In 1984, Dr. Charles W. Wetherbee led a group of people to organize the Maranatha Baptist Church in Columbus, GA. The first service was held on June 10 at their temporary meeting place, a church building on 38th Street. Two months later, approximately 200 people signed the church charter on August 12. For close to two years the congregation met in various temporary sites including a local bank and a recreational center. Finally, a seven-acre tract of land was purchased at the intersection of Double Churches Road and Willett Drive in north Columbus. Members of the church helped clear the land and assisted the contractor in building the new auditorium and Sunday School wing. Temporary services were held under the pine trees at the front of the property until the new building could be occupied in 1986.

Since the church was founded, hundreds of souls have been saved and many have surrendered to preach the gospel here in the United States and on the foreign mission field. In 1993, Dr. Wetherbee accepted the call to pastor Victory Baptist Church in Weatherford, Texas.

In 2000, under the leadership of Bro. Doug Hodges, the church added a new gymnasium and Sunday School building. Later that year, Bro. Doug followed the Lord's leading and left Maranatha to return to missions work.

In January 2002, Rev. Mark Brown accepted the call to become Maranatha's fourth pastor. Pastor Brown preached his first sermon as pastor on February 3, 2002. He continued with 22 years of faithful, loving service to his Lord and his church. He led Maranatha through some of our hardest days, most notably through the destruction and reconstruction of our church building. In January 2024, Bro. Mark left Maranatha to follow the Lord’s leading to serve in a new phase of ministry.

In February 2024, Dr. Charles Wetherbee came back “home” to Maranatha to serve as transitional pastor as we seek the Lord’s will in calling a new pastor.

Maranatha has continued to thrive. Souls are being saved, new families are joining with us, and new workers are being called into the ministry. We thank God for 40 years of faithfulness to Maranatha and we look forward to many more.