Local Watch Night Services

The Watch Night Service originated with the Moravians in 1733. John Wesley appropriated the event into Methodism where it later became a Covenant Renewal Service. It gained special significance in African American congregations where it is sometimes referred to as Freedom’s Eve when in 1863 they waited eagerly for President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Please consider attending a Watch Night Service at one of these local area African-American churches.

Flat Rock African Methodist Episcopal Church (Reverend Ed Johnson), Free Spirit Ministries (Reverend Dale L. Foster), and Mount Olive Baptist Church (Reverend Melvin Ware), will hold combined services at 8:00 PM at Mount Olive at 1565 Hwy 92 N. and at 10:00 PM at Free Spirit Ministries which is located 7880 Wood Road in south Fairburn. See http://fsmwc.org/directions.php for directions to Free Spirit Ministries.

Bethlehem Baptist Church (Pastor Dwight Elder) will hold their service at 10:00 PM. Bethlehem is located in Peachtree City at 475 Dividend Drive, near the entrance to Falcon Field (follow the airport signs.)

Flint Ridge Baptist Church (Reverend Jerome Drakeford) will have their Watch Night/New Year’s Eve Service at 9:30 PM, followed by a light breakfast. Flint Ridge is located off of GA Hwy 85 at 104 Old Road, just south of GA Hwy 279 and the Quick Trip (QT) gas station.

The Unity Christian Church's Watch Night Service (Pastor Smith Atwater) will be held on New Year's Eve from 10:00 PM until shortly after 12 Midnight. Unity Church is located at 426 Rivers Road.

Edgefield Baptist Church (Pastor Eddie Thomas) will have a New Year's Eve Service at 9:00 PM. Edgefield is located at 140 Church Street in Fayetteville. (http://www.edgefield-zion.org/contact.shtml)

Little Vine Baptist Church (Reverend Steven Coleman), located at 115 Handley Road in Tyrone, will have their service at 10:00 PM.

The New Year’s Eve Celebration Service at Redemption Fellowship Church will begin at 10:30 PM. The pastor is Reverend Mike Higgins and Redemption Fellowship is located at 418 Highway 279. (http://redemptionfellowship.org)

New Hope United Methodist Church (Reverend Belinda McCastle) will hold their service from 10:00 PM to Midnight. New Hope is located at 272 Weldon Road in the Inman area.

The service at Merrill Chapel United Methodist Church (Pastor Deborah Turman) will be at 10:00 PM. Merrill Chapel is located at 430 South Jeff Davis Drive.

Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church (Reverend Eyvonne Whitman) and Flipper Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Pastor Sherryl Powell) will be having a combined Watch Night from 10:00 PM -12:00 AM at Flipper Chapel. Flipper Chapel is located at 175 Booker Street in Fayetteville.

In the ministry of Promise Keepers we are deliberate and intentional about unity as is clearly shown in Promise # 6: A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity. Please be a part of this effort locally, which we call Building Biblical Bridges of Brotherhood!

I have personally worshiped in all of these churches except for Redemption Fellowship, Free Spirit Ministries, and Flipper Chapel AME Church (and I'll get to them eventually), but Reverend Higgins, Reverend Foster and Pastor Powell know me or know of me. I can assure you that you will be warmly received at each and every one of these services. A Watch Night Service is a great way to end one year and begin another.

Be bold! Be strong! The Lord, thy God, is with you!

May God continue to bless you as 2008 comes to a close and throughout the New Year.