Our story began over 60 years ago in 1962, born from a progressive movement toward a more liberating, authentic worship experience. Inspired by God to break the barriers of traditional Sunday gatherings, our visionary founder, Kathryn Banks Williams, accepted the call. She began organizing a small weekly gathering dedicated to worshiping Christ without reservation.
This faithful community was first founded as the House of Prayer and officially incorporated in 1963, cementing our structural foundation to serve God's people for decades to come.
As the ministry grew, so did its clarity of purpose. In 1980, under the ongoing leadership of Kathryn Banks Williams, the church officially changed its name to Wayside Church of Deliverance. This name reflects our core mission: to meet, love, and restore those who feel cast aside or positioned on the downside of life. Symbolically stationed at the "waysides of life," we pride ourselves on being a sanctuary that welcomes people from all walks of life.
What started as an intimate gathering of just 15 attendees has blossomed into a vibrant, passionate, and deeply connected congregation dedicated to impacting our city and the world with the redemptive love of God.
We believe in changing the world's perception of what church can be. We empower our community to see the glass half full, teaching hope, resilience, and victory through faith. Our services are intentionally designed to step outside the norm. We like to say, "No more church as usual." Driven by the Holy Spirit, our ultimate goal is simple yet profound: to effectively serve our community and meet the diverse needs of our congregation.
At the heartbeat of Wayside Church is a mandate to demonstrate God's love both locally and globally. Today, our missionary and leadership efforts stretch from Clinton, Mississippi, across the United States, and as far as Ghana, South Africa, the Bahamas, and Jamaica.
Wayside Church continues to grow by training the next generation of leaders and strengthening regional ministries. Every fifth Sunday, we host a vibrant mass fellowship, bringing together a network of local churches planted right here by the Clinton Wayside Church.
To support the vision of our Senior Pastor, Wayside Church is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors, executive officers, youth leaders, counselors, educators, and administrators. Together, we press forward toward the high call of Christ, actively loving our God and deeply investing in our neighboring communities.