CARROLLTON - Beyond the bypass, the two-lane snakes out of Carrollton into the West Georgia countryside. It loops among gentle hills, past farms and a small factory. A smaller road breaks off to the right, rattles across railroad tracks, pauses at the four-way marking the crossroads community of Clem, then dips into a bottom. Capping the hill on the other side is a large white structure- Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

When Doug New came as pastor in May 1997, there were only 280 members meeting in a small, 19th Century building. Now - even though it sits in a rural, out of the way location - it has grown to an 1,100-member congregation. They have tacked a new $1.8 million, 21st Century facility onto the old building and recently broke ground for a $1.2 million addition.

They draw members from as far as Alabama, 40 miles away, and their missions offering has increased from $2,500 the first year New came here to $146,000 in 2003.

"All this is a result of missions," he says. "Missions has put shoes on feet, fed people, bought buses, carpeted floors, sent people across the world.

"It's a miracle."

When New arrived at Mt. Pleasant, he had a strong sense that doing something different was part of his call, and that the congregation was ready to follow him.

They began with a study of Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing God. The book encouraged them to look for what God is doing in the world and join Him; the study led them to missions.

Since then, Mt. Pleasant has sent mission teams to Uzbeckistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Germany, Russia, Equador, Honduras, Haiti, Camaroon, Thailand, Myramar, Thailand and Canada.

Closer to home, members reach out to the international community by teaching English as a second language, by sending mission teams into Appalachia, having an active prison ministry, helping other churches with building projects through a Steeple Chaser ministry, participating in disaster relief, and feeding approximately 60 families a month through a hunger ministry called Mana House.

"We're not a one-time-a-year missions church," says Kathy Parsons, who with her husband, Darrell, coordinates the missions efforts of Mt. Pleasant. "We keep missions before the people. It's the hub of what we should be."

Missions is promoted from the pulpit and highlighted in the weekly bulletin. It's also a constant presence on the church Web site. There is a room set aside as a missions center - stocked with magazines, books and other resources - just inside the front door next to a prayer room. On Sunday mornings is not unusual to see church members dressed in national costumes as greeters, handing out information on people groups.

Mt. Pleasant holds an annual Global Impact Conference. Missionaries - both international and domestic - are invited. They stay in members' homes, set up displays in the church, and talk about their efforts in worship services and before various groups of the church.

"Having missionaries here is absolutely essential," says New. "We can see them, hear them, touch them."

"We get a sense of what is really happening on the mission field," says Parsons. "The conference always results in more involvement. It keeps the big picture before us."

This year Mt. Pleasant plans to send teams to Mexico, Russia, Ghana, Philadelphia, Pa., "and maybe Thailand," adds Parsons.

Construction of the new addition won't slow down their involvement in missions."If anything, we'll be even more aggressive promoting missions," says New.

"We've learned that if you want buildings, keep doing missions," Darrell Parsons interjects.

"We're not where we want to be," says New. "It's been a journey - and will continue to be.

"Our objective is to mobilize this church and community. And we've got a ways to go."