Mars Hill Church is one of the oldest established churches in Georgia. This church was established in July, 1799, not far from its present-day location in Oconee County, Georgia. At that time, the church was located at the very edge of the American Frontier and points west were referred to as "Indian Territory" on contemporary maps.

The church has historically served the community as a typical "country church" for most of its history. The church survived a devastating fire in 1995 when lightning struck the steeple and ignited the pine timbers from which the building was constructed. In just a few short hours, the building was reduced to cinders. The church membership agreed to rebuild the sanctuary and a new fellowship hall on the spot of the previous building, however, enlarging the size of the facility to accommodate the needs of a growing church. The new sanctuary and fellowship hall was dedicated to our Lord at its opening in the fall of 1997. In 2005, Mars Hill completed construction on its newest building, a multipurpose building containing a state-of-the-art preschool area, new classrooms, an updated kitchen and a gymnasium.

Mars Hill Baptist Church is no longer considered a "country church" because of the suburbanization of the surrounding area. However, the "country church" atmosphere remains while membership continues to grow. Mars Hill provides programs to involve people of all ages.

For those interested in numbers, we average over three hundred in attendance in Sunday School, with considerably larger attendance in two Sunday morning worship services. This categorizes Mars Hill as slightly larger than the average-sized Baptist church in the United States. To find out how to get to Mars Hill Baptist Church, please check out the map here.

Why the name "Mars Hill?"
Well, the reference to Mars Hill is straight from the Bible. Really! In Acts Chapter 17, one can read the account of the Apostle Paul in Athens, Greece. Paul was taken by the Epicurean and Stoic philosopher council to a meeting at the Areopagus. Areopagus translates "hill of Ares." In the Greek culture, Ares was the god of war and thunder. The Romans borrowed this god from the Greek culture and renamed the god Ares to "Mars." Under Roman subjugation, the hill was known as "Mars Hill."

Paul proceeded to share God's message of salvation to the Stoics and Epicureans at the Greek Mars Hill. The account of the Apostle Paul at Mars Hill conveys a similar mission of Mars Hill Baptist Church to this day - Proclaim the existence of God to those who do not know Him. We know, like the Apostle Paul, some will reject Jesus' teachings - but some will not. We firmly believe that all of heaven rejoices in new believers, and we intend to do our very best to present the Good News of Jesus Christ's love and plan of salvation to everyone. We also rejoice in the victories that occur as a result of the Holy Spirit working at Mars Hill. Just like Paul, we know the God who made the world and all things in it, and intend to share his message to all who will listen. We believe that God will judge everyone one day, and it is our responsibility to make sure that we have communicated God's message to everyone within our reach.

So why a Web Site?
This Web Site is provided to give you general information about Mars Hill Baptist Church,to communicate our basic purpose for existence, and as a resource to our members and others interested in MHBC. It is also a great way for our former members to keep in touch with what is happening 'back home.'

The internet is much like other forms of communication. We can choose to use it for good or evil, and we recognize that the Web is an excellent way to communicate the Word of God around the world. Please browse the rest of this site to get more specific information about the programs and ministries of Mars Hill.

Naturally, if you live nearby, or are 'just passing through', we invite you to make Mars Hill a part of your worship experience. You can find out for yourself why we are called 'The Fellowship That Cares!'