Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship is a Christ-centered non-denominational church with an emphasis on the Word of God, worship, and prayer. Our services are fresh, spontaneous, and alive with the presence of God.
God has given us a vision to reach out to the community of Woodstock, Georgia and beyond. We walk by faith to fulfill the vision that God has given us. The Lord placed in our hearts a hunger and desire for Him, and by drawing near to Him we have been enabled to love and minister to people.
The Lord bless you as you love and serve Him,
Pastors Larry and Diana Baker
What time should I be there?
Our D-Groups meet on Sundays at 9:30AM, and our service starts at 10:30AM. You are welcome to join us for both if you like!
Where is the church located?
We are located near the Towne Lake area of Woodstock, GA. Click here to go to our contact page to see a map.
What should I wear?
Whether you come in a suit and tie or in jeans and a t-shirt, you are welcome and valued.
What is the music like?
We love to worship God with songs by such writers as Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman as well as established hymns like Amazing Grace and It Is Well. Whether we’re singing contemporary songs, choruses, or traditional hymns, our focus is worshiping God for who He is and what He’s done.
What about the weekly message?
Each week, our Pastor gives a talk based on a portion of the Bible. The messages give insight into knowing God better and are helpful for daily life. Click here to listen to some of his talks.
Staff Members
Larry Baker, Senior Pastor
Diana Baker, Co-Pastor
Shannon Weaver, Secretary
Marge Chadwick, Corporate Secretary
Elders
Marge Chadwick
Ted Nation
Kay New
David Woods
Melody Woods
Deacons
Louise Baker
Sheila Baker
Kathy Capes
Barbara Golden
Gilda McCarty
Scott Weaver
Shannon Weaver
Ministry Leaders
Care Ministry – Barbara Golden
Children’s Church – Diana Baker
E-mail Prayer Ministry – Shannon Weaver
One-on-one Discipleship – Jack and Charlene Elder
Food Pantry – Scotty and Phyllis Scott
Meals – Barbara Golden
Nursery – Jennifer Cannella
Rivermen – Scott Weaver
Discipleship Groups
Telephone Prayer Requests – Gilda McCarty
Women of Destiny – Shannon Weaver
Women of Fire – Gilda McCarty
Young Adults -
Youth Ministry – Melody Woods
In 1946, Larry Baker was born in the small town of Hornell, New York to conservative Baptist parents. He was raised in this Christian home until 1964, when he graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he attended Utica College of Syracuse, NY University, and afterwards attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he graduated with a degree in Accounting – Bachelor of Business Administration.
While at USM, he met his wife, Diana Lynn Jackson Baker. They have three married daughters, one son (deceased), and eight grandchildren.
While working as an auditor and systems accountant from 1971-73, Larry felt the call of God to full time ministry. He resigned his position in civil service and attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1973-76, receiving a Master of Divinity Degree. After being self-employed from 1976-78, he and his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia. In 1980, he and his wife began Word of Faith Church, now Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship.
Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship began in 1980 as a small prayer group meeting in the home of Milford and Myra Smith. The group grew quickly and soon moved to a vacant grocery store on Highway 92 in Woodstock. Rev. Larry H. Baker was set in place as the Pastor, and the fledgling group was established as Word of Faith Church.
This non-denominational, spirit-filled fellowship has sought to make the Lord Jesus Christ the focus in all things. From the start, God has blessed this church with His presence in its joyful services as its members have honored and glorified Him.
In 1981, the sixty-five member church purchased five acres of land on Bells Ferry Road and built the basement level of the present church building. The church also began a Christian school that year with 15 students in attendance. God was faithful, and the church was able to remain debt free.
In 1984 Pastor Larry Baker’s wife, Diana, was ordained to the ministry and set in place as Co-Pastor and Worship Leader of Word of Faith Church.
In 1986, as the church was finishing the top portion of its 16,280 square foot building, the owner of the adjoining ten acres of property offered to sell the land to the church. Although the timing did not seem right, God performed miracles. A loan for $170,000 was secured to complete the church building, which was paid in full in three months time. God also provided the money through members of the congregation to purchase the ten acres. The church has remained debt free from that time until today.
As time passed, God inspired several changes. In 1988, God led the church to close the Christian School. In 1990, the name of the church was changed from Word of Faith Church to Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship to emphasize the church’s vision for prayer and worship.
Since the turn of the millennium, Prayer and Praise has worked with other churches and local ministries to bring unity to the Body of Christ through music events and local community outreaches. Pastor Baker is actively involved with other local pastors through the Cherokee County Ministerial Association.
Pastor Larry Baker belongs to Ministers Fellowship International, based in Portland, Oregon, in order to maintain fellowship, accountability, and an apostolic covering. Please visit www.MFI-Online.org for more information.
Through the years, Prayer and Praise has not only impacted its community, but it has also reached out into the nations of the earth. For seventeen years, Arnold and Phyllis Scott, members of Prayer and Praise, served as missionaries in Mexico. With the support of their home church and other churches, they built churches and reached out to the Mexican people with the gospel of Christ. Prayer and Praise is also involved in mission projects in India, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Haiti, and Ukraine.
We are thankful for God’s continual blessings on Prayer and Praise Christian Fellowship.
He has done great things, and we rejoice!
Twelve Foundational Truths
I. God’s Holy Spirit divinely inspired the entire Bible (I Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21)
II. The one true God is revealed through the scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (I John 1:1-3; John 15:26; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14)
III. Man was created good and in the image of God, but through voluntary transgression was lost and is spiritually dead. (Genesis 1:27, 2:16-17; I Corinthians 15:21-22)
IV. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind from sin. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and was very man and very God. Jesus Christ, through His shed blood, His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection became the perfect sacrifice. He atoned for sin and redeemed us from sin, sickness, and the sting of death. (Isaiah 53:3-12; I Peter 2:21-25; Romans 4:25; Luke 1:26-35)
V. Salvation may be obtained only by God’s grace. God grants repentance to us, and when we accept by faith the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are saved. (Hebrews 6:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:10-24, 6:23)
VI. Water baptism, by immersion in water for the remission of sins and the circumcision of heart, is commanded for all that have repented of their sins. (Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:11-12; Romans 6:4-6)
VII. The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a definite experience given to believers. We believe that the Holy Spirit, as evidence of this baptism, imparts speaking in other tongues and other manifestations and gifts. (Acts 1:5-8, 2:1-4. 10:44. 19:1-6; John 1:33)
VIII. Christ ordained the Lord’s Supper for born-again believers. It is to be taken with a pure heart and a clear conscience in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ, as often as the Spirit of God directs. (I Corinthians 11:23-24)
IX. Born-again Christians may receive impartation by the laying on of hands of other anointed believers. (Hebrews 6:2; Mark 16:18; Romans 1:11; I Timothy 4:14-15; Acts 2:17, 10:1-6)
X. Every believer is to live a holy, separated life that is guided, led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (John 16:12-15; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 5:18)
XI. The New Testament provides order for the local church in its government, worship, and structure. (Titus 1:5-9; Timothy 3:1-15; Acts 6:1-7; I Peter 5:1-4)
XII. We believe in the Second bodily Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and that the Saints in Christ Jesus will rule and reign with Him for all eternity. (I Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 22:1-7)
Mission
Our mission at Prayer and Praise is to embrace the heart of the Father to worship, serve and build the kingdom of God through ministering salvation, healing and deliverance with a passion to build strong and healthy Christian families.
Scripture Focus
“That in all things Jesus Christ our Lord might have preeminence.” Col. I:18b. We believe that Christ must have first place in everything we say and do.
Purpose
To bring people to salvation through a life-changing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and to disciple and train them to help build the Kingdom of God.
Function
To be a “spiritual hospital” (through the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit) for total healing of body, soul, and spirit.
Worship
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)
Word of God
“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:11) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Witnessing
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)
