The need for an additional Atlanta Baptist church on the north side was foreseen by members of The Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church shortly after World War II. Property was purchased in 1947 and in March, 1954, an organizational meeting was held. Seventy-four people formed the nucleus of the church which was later became Wieuca Road Baptist Church.
In May, 1954, the first church service was conducted at R.L. Hope Elementary School on Piedmont Road with 317 charter members. The church called its first pastor, Dr. J.T. Ford, in July, 1955. In January, 1957, the first services were held in their new sanctuary which later became the Chapel.
This Atlanta church was blessed with increased membership, staff and mission opportunities. In 1961 Wieuca sponsored the formation of the First Baptist Church of Dunwoody. In July, 1962, a new interim sanctuary was completed and is now Fellowship Hall/The Peachtree Room. In December, 1963, Dr. Ford completed his service as pastor of the church. Today Dr. Ford is Pastor Emeritus at Wieuca Road Baptist Church.
Dr. William L. Self became the second pastor in August, 1964, and a new era of growth began. Other facilities were added and in September, 1968, a new activities center was built. A new sanctuary with a seating capacity of 2000 and accompanying educational space was completed in January 1971. Additional educational space was completed in September, 1979.
Cherokee Forest Baptist Church was sponsored by Wieuca in 1982. In 1983 a counseling center was opened to minister to the Atlanta community.
Wieuca pioneered a ministry to teach English as a second language and supported many people in achieving United States citizenship. Wieuca, along with several other Buckhead churches, also spearheaded the formation of Buckhead Christian Ministry, which now provides emergency assistance to several thousand people each year.
Wieuca also pioneered a single adult ministry which became a model for churches across the nation. Wieuca singles, in cooperation with the European Baptist Convention, began single adult work in Germany in 1983. Wieuca singles funded this program for several years, and now single adult ministry is flourishing throughout the German Baptist Union.
Wieuca Road Baptist Church became one of the first churches to extend their support to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). In October, 1990, the church decided to provide all missions giving through the CBF. In May, 2001, Wieuca Road Baptist Church became a fully affiliated member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
In September, 1992, Wieuca’s third pastor, Dr. James M. King, was called. Major renovation of the facilities began in 1994 and a playfield was added in 1997.
Also, in 1997 Wieuca completed its first Habitat for Humanity House, visibly solidifying a renewed commitment to hands-on involvement in missions. Each year, church members share in an annual Habitat housebuilding project.
In 2004, Wieuca Road Baptist Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary! In June of 2005, Michael Tutterow was called to become Wieuca’s fourth pastor. And the church’s strong commitment to serving others in Buckhead and beyond continues.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast, Wieuca provided emergency shelter for five New Orleans families throughout the Fall of 2005. Church members assisted four families in resettling in Atlanta, and helped a fifth family return to New Orleans. A church ministry team traveled to Biloxi, Miss., in January of 2006 to aid in hurricane relief efforts (another trip is planned for 2007). Missions teams also engaged in tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka and a housebuilding ministry in Mexico in 2006. And the church commissioned and sent two of its own members to serve as missionaries in Liberia (see the link to The Balama Project).
Locally, the church is preparing to launch a transitional housing ministry for women and children. Dozens of church members serve each week with BCM, the Atlanta Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity and other Atlanta ministries.
Wieuca’s history is a witness to God’s grace and to the dedication of those serving Him here. It’s future continues to be written as the influence of this Atlanta church and its members is felt from “from the heart of Buckhead.”
The need for an additional Atlanta Baptist church on the north side was foreseen by members of The Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church shortly after World War II. Property was purchased in 1947 and in March, 1954, an organizational meeting was held. Seventy-four people formed the nucleus of the church which was later became Wieuca Road Baptist Church.
