First up in our new “Praying for our Partners” series is Crossway Fellowship Church, of Athens, Georgia, USA.

A bit about Athens & Georgia
Southern state Georgia – nicked named ‘The Peach State’ – is the 4th state of the USA, covering 58,910 square miles, and has a state population of over 7 million people. Georgia generally enjoys a good climate and good weather – not too cold winters and sunny, hot, muggy summers.

Athens lies about 60 miles east of Atlanta, the state capital. Locals describe Athens as ‘a large town with a small town feel‘. Athens is situated in one of the wealthiest and most sought after counties in Georgia, close to the University of Georgia.

Athens boasts a population of approximately 100,000 people, with a racial make up consisting of mainly whites (64%) and blacks (28%).

The town is surrounded by country and farm lands on one side and the historic town on the other end. It is the home to such notable features as the only remaining one of two double-barreled canons produced during the American Civil War (pictured right) and the famous “Tree that Owns Itself“.

The bulk of the jobs in Athens are in education, government employment or agriculture. (Georgia is the largest producer of peaches, peanuts and pecans in the US.)

The classic southern stereotype of Georgia is one of folks who drink sweet [iced] tea, speak with strong southern accents, eat fried chicken, listen to country music and drive big red trucks with a big UGA Bulldog bumper sticker (see left) on the back!

One of Georgia’s claims to fame is that it is where Coca Cola was invented, and where the girl scouts organisation began! Famous sons and daughters include music sensations such as the B52′s, R.E.M and Widespread Panic.

More specifics on the church coming in the next post…