McConnell Memorial Baptist Church came into existence on the fifth Saturday of July in 1882. A three man committee from Macedonia Baptist Church met and chartered the new Baptist church in Hiawassee. That committee was called a presbytery, and the three men were elders of the Macedonia church: Elijah Kimsey, Elisha Hedden and Joseph Burch. The new church was chartered as the Baptist Church of Christ at Hiawassee, though for fifty years it was commonly called the Hiawassee Baptist Church.

The church had no meeting house to begin with. They met once a month in one of the member’s homes. After a few years a small frame building was erected on River Street utilizing a city lot that had been set aside for a Baptist church on the original City of Hiawassee plat. That remained the “meeting house” for about thirty-five years until the early 1920s when the congregation grew too large for the little building. Many attempts
were made to raise funds for a new building, but money was scarce. Instead of building, the church began meeting in the auditorium of the high school, called Hiawassee Academy.

Due to some unfortunate events in 1928, the Southern Baptist Convention (actually the Home Mission Board) had to give up the school, selling the property to Towns County.  That left the church with a problem. To continue to function, they were forced to build a separate “meeting house”. Due to hard financial times during the Great Depression, it took almost ten years to complete the building. That building still stands between the Family Life Center and the new worship center.

It was in 1933, during construction, that the name was changed to McConnell Memorial Baptist Church in honor of Dr. F.C. McConnell. Dr. McConnell was never a pastor of the church. That brick building served as the sanctuary until 2007 when the new worship center was completed under the dynamic leadership of Pastor Rudy Patton.

In the past decade, under the leadership of Pastor Steve Taylor, McConnell has
continued to grow in strength and impact. Pastor Steve has built a dedicated team of
seven pastors and numerous support staff, that lead a culture of fellowship and spiritual
growth. During this time, the church successfully paid off a multi-million-dollar debt,
demonstrating faithful stewardship and generosity. In March of 2024, McConnell
launched a second Sunday morning service with a contemporary worship style,
expanding its reach and providing more opportunities for people to encounter Jesus in a
setting that meets them where they are.

But our legacy more than buildings, milestones, or numbers. Our true legacy is found in
transformed lives, faithful disciples, and the generations of people who have carried the
gospel forward from this place. Building legacy means that as we honor our past, we
remain focused on the future, believing the same God who was faithful in 1882 is still
writing the story of McConnell today.

At McConnell, we are a small church in a big building! Our heart has never been about the size of the space; it’s about the strength of the relationships inside it. We believe God has strategically placed us in this community for a purpose: to reach people with the hope of Jesus, love our neighbors well, and create a place where anyone can feel at home.
We’re not just an organization. We are a family on mission together.

aid the greatest commandment is to love God and love people, we
want that love to define every interaction, every ministry, and every gathering. Whether you walk through our doors for the first time or have been here for decades, our desire is that you feel seen, welcomed, known, and valued. While we worship in two different styles, traditional and contemporary, we are one church, one mission, and one body in Christ. Different expressions, same heart.

We believe church should feel less like an institution and more like a home where authentic relationships are built, people are cared for, and lives are changed by Jesus.  Every company, organization, school, church, and family has its own unique way of doing things. That’s called culture. Since we are a collection of people from different backgrounds, stories, and experiences, we believe culture making is essential for unifying our church family around a shared vision as we carry the message of Jesus to our community and the world.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to share the hope
we’ve found in Him. We actively seek to bring others to Christ and help them discover His life-changing love.

We believe that when people experience the love of
Christ, it inspires them to serve others. Our mission is to reach beyond ourselves and make a difference in our community and beyond.

Spiritual growth brings transformation. We’re committed to
nurturing faith in ways that lead to real and lasting change, allowing God to shape us more into the image of Christ.

We believe in the power of community. Life is better
together, and we encourage building meaningful relationships that support, encourage, and strengthen us in our faith journey.

We embrace a spirit of generosity, knowing that God is
abundantly generous toward us. Whether it’s our time, talents, or resources, we trust that giving to others reflects God’s heart and that He will always provide more than we can imagine.

At McConnell, our vision is simple: to help people find and follow Jesus.
That vision shapes everything we do.
Helping people find Jesus:  We believe church should be a place where anyone can come, regardless of their background, story, or where they are in their faith journey. Because of that, we are committed to creating an environment that is welcoming, approachable, and centered on Jesus, making it as easy as possible for people to take that first step through
our doors and encounter the life changing hope of Christ.

We believe the mission of the church extends far beyond our walls.
We are committed to equipping and encouraging our people to intentionally reach those around them with the gospel, building relationships, sharing the hope of Jesus, and inviting others into a life changing journey of faith.  But our vision does not stop at helping people find Jesus. We are equally passionate about helping people follow Him fully.

Helping people follow Jesus
That means helping people find their place in a faith family where they are known, loved, encouraged, and connected. It means helping people discover their God given purpose and equipping them to use their gifts to serve others and make a Kingdom impact. It means teaching people how to truly follow Jesus by learning His way of life, obeying His commandments, and growing in daily dependence on the Holy Spirit
rather than being led by the desires of the flesh. It means walking with people as they grow spiritually, become mature disciples, and ultimately help lead others to Jesus. We do not simply want to gather crowds. We want to make disciples.

Our vision is to be a church for the community, a place where people can encounter Jesus, belong before they have it all figured out, grow in their faith, and become part of God’s mission to reach the world.
Helping people find & follow Jesus.