About briarlake church

Where You're welcome and wanted.

Our purpose is to help people experience life in the Kingdom of God. As a church, we pursue our purpose in three important ways: 

Gather

Life-changing worship experiences are central to our church. We are here to help people worship God. 

Grow

Life Groups connect people to one another. We are here to help people develop healthy relationships.

Go

Sharing the love of Jesus and serving others is vital. We equip people to use their God-given gifts in service to others for the glory of God. 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

At Briarlake Church, we hold to a set of foundational beliefs that guide our faith and practice. These beliefs are drawn from the teachings of the Bible, which we consider to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. These core doctrines serve as the foundation of our faith and guide our journey as a community of believers. We hold these beliefs with humility and seek to live them out in love, grace, and obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.


If you have any questions or would like to explore these beliefs further, please feel free to contact us. We welcome the opportunity to discuss our faith with you.

  • God

    God is the designer, creator, and sustainer of the universe and all that exists. He is characterized by love, purity, and power. He is without origin, has always existed, and will remain in control of all things throughout eternity. He is revealed in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which have been described as the Trinity. 

  • The Trinity

    We believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct in their roles and functions.


    Genesis 1:1-2; Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 63:10; Hebrews 1:8; I Peter 1:2; Jude 1:20-21

  • God the Father

    God the Father is spirit in form without a body, though sometimes the Bible uses human characteristics to describe him. When the Bible speaks of God’s face (Exodus 33:20), or Him wiping away tears (Isaiah 25:8), it does so to teach us about God’s nature in ways that we can understand. God the Father is sovereign over all things and yet shares His authority with God the Son. Jesus modeled submission to the will of God the Father, directed His prayers to God the Father, and acknowledged the Heavenly Father as the source of His miracles. 


    John 4:24; Exodus 33:15; Exodus 33:20; Isaiah 25:8; John 14; John 16:15; Matthew 6:9-15

  • Jesus

    Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death.


    John 1:1-3; Luke 2:1-20; Luke 2:52; John 14:9-10; John 19-20; John 20:30-31; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1

  • The Holy Spirit

    We affirm the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The Spirit empowers, guides, comforts, and convicts us. The Spirit also bestows spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church.


    Genesis 1:2; John 16:7-13; 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 3:16; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13 & 5:18

  • The Authority of Scripture

    The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It serves as our ultimate source of truth, providing guidance for faith and practice. We seek to study, understand, and apply its teachings in our lives.


    2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 30:5

  • Man

    Man was made in the image of God with the ability to reason, the need to relate with God, and the capacity to live eternally. He is the supreme creation of God’s created order. The creation story relays the act of disobedience toward God of the first human beings. All of humankind has inherited a nature flawed by sin and even the best efforts of human beings bear the marks of our imperfection. Only through God’s grace and forgiveness extended through Jesus Christ can human beings experience liberty from sin and reconciliation to God. 


    Genesis 1:27 & 3:1-8; Psalm 8:3-6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-7; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17

  • Salvation

    Salvation is a gift from God, not something earned through human effort. It is received by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Through His atoning sacrifice, we are reconciled to God and granted eternal life.


    Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:2; Romans 2:4; Psalm 51:17; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3: 7-8; Mark 1:15

  • Eternal Security

    Believing that salvation is a result of the new birth initiated by the Holy Spirit, the follower of Christ is held secure in that salvation for eternity. What God truly initiates, He truly maintains. Having been born of the Spirit, the follower of Christ is a child of God for eternity. God’s sovereignty over all things, including the salvation of His people, ensures their place in the family of God. Though believers are fallible and still struggle with sin and obedience to God, He loves and disciplines those that are His. It is the responsibility of the believer to pursue God and serve Him faithfully in this lifetime which will result in present blessings and rewards in the life to come. 


    John 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; I Peter 1:1-5; Hebrews 12:5-10

  • Eternity

    The Bible teaches that while we were created for eternity, our physical bodies wear out and are limited to the lifespan afforded us by the timing and will of God. At death, the believer’s soul goes to heaven in the presence of Christ. In contrast, the souls of the disobedient and unbelieving are separated from God in hell. At a time appointed by God, there will be a final judgment of the dead where the unbelieving will be dismissed into the lake of fire. A new heaven and new earth of incomprehensible magnitude, beauty, and pleasure will become the eternal residence of God’s redeemed people.            


    John 3:16; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15 & 21:1-8

  • The Church

    We believe that the Church is not a building, but a community of believers united by their faith in Jesus Christ. The Church exists to worship God, nurture spiritual growth, and carry out the Great Commission.

  • The Second Coming of Christ

    The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead. His return will culminate in the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

  • Baptism

    Salvation should precede a believer’s baptism. Baptism does not save someone but symbolizes the washing away of our sins. We practice believer's baptism as an outward expression of faith and identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.


    If you would like to talk to someone about baptism, please contact Terry Waterman.

  • Communion

    Communion is a remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and a celebration of our unity in Him. Communion is not a means of salvation; it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, we invite you to participate in remembering His sacrifice with us. 

BRIARLAKE STAFF

pastor

Dr. STEVE TILLIS

Dr. Tillis has dedicated over 20 years to pastoral ministry, demonstrating a profound commitment to preaching and teaching. As a professor of Preaching at two esteemed seminaries, he has imparted his extensive knowledge and experience to the next generation of church leaders.

His ministry extends far beyond the classroom and local pulpit. Dr. Tillis has served overseas in the British West Indies, where he focused on strengthening local churches in the Cayman Islands. These congregations, comprising over 30 different nationalities, have benefited from his efforts to train natives throughout the Caribbean for church ministry and pastoral leadership.

Dr. Tillis's international ministry also includes travels to Costa Rica and Panama, where he has preached, distributed Bibles to those in need, and engaged in street evangelism. His multiple trips to Romania have seen him preaching in local churches, ministering in orphanages, and conducting street evangelism. Additionally, he has played a crucial role in mentoring village pastors, equipping them for effective ministry. His leadership extends to training other pastors on how to lead short-term mission trips with their congregations.

At home, Dr. Tillis finds unwavering support in his wife Connie, to whom he has been happily married for 15 years. Connie is deeply involved in church ministry, particularly in the leadership of Women’s Ministry, where she organizes Bible studies, discipleship groups, and ladies’ events. She is known for her ability to build meaningful relationships and excels in mentoring others. Together, they are blessed with two sons, James and Luke, who bring joy and laughter into their lives.

To contact our Pastor,

email s-tillis@briarlakechurch.org

CONTACT PASTOR STEVE

PASTORAL TEAM

Pastor Steve Tillis

SUPPORT STAFF

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • How can I find a Life Group?

    Click here to view our Life Groups page! 

  • Family Ministry at Briarlake Church?

    Check out the Briarlake Kids and Student Ministry pages on our site. There, you can find what Briarlake offers families throughout the year. 

  • How do I become a member of Briarlake Church?

    Membership at Briarlake Church is a spiritual commitment to believe in and follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord along with a desire to walk in fellowship with the Briarlake congregation.


    Trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord and professing your faith publicly through believer’s baptism is a Biblical and meaningful way to express your faith and desire to join Briarlake Church. Click here to learn more.


    If you are already a follower of Christ and have already been baptized by immersion as a believer, then you can join by transferring your letter of membership from another church of similar faith and practice, or by statement of your faith if no such record is available.


    One of the most convenient ways to join the Briarlake Church family is to stop by the Starting Point Station after one of our Sunday worship services and express your intent to join by filling out a membership card. 


    Once we have received your completed membership card, you will be invited to one of our Next Steps classes that are conveniently offered on an as-needed basis immediately after the worship services. Those who have previously filled out a membership card will receive an invitation to the Next Steps Class in advance.


    After you attend the class, you will have an opportunity to meet and discuss your interest in membership with a staff member.

  • Do I have to be a member first to volunteer?

    No, you do not need to be a member of Briarlake to volunteer, but we do require a background check on volunteers serving with children and students. 

  • What is the history of Briarlake Church?

    Briarlake Church has been in existence for over 65 years. On the first Sunday of February 1958, 125 people met at Briarlake Elementary School for the purpose of starting Briarlake Baptist Chapel with sponsorship from the Clairmont Hills Baptist Church and the Atlanta Baptist Association.


    Clay Manley served as the missions pastor until the church constituted on August 2, 1959. At that time, Hoffman Harris was called as pastor and served in that role until his retirement in 1988. Ground was broken in October 1959 for Briarlake's first building, a chapel seating 250. In the years to come, five educational buildings, a sanctuary seating 950, activities building, a ball field and tennis courts would be added.


    Accepting the church's call to become their second pastor, Dr. Don Bouldin began his ministry on November 5, 1989 and served until January 1999. Briarlake's third pastor, Bill Patterson, served from June 2000 through July 2002. On Sunday September 26, 2004, Dr. Tommy Ferrell became the pastor of Briarlake, serving until February 2021. In June of 2022, Dr. Steve Tillis was called to be the fifth pastor of Briarlake Church and is currently serving as the Senior Pastor. 


    In 2005, the activities building was renovated to accommodate the church's new contemporary styled worship service, Backlot. Other renovations have occurred to keep the campus relevant and appealing.


    Throughout its history Briarlake has been missions-minded, with strong support of the Cooperative Program and in sending out mission teams to North American and international mission sites. Briarlake sponsored the establishment of Smoke Rise Baptist Church in DeKalb County; Atkinson Road Baptist Church in Gwinnett County; and has given financial support to numerous other mission churches across the United States.


    Three ethnic congregations, Hispanic, Arabic, and Mandarin Chinese, have been started at Briarlake. Beginning as a Sunday School class in 1979, the Hispanic work grew and moved from Briarlake into a modular building in Norcross in 1996. As it continued to grow, it moved into a new facility in 1998 and was constituted as the New Jerusalem Baptist Church. In 2007 the Chinese congregation relocated to Gwinnett County in order to be closer to Mandarin population clusters.


    Briarlake’s emerging mission and church planting strategy centers around church-to-church mission partnerships, which include sending financial support as well as short-term mission teams from Briarlake to serve alongside indigenous churches both in the United States and internationally. We currently have mission partnerships in Capetown, South Africa; Hyderabad, India; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Bluffton, South Carolina; and  Ledyard, Connecticut.

  • Do I have to dress up to attend services?

    Thanks for asking! Dressing up is not a requirement to worship with us at Briarlake Church. Some do wear their “Sunday best” but you’re also likely to see someone in slacks and a casual shirt, or even jeans. We believe the most important part about Sunday morning is showing up, ready to worship God.

PRAYER MINISTRY

Prayer is the foundation of all that happens at Briarlake. Volunteers serve in the Prayer Ministry in two specific ways.

  • Prayer Room
  • 1st and 3rd Tuesday Prayer Meeting  - 6:30PM in the Chapel

We also have 3 church-wide prayer initiatives per year.



To learn more or to volunteer for the Prayer Ministry, please contact the Church office at (404) 325-4214.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Contact Us