Maranatha Baptist Church

Maranatha Baptist Church is located on Highway 45 North in Plains, Georgia and is approximately 60 miles from the city of Columbus. The church is attended by former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who occasionally teaches a morning Sunday school class. The church building opens at 8.30am with all Sunday school classes starting at 10am followed by the worship service at 11am.

The Jimmy Carter teaching schedule for each month is posted on the church website, but needless to say these occasions are very popular. So although the sanctuary holds up to 300 people there is an overflow area in the church fellowship hall where guests can congregate and watch the class on a 36 inch TV. Visitors to the church are able to meet President Carter personally and have a photograph taken with him.

Visitors are not subject to any dress code but on dates when President and Mrs. Carter are in attendance, congregation members will be searched due to security measures. The church also offers classes to children of all ages. Less than half a mile away is the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, where visitors can see the former president's old school and the farm where he grew up.