The Invitation

The Time & Place

The Directions & Map

The Experience

The Mission

The Starting Point

The Vision

The Beliefs

The Team

Church of the Nations was birthed out of the gathering of several home group meetings.  When the group got too large for homes they met at the Boys Y Camp in Athens.  The church was called "Liberty Chapel" in the late 70's.  In 1980 the "church" moved to its current location, 8780 Macon Highway, and leased space from the Classic City Gymnastics clubs.  The first appointed pastor was Don Waggoner.

On May 19, 1980, the church was incorporated as Living Faith Fellowship.  In the fall of 1981, David Cooper was appointed pastor of the church and president of the corporation.  Living Faith Fellowship bought out the Classic City Gymnastics club and adjoining properties in 1983.

Under David Cooper's ten years of leadership the church grew to a solid church of over 1000 members and maintained a good relationship throughout the community.

Following David Cooper's appointment to another church, Living Faith Fellowship went through a period of transition under the leadership of Jim Burkett, the outcome of which led to the appointment of Mike Atkins, from Jackson Hole, WY as Senior Pastor in the summer of 1993.

Under the leadership of Mike Atkins, the church made a paradigm shift to a multicultural church with a focus on groups of people with common goals, common needs and common interests.  The name of the church was then changed to Church of the Nations.

With the changing of our name from Living Faith Fellowship to Church of the Nations, we changed our self-concept.  We now see ourselves as:

"A church of all people.  Not a white church.
Not a black church.  Not a rich church.  Not a poor church.
Not a church of ambition, but a church whose only ambition is to
pursue God, to advance the Kingdom and to build the church."

A Church of the Nations is a church that rejoices in its diversity because it reflects the heart of her Lord - a heart for all people; a heart for all nations."  (Church of the Nations, Atkins, p 31)

In August of 1998, Dr. Mel R. Holmes was appointed Senior Pastor after Mike Atkins was led to plant a church of similar vision in Jackson Hole, WY.  Pastor Holmes continues to serve as Senior Pastor today. Under his leadership,  we became officially affiliated with the Assemblies of God on January 18, 2004.

The story continues as we have expanded our facilities to include a new, spacious sanctuary and nursery/preschool complex.  We are excited about all that God has for us in the future and invite you to come find your role in the continuing story of COTN.