The Church of the Ascension has long understood that following Jesus means looking beyond our own walls and into the life of the community. Throughout our history, we have sought to be a parish that not only worships faithfully but also serves courageously, especially alongside those who are often overlooked or marginalized. Our mission is rooted in Jesus’ call to love our neighbors, seek justice, and proclaim the dignity of every human being.

For generations, Ascension has responded to the needs of Cartersville and Bartow County by asking not, “How can people come to us?” but, “How is God calling us to go into the community?” That commitment has shaped our identity and continues to guide our ministry today.

In the 1960s, during a time of deep racial division across the South, members of Ascension worked toward racial reconciliation, seeking to witness to the reconciling love of Christ when doing so was neither easy nor widely accepted. The parish has long believed that the Gospel calls Christians to break down barriers of race, class, and prejudice, and to recognize the image of God in every person.

In the 1990s, as fear and misunderstanding surrounded the AIDS epidemic, Ascension reached out to people living with HIV/AIDS with compassion and care. At a time when many experienced rejection and isolation, members of the parish sought to embody Christ’s love by offering friendship, dignity, and practical support.

Ascension also played a foundational role in establishing Habitat for Humanity in our community. Recognizing that safe, affordable housing is essential to human flourishing, parishioners helped build an organization that continues to transform lives by partnering with families to create stable homes and stronger neighborhoods.

More recently, the Church of the Ascension founded the Red Door Food Pantry in response to growing food insecurity in Bartow County. What began as a parish ministry has grown into an independent nonprofit serving hundreds of families each month. While the pantry now operates as its own organization, its roots remain in Ascension’s conviction that feeding the hungry is central to the Church’s mission. The parish continues to support the pantry through volunteers, financial gifts, and an ongoing partnership.

These ministries reflect a consistent pattern throughout Ascension’s history. Rather than waiting for people to come through our doors, we have sought to meet Christ in our neighbors, especially those on the margins. Whether confronting hunger, homelessness, disease, racial injustice, or social isolation, our response has been shaped by the belief that every person is beloved by God and worthy of dignity, compassion, and respect.

This outward focus continues to define who we are. We believe the Church exists not only for the sake of its members but for the sake of God’s mission in the world. We are called to be a community where all people are welcomed, where faith is lived through service, and where the love of Christ is made visible in both word and action.

At the Church of the Ascension, we strive to follow Jesus by loving without exception so that Christ reshapes how we live. That calling compels us to cross boundaries, build relationships, and stand alongside those whom society too often overlooks. As we look to the future, we remain committed to being a parish that worships faithfully, serves generously, and bears witness to God’s reconciling love in Cartersville and beyond.