My interest in the 30318 zip code communities comes from our church’s location and mission.
Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church (AWPC)
Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church’s stated purpose is to embody and preview the Kingdom of God from Buckhead to Bankhead. I have copied the key sections below from the church’s website so I can keep them front and center as our family seeks to engage this mission as well.
“We are a dynamic community of people on Atlanta’s Westside who are seeking a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. Sunday services are just one part of our shared life together. We cultivate relationships throughout the week and apply the Bible thoughtfully in order to live out the good news of Jesus in our whole lives. We believe God’s grace continually changes our hearts, transforming the way we see, know and love our neighbors.”
P.E.A.C.E – The 5 Core Values at AWPC
Prize the Heart
Jesus taught that our words, attitudes and actions flow from our hearts. Information and aspirations alone cannot change us. Lasting change, therefore, must flow from hearts that are redeemed by his grace and ruled by his Holy Spirit. Every practice and relationship we pursue together seeks to expose, diagnose, heal and empower our hearts for progressive transformation into the image of Christ.
Embody Grace
The heart of scripture is the Gospel of free grace that unites us to God through the person and work of Jesus Christ. We experience this Gospel not in corporate worship alone, but throughout the culture of the church; the shared practices and dispositions that make us instruments of God’s grace to each other. Leaders serve to equip and empower each and every “body part” to fulfill his or her indispensable role in our common calling. As sinners living in a broken world, we expect redemptive friction, and we commit to apply the Gospel through the ongoing work of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Aim for Restoration
The Gospel that reconciles us to God also makes us agents of reconciliation with each other. Facing the heart of our city, we work to break down every barrier that has divided us, especially along the lines of race, class and culture. Powerful forces tempt us to grow inward only, becoming insular and incomprehensible to outsiders. Therefore we fight to practice habits of intentional hospitality that remove stumbling blocks and build bridges in the everyday relationships of life.
Cultivate Place
We believe local places are not just the setting for God’s kingdom, but one of the key dimensions in which the kingdom is made manifest. Living in a culture of widespread alienation and impersonal communication, we fight to live, work and play together, face-to-face, as much as possible. We expect God to produce lasting redemptive change in the social, cultural, political and educational institutions of our area, as well as the built environment.
Embrace Limitations
Every local church is only one partial manifestation of Christ’s universal, global Kingdom. We do not expect our church to meet every possible need, so we celebrate God’s work through other churches and ministries throughout our city. This posture liberates us to focus on our geographical area and to develop the particular gifts and resources God has entrusted to us. It also empowers us to build mutually supporting partnerships with other ministries, rather than duplicating their efforts.
Grove Park
Founded as a joint venture with Paradise Baptist Church and Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church – the name is an acronym of the founding churches (PAW). PAW Kids has grown from an after school ministry into neighborhood “command post” as LaTonya Gates Johnston and the team mobilize resources to meet the various needs of the Grove Park community.
Founded by Chuck Johnston as an effort to empower neighbors through quality, dignified housing. Much of the housing in Grove Park was dilapidated and owned by absentee landlords who had little interest in fostering community. Grove Park Renewal is developing these properties for the benefit of the current neighbors. The goal is to secure properties that could be controlled and offered as low-income housing options so residents could stay in the community as the neighborhood gentrifies. [ the heart behind GPR ]
Founded in 2015. Their goal is to function as the “Community Quarterback,” acting as the overall lead agency to engage the community, develop partnerships, raise necessary capital and operating dollars, and coordinate a program implementation timeline.
Covenant House’s Mission is to provide more than a bed and a meal for youth experiencing homelessness and escaping trafficking; their goal is to show unconditional love and give comprehensive support so that our youth can and will realize their fullest potential.
Located at the corner of Perry Blvd and Johnson Rd
Want to volunteer? Click the button above ^
English Avenue
Dwell Communities – Hessel Baker. Connected to Oaks ATL
Neighborhood Schools
Located at 2250 Perry Blvd, 30318 (Hannah Heck, Board Member). Chris Tuten is also a Board Member
The school opened in August 2013 with 120 students grades K-2. Each year, Westside added a grade level and by the 2019-2020 school year they were at full capacity of K-8th grades.
Located at 1605 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy
The Knowledge is Power Program, commonly known as KIPP, is a network of free open-enrollment college-preparatory schools in low income communities throughout the United States. KIPP is America’s largest network of charter schools.[3] The head offices are in San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C
Located 1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30314
Others Impacting the Community
Founded to Educate and Organize Christians for civic and cultural engagement
Agape serves 200 school-age children year round in innovative, in-school and after-school academic support programs, and 40 senior citizens providing a vibrant, social, safe community.
Located at 1633 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy. Revitalizing neighborhoods by encouraging, equipping and connecting urban community leaders.
Teaching cities to love across Color, Class and Culture. Held the March on Atlanta in 2020. Their Mercy + Justice Initiative aims to mobilize followers of Jesus to take action towards love, mercy, and justice in conjunction with the Jesus + Justice Campaign. They are inviting the church to partner with these gospel-centered organizations to change the story for generations to come.
