How leadership built a church in rural west Georgia

Head west from Atlanta on I-20, and when you get to the Carrolton exit, head south through the college town and keep going. After a few miles, turn left, go a ways down a winding country road till you pass Roopville. And there on the other side of the road is the comfortable brick Glenloch Baptist church, a gathering place for the community where you have stained glass windows, red carpet and a community center next door for family reunions and picnics.

Over the years, I’ve been to that church many times with my wife’s family, sometimes joyous occasions and sometimes for mighty sad ones. At one point many years ago, the pastor left and members of the congregation took over preparing the weekly service of their own until another pastor could be found. That took awhile. Let’s face it: most people have bigger career plans than Glenloch offers.

Well, a young man named Neil Awbrey took the job. While I don’t know Neil well, my wife’s family and others in the church thought the world of him as soon as he took the role. Neil is a genuine guy, the kind who looks you in the eye when he asks informed questions about your life.

Back when Neil started, the church had a strong core group of members. Sunday services at Glenloch attracted a crowd — a big crowd by local standards — but there were always plenty of places to sit.

Over the years, I heard stories about Neil, his commitment to the church and its members, how he was always there when someone was sick or needed help, and for births and marriages, too.

About five or six years went by before my wife and I returned for a visit this summer when they dedicated a new church. Driving over, it wasn’t clear to me why they would need a new building when the one they had was fine.

And then on Dedication Morning in Glenloch, we pulled up…and tried to find a parking space.

The place was packed. Hundreds of people. A big new building (”$3 million dollars,” Neil told the crowd, and “we need you to keep coming and supporting the church so we can pay it off!”) and yet still a welcoming, comfortable place where members greeted you at the door and weren’t at all preoccupied with growing for the sake of getting bigger.

I post this today for a couple of reasons. One: it’s Christmas, when we take time to be grateful for all we have even in years when gratitude is beyond us. I know the community is grateful for Neil.

Second, it’s to acknowledge Neil’s role as an example of the power of good management. It’s striking how the church has grown under his guidance. And while Neil will tell you it isn’t his work that’s evident here, it’s an example to me of the impact that strong, compassionate leaders have on the people they encounter.