Happy to Be Here
New members share what brought them to First Pres.
Jo & Kevin Hodges
Morningside Lenox Park
Ages
Jo, 44
Kevin, 43
Occupations
Jo, consultant
Kevin, CFO, Payroc
Joined First Presbyterian
2021
What were you looking for in a new church community?
Jo: A great sense of belonging and diversity. We were looking for a place to continue to grow in our faith as individuals and as a family. We felt called to join FPC.
Kevin: A church family closer to our house with the resources of a larger church but the community of a smaller church.
How did the pandemic influence your decision to join FPC and/or affect your experience as a new member?
Jo: We’ve been part of the FPC community as a preschool family since 2016 and started visiting FPC in 2019, so we were fortunate to know a number of people in the community. The pandemic and our church’s outreach and response to helping others, in prayer, time, and with basic needs for our community—it really hit home during the pandemic that FPC was a place we wanted to be a part of. We came to FPC from another Atlanta congregation and had been very involved in the church community, so visiting another church seemed to be a daunting task. But we really grew to appreciate our “new normal” on Sunday morning as a family. Online worship, together, in our family room was honestly the best orientation into FPC. We were able to “visit” without the anxiety of not knowing as many people sitting around us. Our children were able to get to know their peers through Zoom Sunday school, in lieu of sitting in a big classroom feeling like they didn’t know anyone. The sermons and scripture and music each Sunday left us spiritually fed and wanting to do more. For our family, the pandemic not only brought us closer together, but it brought us closer to FPC.
Kevin: Great to be able to experience a variety of services and programs virtually.
What role did hospitality—hospitality to you, to other visitors and members, to strangers, and to the vulnerable—play in your decision to seek membership?
Jo: It was an important decision for our family. We wanted to be part of a church community that embraced everyone—welcomed everyone—regardless of who they are. We are all children of God, all “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and FPC embraces that.
Kevin: As the church is near my office, I drive/walk by it nearly every day. I appreciate the fact that there is a tremendous amount of outreach that occurs to the community on a daily basis.
What role, if any, can you play in making First Pres more hospitable?
Jo: Sharing the good news with others! Encouraging anyone looking for a church home to consider visiting FPC. To introduce myself to others when at FPC and during worship.
Kevin: As someone who continues to get lost in the myriad of hallways, I very much appreciate what the capital campaign hopes to achieve with refreshed spaces and wayfinding improvements!
Bryan Brooks & John Haupert
Colony Square
Ages
Bryan, 66
John, 61
Occupations
Bryan, docent volunteer, High Museum of Art
John, president and CEO, Grady Health System
Joined First Presbyterian
March 2021
What were you looking for in a new church community?
Bryan: Searching for a church and spiritual community that was welcoming, based on mission and service, provided outreach opportunities, offered a music program and experience that connects to my own need for that area of spiritual connection and inspiration, a church body that demonstrated an appreciation for the arts and music, classes and studies that provided opportunities for spiritual growth and nourishment, and a level of leadership that was guided and gifted with challenge and growth for the congregants but also offered a level of approachability where relationships helped guide and govern the dynamic of the overall fellowship.
John: A church that is more outward facing than inward facing and continuously seeks to serve the community. Also, music is an important part of worship for me, and the music program at First Presbyterian is truly uplifting.
How did the pandemic influence your decision to join FPC and/or affect your experience as a new member?
Bryan: It literally was based off the pandemic—we were previously grounded in a church home but were continuing to search for the items listed above but were going mostly unfulfilled, but not without trying … and the pandemic led us down a path of online worship, and we knew there was a connection the first time experiencing a service at FPC. I/we truly felt like this was one of the biggest blessings of the pandemic and God providing a path to this fuller experience of spiritual enrichment, growth, and challenge. It was a revelational moment, and we are so blessed and grateful for this happening.
John: The pandemic actually allowed us to visit churches virtually. Pete Correll had been telling us for some time that we needed to experience First Presbyterian, so we did during the pandemic and joined during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the pandemic has limited our ability to become deeply involved with the various missions of the church. Overall, the pandemic has limited our ability to be as involved as we would like.
What role did hospitality—hospitality to you, to other visitors and members, to strangers, and to the vulnerable—play in your decision to seek membership?
Bryan: Everything. That was never present (or minimally present) since moving from Dallas, Texas, in the church where we were “members,” and literally from the time we step foot into FPC, folks knew our name. And we were not accustomed to hearing any church members using our name or even knowing our name prior to this since moving to the ATL. It was affirming and confirming of the direction we were about to follow.
John: Hospitality played a significant role in our decision to join the First Presbyterian family. First Presbyterian is one of the most hospitable churches I’ve been a part of.
What role, if any, can you play in making First Pres more hospitable?
Bryan: Engagement. Since joining the church, we are engaged and active. Classes, dinner and dialogues, a follower of Chris Holmes’s offerings, both online and face-to-face, Sunday school classes. I’m on the arts council … even within the first year was helping select artwork for the program during lent and facilitating a guided discussion about the art, the artist, and the message, along with the significance with the time of the season and the character of the crèche that I was able to put forward. FPC equals hospitable! And it’s easy and inviting to be a part and feel like you’re a part and feel guided to be a part. We appreciate you, FPC, and the blessing that’s become in our lives and can’t imagine life without—we’ve been missing that for so long and made all sorts of attempts, but this is now home.
John: By becoming involved with the various ministries and small study groups.
Betty Wilson
Midtown
Age
50s
Occupation
Sales, hospitality
Joined First Presbyterian
October 2020
What were you looking for in a new church community?
A place to study, learn, fellowship together, and be part of Christ’s community in Atlanta, with opportunities for community service and outreach to others, inside and outside of the church. A place that focused on embodying Christ’s love to all.
How did the pandemic influence your decision to join FPC and/or affect your experience as a new member?
I happened to be looking for a new church when I relocated to Atlanta as the pandemic was unfolding and was drawn to the music ministry and outreach ministry, as well as opportunities for remote connections. The remote worship, prayer, and study programming were what drew me in further.
What role did hospitality—hospitality to you, to other visitors and members, to strangers, and to the vulnerable—play in your decision to seek membership?
This was one of the most important things I connected with. I noticed how much everyone at First Pres went out of their way to be welcoming and supportive, especially to new people. In addition, I was drawn to the hospitality toward the local community.
What role, if any, can you play in making First Pres more hospitable?
I’m excited at the many opportunities to engage with our ministries and to welcome and reach out to others, just as I was when I was new … “paying it forward” in a sense. I love being part of Stephen Ministry and Epiphany and look forward to continuing to serve and learn as part of the wonderful community of First Pres Atlanta.
