at 5:00 pm at Austin Middle School. In addition, we desire to engage parents with their students, equipping them to walk this journey of faith together.

I've never been to church. Will I be comfortable?

Yes. We hope you will find the people at The Ridge authentic. We are just regular people like you. There is no pretense. You will not feel like you have to act or dress a certain way to feel comfortable. There are no "rituals" you need to know, memorize or recite.

What should I wear?

Be comfortable. We dress casually. We do not want clothing to be a requirement for, nor a barrier to, anyone gathering with the church.


I grew up in church. Will I find it familiar?

That depends on what type of church you grew up in. You will not find an organ or a heavy dose of tradition. However, you will find genuine people in community, an authentic worship environment, and sound teaching from God's Word.

Can anyone attend?

Absolutely! We invite anyone to come and check out The Church @ The Ridge. Whether you have a long religious background, or if you've never been part of a church before, we welcome you!  

What denomination is your church?

The Ridge is an autonomous body of believers. We are associated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Willow Creek Association to more effectively cooperate in areas of missions and ministry. On a local level, we are associated with the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Noonday Association. Our doctrinal beliefs can be found on the What We Believe page of this website. We will regularly evaluate our associations as we seek to network and cooperate with other bodies of believers in the Church.

Will I feel pressured to give money?

We don't want anyone to feel pressured to give, so there won't be any pressure. No one will come to your house asking for money or anything like that. While there are many financial needs in starting and developing a new church, we are trusting in God to provide the financial resources necessary to make His vision a reality. However, we know that it is through His people that God provides. Anyone who wants to partner with us in this vision is free to do so without any strings attached.
The bottom line is that God owns it all anyway, and our giving is an act of obedience and gratitude to Him. No one will put pressure on you to give, but we will keep people aware of the needs so that they can pray about their financial participation.
 
What other kinds of groups do you offer besides Sunday mornings?
 

We desire to see people engaged with one another in small group settings. We believe that most life-changing happens in small group with meaningful relationships. We offer opportunities to be involved in a small group that will fit a variety of needs:  from fellowship based groups, to deeper Bible studies, to ministry teams and to support groups. Groups meet on a variety of days or nights during the week in homes throughout the community. Twice a semester we have "Connection Night" on a Sunday evening.  This is a fun time designed to get people connected with others in the same location and station in life. This is how we organize and start small groups.

How can I find out more about The Church @ The Ridge?

We have a special “Newcomers Group” that we call SquareOne.This group is designed to help you find out more about what the Bible teaches about the church, what we believe, what God’s vision is for His Church @ The Ridge, and what His purpose for you is in His Church. This class, which is a precursor to membership @ The Ridge, meets 3 or 4 times during the year. For more info on this contact info@churchattheridge.com