Next Steps
Find your Next Step
We’ve created three ongoing pathways—Formation Groups, Life Groups, and Classes—plus a steady rhythm of Events that help you connect, grow, and serve. Pick at least one that fits your current season, and feel free to explore more as time allows.
Events
Single-date opportunities to meet people (Welcome) or dig deeper (Deeper). Scan what’s ahead.
Formation Groups
Meet regularly with small groups for connection, prayer, accountability, and deep spiritual formation.
Life Groups
Life-stage, interest or service groups that gather regularly for community and shared activities.
Change the Story: United Worship & Prayer
Gather with One Race, &Campaign, and churches from across Atlanta for a night of worship and prayer at Victory Church Norcross.
Change the Story: United Worship & Prayer
Hospitality Volunteer Training
Whether you're interested in serving on a Sunday morning, new to a team, or have been helping for a while, this training is a great chance to refresh your understanding of our Sunday morning hospitality practices. Please register by Aug 12 to help us plan for food.
Hospitality Volunteer Training
Engaging Homelessness
A one-day class to help understand & engage with our unhoused neighbors. Led by Alli McGill, this class draws on 25 years of frontline experience to help Westsiders see beyond stereotypes and engage more compassionately with neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Engaging Homelessness
Formation Groups
Formed by Scripture. Shaped by community.
Ongoing relationships, Bible study, and prayer happen within these small ongoing communities. You will cultivate friendships and be transformed to embody grace you live, work, and play. Find your group.
CG — Central Smyrna
Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community. We know that you are located all over Atlanta, so we offer many groups in a variety of locations. Join a Community Group at Atlanta Westside!
CG — Collier Hills Monday
Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community. We know that you are located all over Atlanta, so we offer many groups in a variety of locations. Join a Community Group at Atlanta Westside!
CG — Moore's Mill West Paces
Welcome to our CG! Our group represents almost every age/stage of life. The diversity of life stages is quite the blessing to all of us. We kick-off each meeting with a themed potluck dinner (we have fun with the themes!), then we spend an hour reviewing the sermon and going over prayer requests. Kids are welcome. After dinner, they typically relax as a group while watching a movie/TV show. (We do not have a babysitter.) In addition, we try to find other times to get together. This year we are ending summer with a pool party. We also love to celebrate babies, moves, etc, and find any reason to gather, eat, and visit. Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community.
CG — North Smyrna
The North Smyrna Community Group meets every other Sunday. Each time we meet we discuss that Sunday's sermon, pray together, and enjoy some snacks. This group includes childcare. Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community.
CG — Smyrna Sundays
Welcome to the Smyrna Sundays group! We were formerly Underwood Hills Sunday but as our group has moved and expanded we are now meeting in Smyrna. We are a mix of singles and couples with some young parents in the mix, all in our 20s and 30s. In our meetings we like to discuss the sermon from that morning and pray for each other! We meet every other Sunday at 5PM. Reach out to any of the leaders if you are interested or have any questions! Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community.
CG — Virginia Highlands
Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community. We know that you are located all over Atlanta, so we offer many groups in a variety of locations. Join a Community Group at Atlanta Westside!
CG — West End Wednesday
Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community. We know that you are located all over Atlanta, so we offer many groups in a variety of locations. Join a Community Group at Atlanta Westside!
CG — Whittier Mill Riverside Monday
Welcome to the Riverside/Whittier Mill Neighborhood CG! Our group has a variety of ages and stages ranging from late 20s and single to married with grown children. We enjoy a snack/dessert, discuss the sermon, share life updates, and find support through life. We also plan a fun activity every couple months. Past activities have included a low country boil, trivia night at a brewery, picnic in the park and BBQs. Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community.
CG — Wildwood
We are the Wildwood CG and we live up to our name! We typically meet every-other-week at someone's house. We fellowship over yummy food, let the kids play, and find some time to dig into that week's sermon. We shoot for consistent attendance, we aim to bear each other's burdens, and actively pray for needs. We'd love for you to join this "wild" CG! Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community.
CG —Brookhaven/Buckhead
Welcome to the Dunwoody/Brookhaven/Buckhead group! We often bring our own dinner/snacks, occasionally have cookouts/potlucks together, and enjoy bringing everyone’s dogs and babies together for good fellowship. The group is mostly made of single young adults and a few young couples with kids in the 4 and under range. We often enjoy getting together and hanging out, and conversation ranges from sermon discussion to lighthearted fun to serious conversation about things going on in our lives. Atlanta Westside Community Groups are a safe space for you to discuss each week’s sermon, build relationships with other members of the church, and explore how your faith intersects with your local community.
Weekly Sunday Equipping Prayer
Prayer is powerful. It encourages our hearts, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to one another. Each week during the Equipping Hour, you're invited to a time of guided prayer—whether you're carrying burdens, seeking direction, or simply wanting to rest in God's presence alongside others. Pray for our church, our nation, our city, and our world. Open to all.
Life Groups
Sharing life together.
Make personal space for connection and meaning around common interests, passions, or life stages. Experience new ideas, relationships, and purpose while bringing good to others through the activity of these groups. Find your group.
Community Engagement
As part of the mission of Atlanta Westside, the Community Engagement Team wants to know, love, and serve our neighborhood, 30318. We are partnered with non-profits located in 30318 contributing to a city where individuals from all walks of life can connect, learn from one another, and grow together in faith and love. We encourage all of us to step out of our comfort zones and engage with those who live differently, fostering empathy, respect, and mutual learning. We believe that by sharing the Gospel through actions and engaging in meaningful dialogue, we can bridge divides and build lasting relationships from Buckhead to Bankhead and beyond.
Family Advocacy Ministry
Vulnerable children need strong families. Strong families that bring in a child from foster care or through adoption need help. As the church, we get to be a bigger, stronger family and support those who need it. The Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) of Atlanta Westside exists to to serve vulnerable children and their families by: Praying for foster and adoptive children and their families Raising awareness around the the topic of foster care and adoption Providing a caring community, resources, and support for families Ministering to families to help meet emotional and spiritual needs Whether you’re a foster or adoptive family and looking for support, or you have a heart for vulnerable children and would like to learn more, we’d love to connect. Sign up for our group!
Global Missions Updates
From long-term partnerships with international ministries to supporting or going on short-term mission trips, there are many ways to get involved in Westside's global outreach efforts. Get updates and information on how you can make a difference beyond the local Atlanta community. If you're interested in hosting a visiting missionary, please fill out this application.
Meals Ministry
Westside's Meals Ministry is a great way to serve behind the scenes. Our Meals Ministry Team is dedicated to providing care and support to those in our community who need it. Opportunities include: Welcoming a new baby Helping during an illness A difficult time Helping provide breakfast for the A/V and worship volunteers on Sunday mornings Serving behind the scenes in this way is a simple yet powerful way to show Christ's love to others.
Single Women Prayer Gathering
Meetings will be the first & third Wednesday of each month. This recurring monthly prayer time hopes to unite single women in our church, providing a supportive environment to pray together in this season of singleness. Most of the communication will be handled through GroupMe. Contact Lauren Gorman to be added to the GroupMe app for additional hangout opportunities and meeting times.
Westside Co-Working
Co-Working at Atlanta Westside Church Need a peaceful, communal space to work? Atlanta Westside Church welcomes you to our co-working space, available Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (excluding major holidays). If you need a private meeting room, these are available exclusively for Westside members and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Additionally, meeting rooms are subject to availability. We ask that you be mindful and considerate of the space and those around you. We’re thrilled to host you and hope you find it a great place to work! We will post updates on hours or anything else that may affect this work environment.
Westside Helpers
When there's a need at the church, you're the type of person ready to step in and get your hands dirty. And that sort of work is so very much appreciated. Let us know how you'd best like to serve and we'll alert you when there are opportunities. Handy-person = installing wall mounted fixtures and making minor repairs Set up and tear down = moving into the new building, unpacking, sorting, assembling, etc Driver = providing someone with a ride to church or moving furniture to/from storage
Still Deciding? Ask a Human
Not sure which step fits? We’d love to help. Email nextsteps@atlantawestside.org or stop by the Welcome Desk on Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to common questions about our church services, beliefs, and membership.
Yes. Only background checked and vetted volunteers or parental guardians with drop off tags are allowed in the secure area of Westside Kids.
Nope. Just show up and have fun. We have snacks and beverages at most of our events.
Westside Students volunteers include adults and parents drawn from the Westiside staff and congregation. All participating adults have been vetted and background checked.
Our Student Ministry building is directly adjacent to our main campus—on the far right side of the building.
1279 Collier Rd. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
We ask all students to check in via one of our KidCheck kiosks when they arrive. Additionally, our student campus includes a number of interior and exterior cameras.
Formal church membership makes your relationship to a local body explicit, including commitments that you make to the church, and commitments that church leaders make to you. To read a fuller argument for membership, check out this article written by our senior pastor. Members don’t have to agree with every doctrinal position of our church. You just have to believe some basic truths of the Christian faith and agree to some basic commitments about being a member.
The first step toward becoming a member is attending the class Westside 101. Check out our events calendar for the next class offering. You'll learn of next steps toward becoming a member during that time. The class does not commit you to membership.
We highly recommend you join a neighborhood Community Group.
Grace Groups offer just that! They are meant to draw you into life-on-life discipleship and mutually encouraging friendship.
Absolutely! If you're interested in Sunday serving opportunities, email Clay Pilcher. If you'd like to hear more about discipleship opportunities, reach out to Mamie Williams.
Westside's Meals Ministry is a great way to serve behind the scenes. Our Meals Ministry Team is dedicated to providing care and support to those in our community who need it most.
Whether it's welcoming a new baby, helping during an illness, or offering comfort during a difficult time, we assist with meals to bring a bit of relief and love. Serving behind the scenes in this way is a simple yet powerful way to show Christ's love to others. For more information, whether you're interested in serving, need meals or know someone who could use some help, please please reach out to Valerie Palmer and she will help get you connected.
The best way to stay informed about gender-specific events is by subscribing to Westside's weekly newsletter, The Weekly Westsider. To subscribe, simply scroll to the bottom of our website and enter your email under 'Subscribe for Updates.'
Yes! Westside is looking for passionate college students to serve in our Westside Students and Westside Kids ministries for the summer of 2025. This is a full-time commitment for 11 weeks. If you're interested, head over to the internships page for more details.
We recommend two options:
- Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: we offer it every fall starting in September and it's just a 9-week course that unpacks core Biblical principles that leads to lasting, beneath-the-surface transformation in your relationship with Christ.
- Bible study: we offer two Bible studies each year, starting in September and then again in February on Wednesday mornings and evenings.
If you’re looking for pastoral support or guidance, you can email Josh Kim, the Assistant Pastor and Director of Pastoral Care.
If you’re finding it tough to connect, joining a community group could be a great next step. Our groups are based on where you live, so you can easily connect with others in your neighborhood. These groups are all about doing life together, studying the Word, and supporting each other. We’d love to help you find a group that fits.
Also, check out our upcoming events—these are great opportunities to meet people and get involved.
We believe baptism is God's sign that a person is included among the people of God. For more on baptism, check out this Baptism FAQ blog post, written by Walter Henegar.
We have several opportunities to get plugged in, ranging from discipleship groups, serving groups, missions groups and more! For a list of opportunities, head over the Groups page.