The starting of East Lanier Community Church is a cooperative effort between Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (CMPC), in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia, and Perimeter Ministries International (PMI).  CMPC had for some time desired to see a new church started in the Friendship Road area of south Hall County.  PMI is a network of like-minded churches committed to bringing all of metro Atlanta into an encounter with the Kingdom of God, by planting churches, training leaders, and ministering to the under-resourced.

In May of 2000, Alan Foster left the staff of Perimeter Church (the original church in the PMI network) in Duluth, Georgia, in order to start East Lanier Community Church, targeting the Buford/Flowery Branch area.  He and Kim and their children moved from Suwanee to Flowery Branch in July of that year.  Over the course of that summer, meetings were held with others who were interested, and evening organizational Bible studies began in September.  Davis Middle School was secured as the original meeting location, and morning worship services began in the Spring of 2001.  In September of 2002, East Lanier moved into its first full-time facility.

In January of 2002, Ralph Johnston joined the staff as Minister to Families, encouraging family growth and leading middle school and children ministries.