Eagles Nest Church mobilizes members for early voting in Roswell

Hundreds of Eagles Nest Church members and community participants walked from the church to an early voting site in Roswell, Georgia, on Oct. 18 as part of a nonpartisan Souls to the Polls effort. The church says the goal was to encourage informed participation in the Nov. 3 General Election and to push faith leaders to support civic engagement without endorsing candidates.

Why it matters: - Eagles Nest Church used its Sunday service to turn civic participation into a community event during Georgia’s early voting period. - Pastor Lee Jenkins framed the effort as a call for faith leaders to help voters get informed and show up, without telling them how to vote. - The church effort aimed to draw attention to the full ballot, including down-ballot races and constitutional amendments that can shape local and state policy.

What happened: - After the church’s 11:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Oct. 18, Pastor Lee Jenkins led hundreds of parishioners and community members across Holcomb Bridge Road to the East Roswell Library early voting site. - The nonpartisan Souls to the Polls event took place during the first Sunday of early voting. - Participants used Fulton County’s mobile voting unit before the march to preview their ballot and speak with election officials. - The church did not endorse candidates or ask participants to back a political party.

The details: - Jenkins told participants the church could help people get informed, prepare and participate without directing their vote. - The march encouraged voters to review every part of the ballot, from governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state to state Senate and House races, county commission contests and constitutional amendments. - Jenkins said six out of 10 eligible Black men did not vote in the 2022 midterm elections, and he said many young people and college students also stayed home. - The church is urging voters to check registration, review a sample ballot, confirm voting information and make a plan to vote early, on Election Day or by absentee ballot. - Official resources are available through Fulton County Voter and Elections and Georgia’s My Voter Page. - Ballot contents and available voting locations may vary by voter.

Between the lines: - Eagles Nest Church is using a familiar church-centered turnout model to connect faith with local civic action. - The “From Kohl’s to Souls to Polls” theme ties the church’s new Roswell campus, opened in a former Kohl’s store, to its broader message of community transformation. - Jenkins’ message also reflects a strategy to sustain engagement beyond one march by pushing ongoing voter education and outreach.

What’s next: - Jenkins wants faith leaders across Georgia to keep sharing official election information and creating voter education opportunities. - The church is positioning the march as part of a broader push to increase participation through the Nov. 3 General Election. - Eagles Nest Church says the momentum should continue through registration checks, ballot review and voting plans for eligible members and neighbors.

The bottom line: - Eagles Nest Church is trying to make voting a visible act of faith and community responsibility, not just a one-day turnout drive.