Clarence Thomas, Jr.
thomasjr63@gmail.com
MGI Contributor
Pastor Antoine Scruggs of New Piney Grove Baptist Church is about community. The way he has NPGBC moving supports that.
Scruggs has over 20 years of Community Development experience. Since arriving two years ago from Beulahland Bible Church, the Berkley, California native is overseeing the establishment of a new non-profit 501c3 “Straight Street” CDC. “The church is the community, and the community is the church. You can’t have one without the other,” Scruggs said.
Touching what he says is the least, lost, left out, and looked over, is a priority at his church. This includes seniors and youth. Neighborhood children around NPGBC can count on snacks following school – which sometimes is the only food they’ll eat outside of school lunch.
New mothers and mommas to be were taken care of during a Community Baby Shower. During Thanksgiving the hungry received what New Piney Grove dubbed Boxes of Love, a traditional holiday meal giveaway he implemented at Beulah land and transferred with him.
Scruggs says he and New Piney Grove are a good fit. His journey towards becoming its current leader began in 1988 as a young minister following a four-year stint in the Air Force and time spent working in pharmaceuticals with Johnson & Johnson.
He and his wife of 36 years and their three children made their way to Macon initially as members of Beulahland following 19 years as Senior Pastor of Promiseland Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Scruggs served as an Executive Pastor in charge of Ministry Development at Beulahland for 7 years under Pastor Dr. Carlos Kelly.
When the call came to head the 154-year-old church that’s rumored to have been born in a briar patch, Scruggs embraced the opportunity after careful consideration. “It felt like home. This is a very loving church. New Piney Grove really embraced our family,” he shared.
He is especially thankful to Pastor Emeritus Dave Wilcoxson. After serving as New Piney Grove’s first family for nearly 30 years, the 81-year-old Wilcoxson and his wife Ann willingly stepped aside to make way for Scruggs and his family to lead. “I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Wilcoxson and “Mother Ann”. They are still around and available to me as needed,” said Scruggs.
As he forges his own future – order, excellence, honor, and excitement is what he’s asking from parishioners. Scruggs is excited about the church’s growth and future endeavors. Being available to their neighbors is paramount, he says.
Progressive, high visibility activities like New Piney Grove’s Fifth Sunday Inside/Outside Day will continue. The initiative is service centered and features giving back in the form of community outreaches like neighborhood cleanups and feedings. Scruggs believes more is better too. As a result, he’s constantly scanning the horizon for potential collaborations that allow for greater reach beyond his church’s borders. “If government is not doing it then the church must so the people can see Christ in action through us,” he said.
Showing love for his congregation is equally important, says Scruggs. NPGBC held a mass celebration for all members with 25 years of service. The New Piney Grove Youth and Senior Members of the Month have their own parking spaces. Investing in the church’s youth is a priority and can be found in the form of a redesigned youth wing.
On his church’s website Scruggs says he believes God is preparing humanity for something great in the future. He’s claiming 2025 as a banner year. “Even in hardship and darkness God has always taken care of the righteous,” he added.
His advice to his congregation? To come out of their shells and be what God has called for them to be – faith filled Believers that can be counted on all day everyday. “The Sunday me is the Monday me,” Scruggs said in closing.
New Piney Grove Baptist Church is located at 258 Straight Street in historic Unionville. Call 478-742-7525 or visit www.npgbc.org for more information.
