Johnson Ferry Baptist Church will break ground Oct. 7 on a $55 million worship center at its East Cobb campus on Johnson Ferry Road.
Church officials announced the groundbreaking Tuesday, Sept. 15. The 2,500-seat building is the centerpiece of the congregation's $84 million Forward Vision campaign, East Cobb News reported.
That's more than double the seating of the church's current main sanctuary, which holds 1,200. Johnson Ferry also runs three modern services in its activities center, which seats 1,600. Senior Pastor Clay Smith said the project is about making room for the congregation to grow together.
"We believe God has given Johnson Ferry an incredible opportunity to invest in the next generation, and this groundbreaking is an exciting step forward," Smith said.
To make space for the building, the church bought 1.7 acres of residential property at 919 Johnson Ferry Road for $2 million. The new worship center will front Johnson Ferry Road, sitting between the existing sanctuary and chapel and the church's parking lot and athletic fields.
The building will include a family drop-off area, additional children's space, a large concourse for gatherings and connections to the rest of the campus. The existing sanctuary will remain in use for special events, and the new venue will connect with the activities center.
Executive Pastor Shane Bruce told East Cobb News in May 2025 that the split between the sanctuary and activities center was a problem. Congregants from different services rarely gathered as one, he said.
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church opened in the early 1980s at 955 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta. The church has been raising funds through a member pledge drive and seeking additional financing for the project.
Beyond the worship center, the Forward Vision project includes plans to plant another church in metro Atlanta and expand the congregation's missions work. The Marietta Daily Journal also reported on the announcement.
No completion date has been announced.
Upcoming
The annual East Cobber Festival takes place in the church's south parking lot at 955 Johnson Ferry Road in October, following the East Cobber Parade.
