The Brewington Family

Some families have a way of making you feel like you've known them for years. The Brewingtons are one of those families. Spend just a few minutes with Darrin, Ashley, and their nearly two-year-old daughter, Nayeli, and something becomes immediately apparent. Conversation comes easily, laughter follows naturally, and before long, you find yourself smiling—not because someone told a joke, but because their warmth is simply contagious. You leave feeling lighter than when you arrived. As we sat together, our conversation wandered from hiking trails and soccer matches to anime, Chick-fil-A, nursing, church planting, and raising Nayeli. At first, it felt like a collection of unrelated conversations. By the end, it all made perfect sense. Everything about the Brewingtons points back to one simple belief: everyone deserves to know there's a place for them. That belief quietly shapes the way they serve, the way they parent, the way they build relationships, and ultimately, the vision they have for the community they now call home. Both Georgia natives, Darrin and Ashley grew up in Fayetteville before marrying in 2019. Their story began while working at Chick-fil-A, where they started on the very same day. Years later, they chose Senoia because it placed them centrally between both sides of their family. What began as a practical decision quickly became something much more. It became a place where they could help others feel at home, too. Whether they're hiking a nearby trail, cheering on their favorite soccer team, traveling, bowling, discovering a new restaurant, or simply enjoying time outdoors with Nayeli, the Brewingtons have intentionally built a life around connection. They enjoy being active, but the activity is rarely the point. It's about who gets to experience it with them. That same perspective has shaped Darrin's ministry. His journey led him from serving as Worship Pastor at New Vision Church in Fayetteville to Newnan City Church, where the devastating Coweta tornado became a defining moment. In the months that followed, he watched churches become places of hope, neighbors become family, and complete strangers walk through hardship together. That season changed the way Darrin viewed ministry. Some of the most meaningful moments weren't happening from a stage. They were happening in living rooms, neighborhoods, and around dinner tables as people simply walked alongside one another. That calling eventually led Darrin to pursue ordination through the Free Methodist Church and, today, to planting Abide Church in Senoia, with the launch scheduled for January 10, 2027. The vision isn't simply to start another church. It's to create another place where people feel seen, known, and welcomed. That vision has already been tested. As the family searched for a permanent location, multiple opportunities fell through, leaving them just months away from launching without a place to gather. During that season, one phrase continually surfaced: "Don't settle." Rather than becoming discouraged, they chose patience, believing that if God had called them to Senoia, He would also prepare the way. Only days later, the right building became available. For Ashley, the journey has unfolded differently, but the heart behind it has remained remarkably similar. Although she once imagined a future in architecture, she eventually followed in the footsteps of both her mother and grandmother, becoming a registered nurse. Today, she continues serving patients in oncology, walking alongside individuals and families during some of life's most difficult moments. Caring for people has become a thread woven throughout every part of her life, and it also shapes the way she approaches being a pastor's wife. Ashley doesn't believe there's a mold she has to fit. Instead, she simply wants to remain consistent in who God created her to be, allowing Christ to shape her life while faithfully serving wherever she's called. Whether caring for patients, raising Nayeli, supporting Darrin as Abide Church prepares to launch, or simply building relationships throughout the community, her desire is the same: to love people well. Though their careers look different, the heart behind them is remarkably similar. Darrin serves by shepherding people through life's spiritual journey, while Ashley serves by caring for people through some of life's most difficult physical journeys. Both have chosen paths rooted in compassion, presence, and walking alongside others when they need it most. Their own family also reflects the kind of community they hope to build. They want people from every background, culture, and walk of life to know there is a place for them. They hope to reach those who may have never felt like they fit the traditional picture of church, reminding them that feeling welcome begins long before perfection. At the center of it all is Nayeli, who's growing up watching parents who genuinely enjoy being together, who open their lives to others, and who believe community isn't something you stumble upon—it's something you intentionally create. Whether she's tagging along on a hike, exploring downtown, or meeting someone new over a shared meal, she's already experiencing the kind of life her parents hope to build, not only for their family, but for everyone around them. As Abide Church prepares for its soft launch this August, the Brewingtons are already dreaming beyond Sunday mornings. One vision they're especially excited about is creating breakfast and worship gatherings that intentionally bless those who often find themselves overlooked or marginalized. For them, success won't simply be measured by how many people gather on a Sunday morning, but by how many people discover they have a place to call home. Spend enough time with this family, and you begin to realize those dreams didn't begin with a church plant. They began around their own table. Whether on a hiking trail, serving patients at the hospital, cheering at a soccer match, sharing a meal with neighbors, or welcoming someone through the doors of a new church, Darrin, Ashley, and Nayeli have chosen to live a life that makes room for others. That's what makes the Brewingtons so refreshing to be around. They have a remarkable ability to make people feel seen, valued, and genuinely welcome. In a world where so many people are searching for connection, the Brewingtons remind us that community often begins with something as simple as making room for one more chair at the table.