Edgewood Church held its first worship service in the fall of 2010, after its founding pastors, Carrie & Nathan Dean, had spent two years serving in the community. In those early days, the church met in the neighborhood elementary school, setting up and tearing down every Sunday. Then one day, God opened the door to an old, abandoned church and farmhouse on Memorial Drive — a permanent home for a growing community.

Edgewood was born out of a beautifully collaborative effort among Christians from many different denominational, theological, and racial backgrounds, united in the desire to create a racially, economically, and theologically diverse community of Jesus-followers. 

In 2020, that same spirit of collaboration provided Edgewood with a ministry house, ensuring that its pastors could always afford to live in the neighborhood and continue serving their neighbors in need. That year also brought the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Edgewood adapted by moving worship outside, beginning what became known as “Garden Church.”

One evening during Garden Church, as neighbors worked together hoeing rows of sweet potatoes near Memorial Drive, a passerby asked, “What are you doing?” When we replied, “We’re farming,” she laughed and said, “I’m a farmer.” That neighbor — an actual farmer — lived just a few acres away, separated by an overgrown floodway the kids called “Whiskey Forest.” From that chance meeting, a dream was born to transform the neglected space into a community green space.

Over the next few years, with the help of Unearthing Farm & Market and other neighbors, that vision became reality — a place with a hobby animal farm, a passion for justice, and a spirit of fun and hospitality that has become woven into the life of Edgewood Church.

The pandemic also brought an unexpected blessing: several AA groups who had lost their meeting spaces began gathering at Edgewood. What started as one meeting a week quickly grew to seven — one every weeknight, sometimes two. The hope, healing, and laughter that now fill our driveway under the café lights have become a treasured part of our community.

In January 2021, Carrie & Nathan Dean moved to Blairsville, GA, to plant a new church in the mountains among the misfits and disenfranchised. That December, at the request of Edgewood’s board, Joy & Marquette Bugg — long-time friends of Edgewood and former community missionaries — stepped in as interim, and later full-time, pastors.

From the beginning, Edgewood has been geographically and spiritually rooted in loving our neighbors — especially the ones right next door. Whether through worship, shared meals, recovery groups, community farming, or simply being present, our story has always been about this: God bringing life, connection, and hope through small beginnings.