Elders Letter – Aug 2025
August 2025
Dear Church Family,
It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the third anniversary of our launch at South Greene High School—especially after celebrating six incredible years since our Afton launch earlier this year. It’s inspiring to witness all God has done through His people over the past 6+ years as a multisite church. Thank you for your faithful service to the body of Christ and your dedication to Helping People Find and Follow Jesus!
Big changes are on the horizon for re:generation, our primary environment for training in personal discipleship and spiritual growth. Re:gen is a powerful ministry that has already changed the lives of hundreds of people—including our leadership team at FCC—and has played a key role in shaping the culture of our church. What was once a place where people felt hesitant to share their struggles has become a community marked by the safety and strength of leading with vulnerability (Team Code #6, fccgreene.org/teamcode). Beginning Mon, Aug 25, re:gen transitioned to a semester-based schedule for launching groups through the curriculum. This new format will provide greater clarity for participants—who will know precisely when groups start—and offer leaders sustainable rhythms with natural breaks between semesters. Please note: there will be no meeting on Mon, Sep 1 for Labor Day. Our final open group night will be held on Mon, Sep 8, after which groups will close for the semester. If you haven’t yet completed re:gen, we encourage you to consider whether this might be the right next step for you.
Eight months have passed since we transitioned to the “One Service Everywhere” format across all three campuses. Looking back, it’s clear this has been one of the most impactful changes we’ve made in recent years. Sunday mornings now feel more connected, with deeper interactions and the added joy of experiencing worship together as families—including the opportunity to engage with your kids during the service. We’re also grateful for the many Greeneville campus FCCers who have either made the move to our South Greene or Afton campuses to help create space for newcomers or have committed to graciously staying and welcoming new visitors, many of whom begin their journey at our Greeneville location. Thank you for your flexibility, openness, and continued commitment to the mission as we grow together!
Another helpful change made in recent years has been the integration of content at all age levels. Each week, kids, students, young adults, and adults are engaging with the same core sermon-based text and message—each tailored to their unique age range. We hope that this approach has enabled families to grow together spiritually, creating opportunities for deeper conversations and shared faith at home.
Beyond curriculum changes, some encouraging stories are emerging from our Next Gen ministry areas. In Kids Ministry, we’ve hosted several Family eXPerience (Family XP) events this year—designed to help families connect with the church body while building community with other parents in fun, meaningful ways. In our 180 Student Ministry, several students recently had the life-changing experience of serving on a short-term mission trip to Colombia. And in June, over 30 young adults from our Pillar ministry gathered for the annual Pillar Retreat—a time of deep biblical study, genuine connection, and unforgettable fun. These are just a few of the many ways God is moving in and through the next generation. You can explore even more stories by checking out the H7 Story section on the FCC App!
As we have mentioned each year around this time, if you are not committed to a Life Group (LG), we strongly encourage you to do so now. Why is this so important? Because we were created with the need for relationship and community, (Genesis 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Romans 12:4-5) LG’s are the primary means of shepherding our people. As we expand in size and location, it is not reasonable to think that one or even a few pastors can meet the needs of so many. Life Groups do so in the context and under the authority of local church leadership. The Campus Pastors (CPs) are the local shepherds at each campus. They visit LGs, meet regularly with LG Leaders, provide training, and equip them to ensure effective shepherding of members. We are blessed to have such great CPs and a strong LG Director in Chris Oakes!
We are happy to announce that—pending a vote from our membership—we’re asking Bill Richards to return to serve on the Elder Board on Oct 1. For longtime FCC members, Bill needs no introduction—you already know how instrumental he has been in the growth and development of our church. For those newer to FCC, Bill is a lifelong East Tennessean who has been part of our church family for nearly 40 years, serving as an elder for roughly half that time. He and his wonderful wife, Vickie, have faithfully supported and served our church in countless ways, embodying humility, wisdom, and servant leadership.
We also want to express our deep gratitude to John Hamilton, who will be rotating off the Elder Board on Sep 30. John has served FCC with steady, faithful leadership over many years, and we are so thankful for his dedication and heart for this church. To learn more about who qualifies as a voting member, visit fccgreene.org/bylaws. All members 16 years and older who have also completed Next Steps within the past 4 years are eligible to vote. If you still need to complete it, Next Steps meets on Sun, Sep 7, 6–7:30p at Catalyst Coffee Company. Voting will take place online at fccgreene.org/vote through Sun, Sep 28. In-person voting is also available during regular office hours.
An Important Update: Instead of our usual early Spring Team Bash, we’ll be hosting a Fall Vision Potluck on Sun, Nov 9, 2025. At this special event, we’ll still celebrate our amazing volunteers and hand out footballs, but we’ll also take time to look back at what God has done this year, share FCC’s vision for the coming years, and walk through the proposed 2026 budget. As FCC continues to grow and expand to new campuses, we believe it’s more important than ever to come together around our shared mission—to stay unified, connected, and focused on what’s ahead—more details to come.
Please mark your calendar for Sun, Dec 21, 2025. We’re looking forward to once again gathering as one church body for a unified Christmas service at Pioneer Arena on the campus of Tusculum University. It’s always a wonderful time of worship and celebration, and we can’t wait to experience it together again.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you for your continued generosity toward our general fund. God is clearly at work through you, reflecting our 5th Habit—Pursue Generosity. As our church grows—both within our body and in outreach to the community—so do the opportunities and needs to share the Gospel with those around us. We invite you to prayerfully consider your giving in light of God’s abundant grace and provision. Your generosity enables us to accomplish far more together than we ever could alone. It expands the reach of God’s Kingdom—both through the ministries mentioned above and in many quiet, unseen ways—and it reminds us to treasure the gift of salvation we could never earn but freely receive through Jesus Christ.
Your friends and coworkers in ministry,
Carl DelSorbo, John Hamilton, Mark Liebert, Mike Schubert, and Scott Wakefield
The Elders of First Christian Church
Dear Church Family,
It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the third anniversary of our launch at South Greene High School—especially after celebrating six incredible years since our Afton launch earlier this year. It’s inspiring to witness all God has done through His people over the past 6+ years as a multisite church. Thank you for your faithful service to the body of Christ and your dedication to Helping People Find and Follow Jesus!
Big changes are on the horizon for re:generation, our primary environment for training in personal discipleship and spiritual growth. Re:gen is a powerful ministry that has already changed the lives of hundreds of people—including our leadership team at FCC—and has played a key role in shaping the culture of our church. What was once a place where people felt hesitant to share their struggles has become a community marked by the safety and strength of leading with vulnerability (Team Code #6, fccgreene.org/teamcode). Beginning Mon, Aug 25, re:gen transitioned to a semester-based schedule for launching groups through the curriculum. This new format will provide greater clarity for participants—who will know precisely when groups start—and offer leaders sustainable rhythms with natural breaks between semesters. Please note: there will be no meeting on Mon, Sep 1 for Labor Day. Our final open group night will be held on Mon, Sep 8, after which groups will close for the semester. If you haven’t yet completed re:gen, we encourage you to consider whether this might be the right next step for you.
Eight months have passed since we transitioned to the “One Service Everywhere” format across all three campuses. Looking back, it’s clear this has been one of the most impactful changes we’ve made in recent years. Sunday mornings now feel more connected, with deeper interactions and the added joy of experiencing worship together as families—including the opportunity to engage with your kids during the service. We’re also grateful for the many Greeneville campus FCCers who have either made the move to our South Greene or Afton campuses to help create space for newcomers or have committed to graciously staying and welcoming new visitors, many of whom begin their journey at our Greeneville location. Thank you for your flexibility, openness, and continued commitment to the mission as we grow together!
Another helpful change made in recent years has been the integration of content at all age levels. Each week, kids, students, young adults, and adults are engaging with the same core sermon-based text and message—each tailored to their unique age range. We hope that this approach has enabled families to grow together spiritually, creating opportunities for deeper conversations and shared faith at home.
Beyond curriculum changes, some encouraging stories are emerging from our Next Gen ministry areas. In Kids Ministry, we’ve hosted several Family eXPerience (Family XP) events this year—designed to help families connect with the church body while building community with other parents in fun, meaningful ways. In our 180 Student Ministry, several students recently had the life-changing experience of serving on a short-term mission trip to Colombia. And in June, over 30 young adults from our Pillar ministry gathered for the annual Pillar Retreat—a time of deep biblical study, genuine connection, and unforgettable fun. These are just a few of the many ways God is moving in and through the next generation. You can explore even more stories by checking out the H7 Story section on the FCC App!
As we have mentioned each year around this time, if you are not committed to a Life Group (LG), we strongly encourage you to do so now. Why is this so important? Because we were created with the need for relationship and community, (Genesis 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Romans 12:4-5) LG’s are the primary means of shepherding our people. As we expand in size and location, it is not reasonable to think that one or even a few pastors can meet the needs of so many. Life Groups do so in the context and under the authority of local church leadership. The Campus Pastors (CPs) are the local shepherds at each campus. They visit LGs, meet regularly with LG Leaders, provide training, and equip them to ensure effective shepherding of members. We are blessed to have such great CPs and a strong LG Director in Chris Oakes!
We are happy to announce that—pending a vote from our membership—we’re asking Bill Richards to return to serve on the Elder Board on Oct 1. For longtime FCC members, Bill needs no introduction—you already know how instrumental he has been in the growth and development of our church. For those newer to FCC, Bill is a lifelong East Tennessean who has been part of our church family for nearly 40 years, serving as an elder for roughly half that time. He and his wonderful wife, Vickie, have faithfully supported and served our church in countless ways, embodying humility, wisdom, and servant leadership.
We also want to express our deep gratitude to John Hamilton, who will be rotating off the Elder Board on Sep 30. John has served FCC with steady, faithful leadership over many years, and we are so thankful for his dedication and heart for this church. To learn more about who qualifies as a voting member, visit fccgreene.org/bylaws. All members 16 years and older who have also completed Next Steps within the past 4 years are eligible to vote. If you still need to complete it, Next Steps meets on Sun, Sep 7, 6–7:30p at Catalyst Coffee Company. Voting will take place online at fccgreene.org/vote through Sun, Sep 28. In-person voting is also available during regular office hours.
An Important Update: Instead of our usual early Spring Team Bash, we’ll be hosting a Fall Vision Potluck on Sun, Nov 9, 2025. At this special event, we’ll still celebrate our amazing volunteers and hand out footballs, but we’ll also take time to look back at what God has done this year, share FCC’s vision for the coming years, and walk through the proposed 2026 budget. As FCC continues to grow and expand to new campuses, we believe it’s more important than ever to come together around our shared mission—to stay unified, connected, and focused on what’s ahead—more details to come.
Please mark your calendar for Sun, Dec 21, 2025. We’re looking forward to once again gathering as one church body for a unified Christmas service at Pioneer Arena on the campus of Tusculum University. It’s always a wonderful time of worship and celebration, and we can’t wait to experience it together again.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you for your continued generosity toward our general fund. God is clearly at work through you, reflecting our 5th Habit—Pursue Generosity. As our church grows—both within our body and in outreach to the community—so do the opportunities and needs to share the Gospel with those around us. We invite you to prayerfully consider your giving in light of God’s abundant grace and provision. Your generosity enables us to accomplish far more together than we ever could alone. It expands the reach of God’s Kingdom—both through the ministries mentioned above and in many quiet, unseen ways—and it reminds us to treasure the gift of salvation we could never earn but freely receive through Jesus Christ.
Your friends and coworkers in ministry,
Carl DelSorbo, John Hamilton, Mark Liebert, Mike Schubert, and Scott Wakefield
The Elders of First Christian Church
Posted in Elders Letter