Former President Jimmy Carter worshiped at a historic Atlanta church on the last Sunday of 2018.
Ebenezer Baptist Church hosted Carter and 43 members of his family, including former First Lady Rosalynn, according to a news release.
“We’ve been all around,”Carter said in a news release. “We’ve been in Costa Rica, skiing in Colorado and Disney World. We generally go to different places all around, but this year, today, we decided to be in Atlanta."
Before service, Ebenezer pastor, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, met with the Carters privately. The former first couple also met with the Harvard's basketball team, who were in attendance at the church with their coaches.
Carter, who was the 39th president of the United States, has been a regular teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia for years.
PHOTOS: President Carter at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Ebenezer Baptist Church has a long, storied history. According to the church website, it was founded in 1886 -- 9 years after Reconstruction. It's been at its current location since 1922. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. served as senior pastor from the 1930s through 1975. His son, Martin Luther King, Jr. was his co-pastor from 1960 until 1968. MLK Jr's funeral services were held at the church in 1968.
Carter appeared at the church during his presidency. He said he was glad to be back.
“I feel great to be back at Ebenezer,” President Carter said. “Most of the times I’ve been here its been for funerals. But I feel at home when Rev. Warnock preaches, and not have to sit at a funeral at the same time.”
Rev. Warnock’s sermon, titled “The Good Life” encouraged the congregation to not focus on ‘things’ to achieve happiness and well being, to which he alluded to the life of President Carter during and after his presidency, according to a church news release.
