God’s Abundance in Southeast Gwinnett

What if church really cultivated wholeness in a fragmented world? Created communities of compassion and care? Lived out, “God can do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask, think, or imagine according to the power that works in you” from Ephesians 3:20?

AMPLIFY Christian Church, Snellville, GA, led by Rev. Orlando Scott, is doing just that. This new church plant, located on the campus of the former Shiloh Christian Church, is partnering with a number of community organizations to cultivate abundance in Southeast Gwinnett County. Another distinctive feature of this new church plant is its partnership with Shiloh Mission and Ministry Center (SMMC). SMMC is a non-profit supported by Disciples Church Extension Fund that has emerged from the closing of Shiloh Christian Church. SMMC is seeking to provide community programs that live into the message and ministry of Christ in the Snellville/Centerville area. 

Although AMPLIFY Christian Church was set to launch in March 2020 following months of planning, a world-wide pandemic delayed plans for in-person worship. But according to Pastor Scott, the blessing was that they were “able to step back and determine what was the most important ministry during these times.” Immediately, they began a virtual Wednesday evening Bible study on anxiety. The Bible study has continued, with a variety of themes and topics, and with a dozen members from across Atlanta and several states. Other themes around land, climate, eco-justice, food, and sustainability also began to emerge, leading to a partnership with the Green the Church movement. Pastor Scott explains, “Our connection to the land is vital to our continued sustainability.” Other related partnerships emerged, including with Gwinnett County to give away 200 boxes of produce each month from June 2020 to December 2021. They also launched a community garden in August 2021 to connect like-minded individuals around food sustainability and creation care. Their first project was growing three large beds of collard greens, which they distributed from November 2021 through February 2022. But in addition to growing fresh produce, the gardens also have grown intergenerational relationships among the gardeners, ranging in age from 12 to 94 years old. The community garden has also demonstrated the church embrace of the South African Bantu philosophy ubuntu, “I am because we are, and we are because I am.” Learn more about Amplify Christian Church here.