"I'm a `hands-on'

preacher," says the Rev. Dr. James G. Willis, North

Fayette Baptist Church.

The church will be

celebrating its 20th anniversary in the fall and has

grown from five people meeting in his home in 1980 to

nearly 400 members.

Along with this

celebration, Willis will be celebrating his 40th year in

the ministry.

During this year the church

will be expanding its youth and children's ministries by

hiring two professional staff members, one for each

ministry.

Also planned for the fall,

Willis and approximately 20 people from the church and

the community will be traveling to the Holy Land and

Greece. Leaving Oct. 23, they will spend 11 days in Tel

Aviv, Galilee, Tiberius, Capernaum, Phillipi, Mt. Herman,

Golan Heights, the Dead Sea, Massada, Bethany, Jerusalem,

(where they will stay for three days), and Athens.

Having been on a previous

trip, Willis said they will be hiring the same guide.

"He was so outstanding, he made everything come

alive," he said.

The church is laying the

groundwork now to build an educational building next

spring. It will contain 8,000 square feet with a

Fellowship Hall that will seat 150 at dinner. It will

also contain Sunday School rooms.

Among the ministries the

church participates in are worship services and Bible

Study at Christian City, and in providing a ministry for

those with mental retardation.

Due to the growing senior

adult ministry, North Fayette Baptist will be adding an

additional associate pastor to handle that particular

ministry.

The mission statement of

the church is to carry out the Great Commission through

evangelism, worship, discipleship and missions, with a

commitment of caring for its community and beyond.

North Fayette Baptist

Church is at 409 Kenwood Road, Fayetteville. Worship

services are Sunday at 11 a.m. and Sunday morning Bible

study is at 9:45.

The church can be reached

at 770-461-0377.