EDUCATE
embracing diversity
One Accord strives to support DBC in growing a multi-ethnic church that welcomes, reflects, and serves our community. Our vision is to foster a church where all races, people, tribes, and languages come together before the throne
ENGAGE
building unity
WORSHIP
glorifying God
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." - Ps 133:1
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" - Gal 3:28
"God created mankind in his own image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" - Gen 1:27
"After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands." - Rev 7:9
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." - Ps 133:1
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" - Gal 3:28
"God created mankind in his own image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" - Gen 1:27
"After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands." - Rev 7:9
Focus of the Month
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This May, as we walk through Nehemiah, we’re reminded that God restores broken people, broken cities, and broken worship not through heroic leaders, but through ordinary faithfulness empowered by His presence. Nehemiah saw Jerusalem’s walls in ruins, but the deeper ruin was spiritual drift — and renewal didn’t begin with construction, it began with burden, repentance, and prayer. That same posture fuels One Accord. We carry a burden for our own community, we depend on God in prayer, and then we pick up the work of rebuilding together. Nehemiah gathered priests and merchants, families and foreigners to build side-by-side, each repairing the section right in front of their home. In the same way, One Accord strives to support DBC in growing a multi-ethnic church that welcomes, reflects, and serves our community — a living picture of our vision, where all races, peoples, tribes, and languages come together before the throne, stone by stone, in unity.
Nehemiah shows us God doesn’t need spectacular people — He restores through burdened, repentant, praying people who stay faithful right where they are. Here are practical ways to live Nehemiah out this month, not just hear it:
- Start With Burden, Not a Blueprint: Nehemiah 1: He heard the walls were down, sat down, wept, and prayed for days before he did anything.
- Application: This month, choose one broken place in your life, family, or neighborhood in Dunwoody and carry it to God before you try to fix it. Set aside 10 minutes, three times a week to pray specifically — no solutions yet, just honest burden.
- Renewal begins when we feel what God feels.
- Practice Repentance Before Rebuilding: Nehemiah confessed “we have sinned,” owning both personal and communal drift.
- Application: Before you point to culture or the church, ask the Spirit to reveal your part. Write a brief prayer of confession each Sunday — where have I drifted in worship, integrity, or love for neighbor?
- True walls go up on a cleared foundation.
- Build Where You Live: In Nehemiah 3, everyone repaired the section in front of their own house — priests, perfumers, daughters, merchants.
- Application: You don’t need a platform to be faithful. Identify your “section of wall”: your cul-de-sac, your classroom, your gym, your small group. Do one ordinary, consistent act of welcome or service there this month — invite a neighbor for dinner, help a coworker, pray with your kids nightly.
- Plan Wisely and Depend Completely: Nehemiah prayed, then asked the king for letters, timber, and time. He walked the walls at night to count the cost.
- Application: Faith isn’t passive. For the area you’re burdened for, take one practical step this week — make the call, set the budget, schedule the conversation — and pair it with prayer: “God, if you don’t provide, this won’t stand.” Keep both hands open.
- Expect Opposition and Stay on the Wall: Sanballat mocked, threatened, and distracted, but Nehemiah said, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.”
- Application: When you start rebuilding worship, relationships, or habits, resistance comes — busyness, criticism, discouragement. Decide ahead of time what your “wall” is this month, and what you will say no to. Guard your heart with Scripture and community so you don’t come down.
- Re-center Your Worship Around the Word: In Nehemiah 8, the people stood for hours as Ezra read Scripture, then responded with obedience, generosity, and joy.
- Application: Broken worship is the root issue. This month, rebuild your personal altar: read Nehemiah one chapter a day, journal one obedience step, and gather weekly with others to hear the Word, not just about it. Let the Bible shape your schedule, your money, and your relationships again.
Celebration of the Month
Following the joy of our Mother's Day Highlights, this month we are turning our attention to the fathers in our church family. Throughout June, we will be sharing a special Father's Day presentation featuring several men from our congregation — dads, grandfathers, stepdads, and spiritual fathers — as they reflect in their own words on what fatherhood has taught them about faith, grace, and leaning on God. Join us each Sunday in June as we give thanks for our earthly fathers and for our Heavenly Father, who is "a father to the fatherless" (Psalm 68:5). You can read all the highlights here as they are released, and please join us in person on Father's Day as we pray over the men who are shaping our homes and our church.
Mr. Jack Phillips shares with humble gratitude that his greatest joy as a father is seeing his three children — now in their fifties — grow into kind, faithful, and hardworking adults. He credits this not to any parenting formula, but to years of prayer, God's faithful leading, and the compassionate example of his wife, Margaret. Jack acknowledges the daily tension fathers face between providing for their families and being truly present, and he finds his guidance in Micah 6:8: to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. His prayerful hope and legacy are simple: three children and nine grandchildren who love the Lord, love each other, and remain close across California, Georgia, and Australia.
Read more of Jack's reflection about fatherhood ...
- What is a personal achievement or milestone that you're particularly proud of as a father/father-figure or individual? When asked what I am proud of as a father, my first thought was the kind of people that my three children have become (all now at or around 50 years old). While they were growing up, folks often asked my wife and me what we did to produce such great kids—variously kind, social, smart, engaged in activities, hard-working, respectful, religious. Our answers were always the same...we spent a lot of time in prayer for them that God would lead them on the paths for them to follow. Although Father's Day is a secular, once-a-year recognition of father, and our recognition of God as our Eternal Father is a constant, every day praiseful recognition, I think it is appropriate for me to be thankful on Father's Day for God's Gracious steadfast, faithful love to me and through me for my three Godly, believing children (and our nine grandchildren). I am certainly grateful for them, but the "pride" belongs to God who created and led them, and graciously allowed Margaret and I to participate, through the Holy Spirit, in the children's developments. My wife Margaret's role in our children's nurture and growth was far more substantial than mine. Her compassion and love for all people and situations shines brightly in all three of our children. Margaret's engagement with them as they were growing up, modeling kindness, understanding, and caring for others was critical in our journey as parents. My advice to other fathers is to always seek God's calling, and then to be willing to follow God's leading in all situations regarding your children care and development. Lean heavily on your children's mother as the one whom God has brought into your life to share the responsibility and joy of your children.
- What do you believe is the most significant challenge facing men today, and how can we work together to address it? I feel that men's roles as fathers in society has been diverted from the family to emphasizing financial success and status within society. Society in general first looks at a man's background (college, advanced degrees), current status (business, celebrity, accomplishment), financial acumen (income, wealth), and other signs of how a man affects society. It is only secondarily that society respects a man's involvement with his family as a father. I think that there is a constant tension for a man to balance/budget his time between involvement in nurturing his family and children to care for each other and for others, to spending time achieving enough societal success to responsibly provide for his family, regardless of society's view of the lack of status that may entail. I think that the greatest challenge is in budgeting a father's (and husband's) time.
- What scripture, quote, or spiritual practice gives you strength and resilience in the face of challenges as a father/father-figure? I especially like Micah 6:8 for everyday life - Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly. I also like Genesis 12:1-3 as it relates to Missions outreach and caring for our fellow people that God has created. Despite the ofttimes unexpected challenges of society and by these same folks in need, these are the people that God has placed in our life's journey and has shown us what He requires of us. I believe that how I react to these various twists and turns in my life in following God's leading is perhaps a witness or example to other men of God's sustaining someone in turbulent times.
- What does being a good father/father-figure mean to you, and how do you strive to embody those qualities? Being a good father embodies steadfast God-fearing, God-leading, God-praising, ever God-thankful in all I attempt to do. This generally requires me to think outside of myself (not "Jack") to help others first, and to lead/model by example rather than by direction. Remember that your children (and others) are always watching and absorbing all that you say and do. My advice is always remember that children—your own and others—are God's gift and responsibility to love.
Events going on in our community!
We hope to see YOU there!
DBC's Vacation Bible School
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Cup of Nations
Juneteenth: Faith, Freedom & the Story We’re Still Writing
Night Market
Frequently Asked Questions:
Below are a few of the questions and/or concern that you may have about ministry. After reviewing the section, if you have any additional questions and/or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at OneAccord@dbc.org
Reconciliation between people is important because it is important to God. In Ephesians 2, we see that Jesus broke the wall of hostility between Jews and the Gentiles. His purpose was to create in Himself one body, from two very different and distinct ethnic groups. God wants us to be vertically reconciled to Him and horizontally reconciled to others. And as in all cases, reconciliation requires intentional conversations about difficult issues. There is no better place to have difficult conversations than in the Church, a community called to love one another.
DBC is a welcoming church and most people who visit here say they feel welcomed at the first point of contact. But integrating into our church can be difficult. We’ve heard this from a variety of people. Finding ways to welcome and receive all people in our increasingly diverse community is critical to our mission. Our purpose for this specific ministry is to build a culture of hospitality in our church for everyone.
It is good and right to see people based on their character and as God’s creation, made in his image. But God created diverse cultures. In Revelation 7:9, John says “After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne…”. The implication is that John saw diversity, and that is OK. We are all different and we can value the diversity this brings. Growing in our understanding of others can help us as a church fulfill our mission to make disciples of all nations so that the vision of Revelation 7:9 is fulfilled!
We're excited to hear that you're interested in joining our One Accord ministry! Here's what you need to know:
OA Leadership Team Members:
- Meeting Frequency: Meets once a month to plan and strategize
- Responsibilities: Provides strategic direction, makes key decisions, and oversees team activities
- Expectations: Leaders are expected to be proactive, communicative, and passionate about promoting unity and diversity within DBC. Additionally, leaders are expected to model the same level of commitment and participation as team members, including supporting events, participating in volunteer opportunities, contributing skills and talents, and engaging with the DBC community.
OA Team Members:
- Event Support: Assists with planning and execution of various events throughout the year
- Volunteer Opportunities: Participates in volunteer opportunities, such as outreach programs, community events, and worship services
- Skill-Based Contributions: Contributes skills and talents, such as graphic design, social media management, or music, to support team initiatives
- Community Engagement: Engages with the DBC community, builds relationships, and promotes unity and diversity efforts
Benefits of Joining:
- Sense of Community: Connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for unity and diversity
- Spiritual Growth: Deepen your faith and understanding of God's love
- Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills, such as event planning, communication, and teamwork
- Diverse Perspectives: Broaden your understanding and appreciation of different cultures
- Service Opportunities: Engage in meaningful service projects, outreach programs, and community events
- Networking: Build relationships with others in the church and community
- Personal Growth: Develop empathy, compassion, and a greater sense of social responsibility
Requirements:
- You must be at least 17 years old
- You should have a passion for celebrating diverse cultures and promoting unity within DBC
Get Involved:
If you're interested in joining our team, please email us at OneAccord@dbc.org. Let us know how you'd like to contribute and we'll be in touch!
One Accord strives to support DBC in growing a multi-ethnic church that welcomes, reflects, and serves our community. Our vision is to foster a church where all races, people, tribes, and languages come together before the throne
Questions? Send us an email
Admin Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm