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Church History

 Jackson Memorial Baptist Church's genealogy goes back many generations. The church began in 1934 as Shady Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Huell J. Jackson. As the church congregation grew, the name and sites of the church changed three times. McDaniel Street Baptist Church, Elm Street Baptist, and finally, Jackson Memorial Baptist Church named after the late pastor, Reverend Huell J. Jackson. Dr. Huell Jackson answered the call from heaven after 29 untiring and faithful years of service to the members of Elm Street Baptist Church. The members of the church searched and searched for a new pastor and found Rev. James L. Green who remained pastor from January 30, 1964 until 1970. In December 1970, Reverend Gregory A. Sutton was called to the pastorate of the Jackson Memorial Baptist Church at age eighteen. Reverend Sutton began pastoral duties with approximately 85 members $300.00 in the church treasury. Knowledge of this young anointed minister quickly became widespread throughout the city of Atlanta and the church membership grew tremendously.
 

In the year 1977, construction began on the new Jackson Memorial Baptist Church at the corner of Fairburn Rd. And Thompson Dr. The new church opened in 1978. The church continued to grow and another church was built at the present location 534 Fairburn Road, N.W. Because of the need for increased capacity, an additional 500 seats were added in 2003. 

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The organizational structure of Jackson Memorial Baptist Church consists of multiple ministries and committees. These boards include the trustee ministry, deacon ministry, deaconess ministry, and usher ministry. Some of the ministries are: music ministry, youth ministry, pastor's aid ministry, courtesy guild, multi-media ministry, women of helping hands, and outreach ministry. Our church has a strong emphasis on our youth ministry and provide year-round activities that keep young people focused, engaged and involved.

 

Jackson Memorial Baptist Church has become one of the leading churches in the Atlanta community as well as the United States. As we look ahead to the future we examine our faith, for time brings a new generation of minds with new challenges and new goals to achieve. Our pastor Reverend Dr. Gregory A. Sutton continues to preach the Word of God and has led this church since 1970.

 

Under his leadership the church has experienced spiritual growth, focused on evangelism and discipleship as we move towards the future. 

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