Elders Letter Sep 2026
Dear Church Family, August 2026
We are grateful for God’s continued faithfulness to First Christian Church and for the many ways He is working through our church family to Help People Find and Follow Jesus. As Elders, we are encouraged by what God is doing among us and excited about the opportunities He has placed before our church. As we look toward the coming months, we want to share several important updates and invite you to pray, participate, and move forward with us in faith.
Vision Bash and Our Fourth Campus
Please mark your calendar for our upcoming Vision Bash on the night of November 8. We believe this gathering will be an important opportunity for our church family to celebrate what God has done, hear more about where He is leading us, and reaffirm the mission and vision we share. We look forward to gathering together and seeking God’s direction for the season ahead.
One of the most significant steps ahead is the planned launch of our fourth campus in February 2027 in the Mosheim community, where we will meet at West Greene High School. Travis Chapman will serve as the Mosheim Campus Pastor and has already been investing heavily in building relationships in the community. We are excited about the opportunity this campus will provide to bring the hope of Christ to more people throughout Greene County.
To support the campus launch and related ministry needs, we will begin a capital campaign at our Vision Bash. Through God’s provision and careful stewardship, $225,000 is already available, leaving $125,000 to be raised to meet our core launch needs. As we look ahead, we will also invite our church family to consider a stretch goal that would allow us to expand our outreach and further support the schools and communities where our campuses meet. We ask each person and family to prayerfully consider how God may be leading you to participate. Additional details about the campaign will be shared at the Vision Bash.
A Clarification About Giving Designations
As we prepare for the capital campaign and other opportunities to give, we also want to clarify how FCC understands giving designations. This is not a new policy or a change in how contributions have been handled, but a clarification of our longstanding practice. When you designate a gift for a particular ministry, project, or purpose, we receive that designation as your request or preference for how you would like the gift to be used, rather than as a restriction on the church’s use of those funds. We will make every reasonable effort to honor those preferences and are grateful for the trust and generosity they represent. At the same time, Scripture gives a helpful example in Acts 4:36–37, where Barnabas sold a field, brought the proceeds, and placed the money at the Apostles’ feet, entrusting them to use it as they deemed best for the needs and mission of the church. In that same spirit, the Elders accept responsibility to steward every gift wisely, prayerfully, and faithfully. When circumstances change, needs are fully met, or another ministry opportunity becomes more pressing, the Elders believe it is important that the church retain the ability to redirect funds as needed to further the mission and ministry God has entrusted to us. This understanding applies to all giving, including gifts given in response to specific requests or capital campaigns. Our desire is always to steward every gift faithfully, prayerfully, and in a way that best advances the mission of FCC.
January 2027 Missions Trip
From January 15–23, 2027, a team from FCC will partner with La Barca Church – Restauración para Vida Nueva to share the love of Christ through children’s ministry, leadership training, medical outreach, construction projects, and community service in Bogotá and La Guajira. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue building on this partnership and to serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Colombia as we seek to make Christ known and serve others in His name. More information will be communicated in the coming weeks about how FCC’ers can participate, support the team and its ministry, and pray for this trip. We encourage our church family to be watching for these opportunities and to join us in praying for the team, our ministry partners, and the people God will place in our path.
Leadership and Staff Updates
Effective October 1, Carl DelSorbo will conclude his service on the Elder Board. He has already transitioned into full-time service as the church’s Executive Director of Operations, and we are deeply thankful for his faithful service as an Elder and for his willingness to use his leadership experience to strengthen our staff, systems, and day-to-day ministry operations. We are grateful that Carl will continue serving FCC in this new capacity.
John Hamilton is being presented to the congregation for another term as an Elder beginning October 1, 2026, subject to the church’s vote of approval in September. John has previously served FCC faithfully as an Elder, serves as a Guest Team Coach at our Greeneville campus, and, with his wife Michelle, serves in a Coach role in the Marriage Ministry. We believe his continued leadership will bless our church.
We are also asking Mark Liebert to serve a second 3-year term as Elder, subject to the church’s vote of approval in September. Mark has also served as an elder for many years, leads a Life Group, and, with his wife Beth Anne, is the Director of the Marriage Ministries at FCC. We are thankful for his willingness to continue serving our church family in this way.
Scott Wakefield’s Sabbatical
Our Lead Pastor, Scott Wakefield, will continue his sabbatical throughout August, September, and October. This time away is intended to further the ministry objectives of the church, strengthen Scott in his personal ministry, and provide opportunity for physical, spiritual, and relational renewal and refreshment. We are thankful for this opportunity for Scott and believe it is important for the health and long-term ministry of both Scott and our church.
Please pray that this time provides Scott with meaningful rest and renewal, and continue praying for his family, our staff, and our ministry leaders as they carry additional responsibilities in his absence. We are grateful for the many people who are faithfully serving during this season.
Church family, we are excited about the opportunities before us, mindful of the responsibility they bring, and confident that God will continue to guide and provide as we seek Him together. As Elders, we ask you to join us in praying for the Vision Bash, the Mosheim campus launch, the capital campaign, the missions trip to Colombia, our leaders and staff, and the people God is already preparing to reach through these ministries. We believe God has us in this season for a purpose, and we are grateful to walk into it together as a church family.
Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity, service, and commitment. We are grateful to serve alongside you and look forward with confidence to what God will continue to do through FCC.
The Elders of First Christian Church
Carl DelSorbo, Mark Liebert, Bill Richards, Mike Schubert, and Scott Wakefield
We are grateful for God’s continued faithfulness to First Christian Church and for the many ways He is working through our church family to Help People Find and Follow Jesus. As Elders, we are encouraged by what God is doing among us and excited about the opportunities He has placed before our church. As we look toward the coming months, we want to share several important updates and invite you to pray, participate, and move forward with us in faith.
Vision Bash and Our Fourth Campus
Please mark your calendar for our upcoming Vision Bash on the night of November 8. We believe this gathering will be an important opportunity for our church family to celebrate what God has done, hear more about where He is leading us, and reaffirm the mission and vision we share. We look forward to gathering together and seeking God’s direction for the season ahead.
One of the most significant steps ahead is the planned launch of our fourth campus in February 2027 in the Mosheim community, where we will meet at West Greene High School. Travis Chapman will serve as the Mosheim Campus Pastor and has already been investing heavily in building relationships in the community. We are excited about the opportunity this campus will provide to bring the hope of Christ to more people throughout Greene County.
To support the campus launch and related ministry needs, we will begin a capital campaign at our Vision Bash. Through God’s provision and careful stewardship, $225,000 is already available, leaving $125,000 to be raised to meet our core launch needs. As we look ahead, we will also invite our church family to consider a stretch goal that would allow us to expand our outreach and further support the schools and communities where our campuses meet. We ask each person and family to prayerfully consider how God may be leading you to participate. Additional details about the campaign will be shared at the Vision Bash.
A Clarification About Giving Designations
As we prepare for the capital campaign and other opportunities to give, we also want to clarify how FCC understands giving designations. This is not a new policy or a change in how contributions have been handled, but a clarification of our longstanding practice. When you designate a gift for a particular ministry, project, or purpose, we receive that designation as your request or preference for how you would like the gift to be used, rather than as a restriction on the church’s use of those funds. We will make every reasonable effort to honor those preferences and are grateful for the trust and generosity they represent. At the same time, Scripture gives a helpful example in Acts 4:36–37, where Barnabas sold a field, brought the proceeds, and placed the money at the Apostles’ feet, entrusting them to use it as they deemed best for the needs and mission of the church. In that same spirit, the Elders accept responsibility to steward every gift wisely, prayerfully, and faithfully. When circumstances change, needs are fully met, or another ministry opportunity becomes more pressing, the Elders believe it is important that the church retain the ability to redirect funds as needed to further the mission and ministry God has entrusted to us. This understanding applies to all giving, including gifts given in response to specific requests or capital campaigns. Our desire is always to steward every gift faithfully, prayerfully, and in a way that best advances the mission of FCC.
January 2027 Missions Trip
From January 15–23, 2027, a team from FCC will partner with La Barca Church – Restauración para Vida Nueva to share the love of Christ through children’s ministry, leadership training, medical outreach, construction projects, and community service in Bogotá and La Guajira. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue building on this partnership and to serve alongside our brothers and sisters in Colombia as we seek to make Christ known and serve others in His name. More information will be communicated in the coming weeks about how FCC’ers can participate, support the team and its ministry, and pray for this trip. We encourage our church family to be watching for these opportunities and to join us in praying for the team, our ministry partners, and the people God will place in our path.
Leadership and Staff Updates
Effective October 1, Carl DelSorbo will conclude his service on the Elder Board. He has already transitioned into full-time service as the church’s Executive Director of Operations, and we are deeply thankful for his faithful service as an Elder and for his willingness to use his leadership experience to strengthen our staff, systems, and day-to-day ministry operations. We are grateful that Carl will continue serving FCC in this new capacity.
John Hamilton is being presented to the congregation for another term as an Elder beginning October 1, 2026, subject to the church’s vote of approval in September. John has previously served FCC faithfully as an Elder, serves as a Guest Team Coach at our Greeneville campus, and, with his wife Michelle, serves in a Coach role in the Marriage Ministry. We believe his continued leadership will bless our church.
We are also asking Mark Liebert to serve a second 3-year term as Elder, subject to the church’s vote of approval in September. Mark has also served as an elder for many years, leads a Life Group, and, with his wife Beth Anne, is the Director of the Marriage Ministries at FCC. We are thankful for his willingness to continue serving our church family in this way.
Scott Wakefield’s Sabbatical
Our Lead Pastor, Scott Wakefield, will continue his sabbatical throughout August, September, and October. This time away is intended to further the ministry objectives of the church, strengthen Scott in his personal ministry, and provide opportunity for physical, spiritual, and relational renewal and refreshment. We are thankful for this opportunity for Scott and believe it is important for the health and long-term ministry of both Scott and our church.
Please pray that this time provides Scott with meaningful rest and renewal, and continue praying for his family, our staff, and our ministry leaders as they carry additional responsibilities in his absence. We are grateful for the many people who are faithfully serving during this season.
Church family, we are excited about the opportunities before us, mindful of the responsibility they bring, and confident that God will continue to guide and provide as we seek Him together. As Elders, we ask you to join us in praying for the Vision Bash, the Mosheim campus launch, the capital campaign, the missions trip to Colombia, our leaders and staff, and the people God is already preparing to reach through these ministries. We believe God has us in this season for a purpose, and we are grateful to walk into it together as a church family.
Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity, service, and commitment. We are grateful to serve alongside you and look forward with confidence to what God will continue to do through FCC.
The Elders of First Christian Church
Carl DelSorbo, Mark Liebert, Bill Richards, Mike Schubert, and Scott Wakefield
Posted in Elders Letter