Full Gospel Tabernacle describes itself as “a long-time familiar church,” but the church has recently seen changes, including a new name.

The church on Seven Mile Post Road in Athens has rebranded itself as Full Gospel Tabernacle Community Christian Church. But the Rev. C. Joseph Fifer, interim pastor, said a new attitude matches the new name.

“What they’re trying to do is make changes to better incorporate the community,” Fifer said. “… When I say I’m from that church down the road, they say, ‘Oh, you’re from that holiness church,’ and that’s not what we are.”

The church hopes the new name will reflect its mission, which is “to reflect the openness to the whole community not simply for worship and scripture study, but a safe place for everyone of the community to seek help or fellowship,” according to a release.

Fifer said he’s served as a guest preacher at the church a few times, but he stepped in as interim pastor when the church’s full-time pastor, Kenneth Vincent, stepped down to pursue other challenges. At the time, the congregation had dwindled to about six people.

It has since doubled in regular attendees with as many as 30 claiming it as their family church, but Fifer said he hopes to see the numbers go even higher as the church incorporates programs and activities for the community.

“The sanctuary and church will seat 120 people,” he said. “We have a wonderful fellowship hall, and we have office and classroom space. … We need to find out what the needs are in the community and then help with those needs, whether it’s homework help or after-school snack program or some place for a meet, something like that.”

Fifer said rebranding as a nondenominational church is another major change. The church is located between two other churches, but they are churches of Christ, something Fifer said he often heard complaints about.

“This is the Bible Belt. There are a lot of denominational fence lines,” he said. “… We may not all worship the same way, but it shouldn’t be our dogma in theology that fractures us. We are supposed to be the community that comes together to glorify and worship him, and that’s what (Full Gospel Tabernacle Christian Community Church) wants to be.”

FGTCCC will host a “Nativity by Candlelight” event 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 as a way of signaling a new beginning for the church. The event will include a Christmas story, candlelight display, Christmas carols and even cookies and hot cocoa.

“It’s an absolute beautiful time to get together and sing carols,” Fifer said, adding it was designed by a fellowship minister from Washington. “It really brings a change of heart and slows us down from the Walmart lines.”

Visitors can also check out worship service at the church 10 a.m. Sundays. Fifer said they’re still looking for musicians to join the service, but in the meantime, those who attend can enjoy contemporary music, a little bit of liturgy and a little bit of free witness.

For more information about the church, visit their Facebook page at https://bit.ly/FGTCCC.