This December, our entire Next Gen family—Kids, 180 Students, and Pillar Young Adults—is coming together for something we’ve never done before: one big, family-centered FXP Christmas Party!

We know the Christmas season is full of activity, celebration, and opportunities to make memories. This year, we want to create a space where families can slow down, enjoy time together, and be reminded of the hope we have in Christ. And we want to do that together—as one church family, across every age and stage.

We’ll Start the Night Together
At 6:00p, everyone will gather in the Worship Center for a short time of worship led by 180 and Pillar. After singing together, we’ll hear a brief Christmas “sermonette” reminding us why the birth of Jesus truly is good news of great joy for all people.

This shared moment sets the tone for the rest of the evening—families united, celebrating Christ together.

Then the Christmas Fun Begins!
After worship, families will spread out across the building for a mix of activities planned by our Kids, Students, and Young Adult teams. There’s something for every age, including:

• Gingerbread house contest with Pillar leading the creativity
• Bouncy house and free-play rooms for younger kids
• Firepit hangout (weather permitting)
• Hot chocolate, treats, and more
• Family photo wall to capture a memory

It’s the best parts of our typical FXP family experience—just with a whole lot of Christmas added in.

Wear Your Ugly Sweater & Bring the Family
Kids, teens, college students, parents, grandparents—everyone is invited. Wear your best (or worst!) ugly Christmas sweater and come ready for a relaxed, joyful evening together.

This event brings together three ministries that typically function separately—Kids, 180, and Pillar—and creates a night where the whole family experiences something meaningful together. It’s a simple way to strengthen relationships, build community across generations, and celebrate the birth of Jesus with the people you love.

When Volker and Birgit Kemmann first visited FCC's Greeneville Campus, they were greeted by a friendly face: Rick Mearns, who had faithfully served on the Guest Team for many years. Rick immediately made them feel welcome and at home. When they returned the following Sunday, Rick was there once again, and this time, he even remembered how to pronounce their names correctly. That simple gesture meant so much to the Kemmanns. They felt seen, known, and valued.

In 2022, Volker, Birgit, Rick, and his wife Karen were all part of the South Greene Campus launch. Today, all three faithfully serve on the Guest Team, extending that same warmth and hospitality to others who walk through FCC's doors.

Over the past several months, Rick has been spending time in Alabama caring for his aging parents. While grateful to be there for his family, he has deeply missed his FCC church family.

A few weeks ago, Rick's father passed away. When Birgit learned about the funeral, which would take place nearly eight hours away in Alabama, she suggested to Volker that they make the trip to support Rick and his wife, Karen, during this difficult time.

Without hesitation, they made the long journey to be there for their friends.

During the visit, Volker and Birgit had the opportunity to meet Rick's family and share how much his kindness had meant to them when they first visited FCC. Rick later reflected, "It was nice for my family to hear that I am serving my church and helping others become comfortable so they can hear the Word of God."

Rick also shared how much it meant to look up during such a difficult time and see familiar faces from home.

It was a beautiful full-circle moment. Years earlier, Rick had been the first friendly face to welcome Volker and Birgit into an unfamiliar church. Now, when Rick was far from home and walking through a season of grief, Volker and Birgit were the familiar faces showing up for him.

What began as a simple act of hospitality grew into a friendship rooted in Christ's love.

This is what it means to be the church. Sometimes it looks like greeting someone at the door, remembering their name, and helping them feel at home. Other times, it looks like driving eight hours to sit beside a grieving friend.

Both remind us that the love we extend to others has a way of coming full circle.

The Boat Keeps Moving: God at Work through La Barca
When a church sends a team across borders, the most meaningful impact often continues long after the team returns home. That is what we are seeing through La Barca—the Boat Church—in Bogotá. God is strengthening local believers, equipping leaders, and helping the good news of Jesus travel farther through the faithful work of Colombian Christians.

Learning to lead like Jesus –
Paola and Andrés are young adults from another church in Bogotá who have a heart to serve and strengthen the local church. Like many believers, they have seen the hurt that can come when pastoral authority is used harshly. During a recent mission trip, they joined teaching based on Paul David Tripp’s book Lead, which calls pastors to serve and shepherd their congregations with humility.

The lessons did not end with the mission trip. Paola and Andrés have been sharing what they learned with people in their own church, and their teaching has been warmly received. It is encouraging to see brothers and sisters take what they have learned and pass it on.

Equipping the next generation –
Michael Schubert, FCC’s Kids Ministry Director, joined the January 2026 team and helped equip La Barca’s children’s ministry leaders with books and curriculum. Since then, the church has translated the materials and begun using them in its Sunday gatherings. Resources shared during a short visit are now helping local leaders teach children week after week.

Taking biblical teaching to the Wayuu –
Our partnership has also grown through relationships with Wayuu pastors in La Guajira, the northern region of Colombia where the Wayuu people are indigenous. Three years ago, the Wayuu received Scripture in their own language, Wayuunaiki. Pastor Fabián, a Colombian pastor serving in a major city in La Guajira, has spent years traveling to remote villages to encourage pastors and share the gospel.

Through his relationship with leaders at La Barca, Wayuu pastors have joined the theological teaching offered by our teams over the past two years. They have recorded the lectures, translated them into Wayuunaiki, and taught the material in Wayuu communities throughout the year. What begins as a week of teaching is becoming a resource local pastors can continue to share in the language closest to their people.

A growing devotion to the Lord –
Wendy is a single mother living in Soacha, an impoverished area where Gospel-centered churches are scarce. Her daughter needs frequent medical care, and Wendy travels to Bogotá several times each week for appointments. La Barca has served families in Soacha for years, providing care and supplies to single mothers. Although the trip takes about two hours and the cost is difficult to manage, Wendy makes the journey to worship with La Barca each Sunday. The church has raised funds to help cover her weekly travel.

During the last mission trip, a team member gave Wendy a 365-day devotional and encouraged her to use it to grow in her walk with the Lord. She now spends some of those long travel hours reading and reflecting on Scripture. It is a small, steady picture of God using his people to encourage faith.

Our next opportunity to serve –
From January 15–23, 2027, FCC will return to Colombia in partnership with five churches. One team will serve alongside La Barca in Bogotá, while another will minister in La Guajira. Both teams will provide theological teaching and host a children’s VBS. In Bogotá, the teaching will also include a women’s session. In La Guajira, the team plans to provide medical care and build thatched-roof shelters for two churches that currently meet beneath a tree.

Please pray for the churches, pastors, children, and families who will take part. Ask the Lord to strengthen La Barca and its ministry partners, to make the teaching fruitful, and to help many Colombians find and follow Jesus. We are grateful that the Lord is using this partnership to build up His church—and that the work continues in the hands of local believers long after a mission team comes home.

To learn more about La Barca’s recent work in earthquake-ravaged areas and learn more about their ministry and outreach in Bogotá, click here.

On August 31, 162 FCCers gathered at Wetlands Water Park for our latest FXP (Family Experience), enjoying an afternoon of fun, fellowship, and connection. FXP events are designed to provide simple opportunities for families to build relationships, strengthen friendships, and make lasting memories together.

Kids Ministry Director Michael Shubert shared, “It was nice to see the kids having a great time while the parents chatted with each other. The biggest win was that it accomplished our church goal of providing a place for families to interact with each other as a family.”

Families especially appreciated the simplicity and affordability of the event, along with the opportunity to connect with others in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Josh and Kim Fisher, who attend our Greeneville campus, joined in the fun with their twin daughters, Cara and Laura. The girls loved spending time with friends and racing down the water slides, while their parents enjoyed a chance to slow down and connect. Kim described it as “a special treat to be able to sit back and watch the kids play while having relaxed conversations with friends.”

Fellow Greeneville campus attendee Becca Hochhalter echoed that sentiment, sharing, “I love that I saw familiar faces; my kids enjoyed seeing their church friends. I got to talk and interact more with my congregation than I normally do.”

For Jonathan Kirk of our South Greene campus, who attended with his eleven-year-old daughter, Anastasia, the afternoon even included some unexpected theological conversation! Jonathan recalled, “I remember having a good conversation with a guy about apologetics. We were having fun, making friends, and discussing theology poolside. What's not to love about that!”

From splashing down water slides to meaningful conversations poolside, the afternoon was a wonderful reminder that building community doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, all it takes is a little time together, a welcoming atmosphere, and a chance to enjoy one another's company.

On October 2–3, First Christian Church hosted a special weekend just for the ladies! Approximately 65 women gathered in the sanctuary at FCC’s Greeneville campus on Friday evening for a time of spiritual growth, encouragement, and fellowship.

The weekend kicked off with a delicious dinner, followed by a teaching session led by FCC’s own Sonya Higgs entitled “Abiding in Christ.” Afterward, the ladies enjoyed dessert, coffee, games, and plenty of laughter as they spent time connecting with old friends and making new ones.

Saturday morning began bright and early with breakfast at 8 a.m. Sonya returned for another meaningful session, “Meditating on the Word,” followed by Wendi Kitsteiner, who shared how she uses The James Method to deepen her personal Bible study and take meaningful notes during church services.

One of the highlights of the day was a panel discussion featuring women from various stages of life, including single women, mothers of young children, mothers of teenagers, empty nesters, and seniors. Each woman shared what “abiding in Christ” looks like in her current season of life, offering encouragement and reminding those in attendance that, while their circumstances may differ, their need to remain rooted in Christ is the same.
Before gathering for the final session, “The Fruit That It Produces,” the ladies enjoyed a few hours of unstructured time. Some chose to color, journal, or knit, while others simply relaxed and caught up with friends. It was a welcome opportunity to slow down and enjoy being together.

Longtime FCC member Christie Ward, who also participated in the panel discussion, reflected on the weekend with gratitude.

“The ladies' retreat was a sweet time of learning to abide in the Lord. We had yummy food, a wonderful time of worship, and fun games with lots of laughs. I also enjoyed seeing and meeting women from the different campuses.”

Mary Kitsteiner, who attends a small country church in Bulls Gap, joined the retreat with her daughter-in-law, Wendi, and was equally enthusiastic about the experience.

“What a joy it was to attend the Women’s Retreat! Everything was so well prepared and thoughtfully done, time just flew by.”

Mary continued, “The teaching was fantastic, and the worship was meaningful and perfect for the topic, and the panel was a great way to show how all of our experiences bind us together. Thank you for all the effort that went into the planning for this very special event. It truly was a wonderful time of fellowship, fun, and ‘feasting.’”

Throughout the weekend, one message remained at the heart of every session and conversation: no matter what season of life we find ourselves in, we are called to abide in Christ. The retreat offered women a chance to step away from their busy schedules, deepen their faith, and strengthen friendships across FCC’s campuses.
It was a weekend filled with meaningful teaching, heartfelt worship, sweet fellowship, and the simple joy of being together as sisters in Christ.

My name is Kellie Coakley, and I have found a new life in Christ. My sin struggles are control, idolatry, manipulation, resentment, and pornography.

My testimony is one that began back when I was a small child. As the daughter of a Pastor, my family practically lived in the Church. Our weeks consisted of fellowship gatherings, dinners with family, and worship every weekend. Our church was a lively environment with the Holy Spirit moving in our congregation for hours on end. As a child, the focus wasn’t really on teaching us how to form a relationship with God, but was instead more tailored to discipline and following a strict rule book on the do’s and don’ts of what our Church felt made a good Christian.

For instance, we never cut our hair, wore pants or shorts, and we were not allowed to participate in sports. We lived as a tight-knit community, but outsiders were never quite welcome, and our Church didn’t open the doors to receive those they felt weren’t living a good Christian life. As a result, I felt segregated from the rest of the world and all the experiences and relationships it had to offer. We were taught the sins of the flesh and punished severely if we stepped out of line. This bred resentment and rebellion within me from a very early age. I began to associate religion with all the negative aspects of my life. It relegated my early childhood years to a life of living on the outside, apart from those I went to school with and those that lived in our neighborhood.

Early into my teenage years, my father separated from the Church, and we moved thousands of miles away from everything I grew up with, and the only family I had ever known. The move introduced an entirely new lifestyle, along with a multitude of freedoms I had never been exposed to. I was finally allowed to participate in sports and horseback riding, and I began to see what all I had been missing out on. But the resentment continued to fester, and the rebellion only worsened as I began to shift the blame from the Church to my parents. I felt they had unfairly subjected us to a lifestyle that was apart from the rest of the world, essentially blocking us from what I felt, at the time, should never have been condemned in the name of religion.

I began to party, my grades plummeted, and my life fell apart. Eventually, we moved back, but the damage was done. I had a hatred for religion that I couldn’t explain and a disconnect with my parents that seemed insurmountable. I moved out of the house when I was seventeen, continued partying, smoking weed, and drinking with my friends. I found comfort in the numbness. I found love, or what I thought was love, in friends that were struggling with their own lives as we bonded over past traumas. This continued throughout my teenage years but that came to a screeching halt after I graduated High School.
Shortly after graduating, I met a man that I later married, and I got pregnant with my first child at the age of eighteen. My husband at the time couldn’t hold down a job, was verbally and physically abusive, and I didn’t know how to cope with being a new mom and a wife at the same time. I hid the abuse from those around me and pretended as if nothing was wrong, all the while my self-esteem plummeted, and my self-worth became entwined with the words of my abuser. I felt I had no value, and I was failing my son daily. So, I worked and tried to find my worth, my value, in my job.

Eventually though, my marriage fell apart. I could no longer mask what was shredding me from the inside out. I was hollowed out from years of verbal and physical abuse and didn’t even recognize who I was anymore. So, I filed for divorce and began the excruciating process of trying to rebuild my life as a single mother with a three-year-old child.
I turned back to partying, leaving my son with my parents whenever possible so that I could escape the reality of the mess that was my life. Bill collectors called every day, and my finances were a complete disaster. After years of falling behind and struggling to make ends meet, it all unraveled, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t fix it.

I moved back in with my parents, started dating the wrong kind of men, and lost myself in weed and alcohol. I thought if I could just experience everything religion and my parents had kept from me, that I would feel whole again and be the mother my son needed me to be. But even parenting became a chore. I was stressed out, short with my son, and had no idea what I needed to do to fix the situation.

Months later, I met a guy at work who was a complete disaster, and for some reason I thought I could fix him. I could make him love me. I honestly don’t know what possessed me to start dating him. His finances were as bad as mine, and his partying was far worse than mine. Not to mention, he had no kids and was living the bachelor's life. But something drew me to him, and I began to fall in love. He was amazing with my son and quickly gave up his partying to spend time with the two of us. We dated for a year or so and my son and I moved in with him. About a year later, we got married, and shortly after, we became pregnant with my second son.

I thought I had finally pulled my life together, but even with the love of a good husband and two beautiful boys, I was still struggling to find my worth, my purpose, and to fill the void I had constantly waged war against since I was a child. I went back to school, got my degrees, and had a successful career, but nothing fixed my struggles. My sin followed me no matter what I did. I lived beyond my means, began reading and writing books that were filled with pornographic content, and continued to numb my emotions any way I could. Escapism became my norm. If I wanted it, I bought it. If I couldn’t handle the burdens laid upon me, I resented everything and anyone that I held responsible for putting me in the position I was in. It caused tension in my marriage. My husband couldn’t live up to the fictional characters I read and wrote about. My life never measured up to what I thought the definition of success was. I idolized all the things in the world that were never meant or needed to be in my life.

Before I knew it, my boys were raised and had left the house, and that’s when my focus turned on myself. Without the focus of raising kids, I began to reflect on myself and my shortcomings. I didn’t like the woman I had become, and I could no longer blame anyone but myself. My mistakes and sins were my own to reconcile. My oldest got married, and his wife was deeply religious. At first, this caused a rift between us. As my old resentment resurfaced, I began to blame her beliefs for the tension between my son and me. This didn’t resolve itself right away…nothing ever does. It took time, years in fact, but I began to see that there was a common denominator to my issues….ME!

The key turning point for me was when Charlie Kirk was assassinated. I watched his wife give a speech to millions of viewers with a stoicism I couldn’t fathom. Her faith was onstage and visible for anyone with eyes to see. She was strong, committed, and unrepentant in her love of God. And the day she forgave her husband’s murderer, I felt something shift within me. I wanted that kind of peace, resolve, and unwavering faith. I wanted that kind of undeniable self-worth and to know that I was loved beyond measure by a God that would never leave my side. So, I began purging the sin from my life. I gave up my books, cut out cursing, and pursued something that I couldn’t even begin to grasp at the time, but I knew I hungered for it with an insatiable appetite. I wanted Christ in my life.

The Holy Spirit took root in my heart, mind, and soul, and by the grace of God, I accepted it. I yearned for it each and every day. I became addicted to the feeling that the light of the Holy Spirit filled me with. I began going to church with my son and daughter-in-law. I started attending regularly and making friends within our church. I signed up for the “Open Your Eyes” program and began to read the Word of God. I can’t explain the way this turned my life around, but all I knew was that I couldn’t get close enough to God to appease the hunger within me. A few months in, I decided it was time to fully commit and turn my life over to God. I asked my son if he would baptize me, and with the support of our Pastor, we made it happen. The church accepted me with open arms. The congregation was warm, friendly, and the light of their faith was a beacon to my weary soul. I had found it….the void the darkness had constantly created was now brimming with light, and I was no longer empty, but overflowing with the light, love, and acceptance of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God had delivered me from all my sins and had irrevocably changed my life.

I began to forgive, with an ease that never came to me before, those I had always thought were the root of my issues. The blindfold that had me walking through life in a fog was lifted, and I saw the devil's hand at work in others and knew that I had once been standing exactly where they were. The closer I grow to God, the stronger my devotion becomes to remain there. I never want to live the life I gave up the day I was baptized. It may sound cliché, but I firmly believe I died that day and was made anew with God's love.

I’m not perfect, but I am forgiven, and that gives me the strength to overcome anything by God’s will. Every day I work to be closer to God, and that requires growth, being uncomfortable in my own skin, and setting myself apart from the world and its sins. I no longer begrudge this but embrace it with a fervor that burns within. God is so good, and by His glory and grace, I strive to surrender to His will. I don’t know what His plans are for me, but I know that I will surrender and serve my God until my dying day. For the blood of Christ has redeemed me in a way I could never earn or achieve myself. It’s through Him that I am found, and through His mercy and grace that I am forgiven. Praise the Lord, for I am whole again.

There’s a lot to celebrate at FCC—and a lot to look forward to!

On Sunday, November 8, from 5–7:30p at Chuckey-Doak High School, our entire church family will come together for Vision Night. It will be an evening of good food, fun, celebration, and a chance to look together at where God is leading FCC in the year ahead.

Throughout the night, we’ll:

• Celebrate the many volunteers who faithfully serve across FCC.
• Look back at some of the ways God has been at work in our church and community this year.
• Begin sharing the vision for FCC’s fourth campus and what it will take to launch well.
• Look ahead at some important next steps for our church, including the beginning of a capital campaign.
• Spend time together as one church family, united around the mission of Helping People Find and Follow Jesus.

We’ll also give out new FCC T-shirts as we celebrate what God is doing and begin planning to launch a fourth campus.

Make plans to join us for one of the most important all-church gatherings of the year. We want our whole church family there as we celebrate, hear the vision, and look ahead together at what’s next for FCC.

We will provide childcare for children through Pre-K. Elementary-age children will stay with their parents and join the evening.

College students and young adults in your twenties—this is your invitation to kick off the new year with us at CrossCon! Spend December 30 through January 3rd growing in Christ and discovering how God can use your life for missional impact—to BE a PILLAR of faith.

When: Wed - Sun, Dec 30–Jan 3
Where: St Louis, MO
Who: College Students and Young Adults in their twenties
Cost: $300 per person (before Oct 13) / $320 after early bird (Oct 13)
Theme: This Day, That Day.

We are not promised tomorrow.

We are given this day—and then that day when we stand before Him.

So we begin where everything ends.
When we gather in St Louis, in our first moments together, we will fix our eyes on the inescapable realities every human being will face: the judgment of God and eternity—either with Him in unending joy, or without Him in unfathomable loss.

From there, over the next two days, we will ask the unavoidable question: How then shall we live?  If God is infinitely holy, if the future is infinitely long, and if this brief life is the decisive prelude to everlasting joy or sorrow, then every day matters.

God calls us to live intentionally—to live for glory that lasts. We're called to savor this day as a gift of mercy, and to shape every choice in light of that Day, when we will see Him face to face.

Learn what it means to make your life count and make His name known.
Cost shouldn’t keep you from this life-changing experience. If finances are a concern, please reach out to David (Young Adults Director)—we would love to help.

Grab the family and get ready for an adventure! Our next Family eXPerience is a Downtown Scavenger Hunt on Sat, Oct 24 at 10a.

FXP is all about bringing families together for some fun and creating opportunities to enjoy time with one another. This time, we’re heading downtown!

Your family will explore downtown together, hunt for clues, and see some familiar places in a whole new way. Whether your family is naturally competitive or you just want to enjoy the adventure, it’ll be a fun morning to get out of the house, laugh together, and make some memories.

So gather your crew, put on your walking shoes, and come ready to have fun!

FXP: Downtown Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, October 24, 10a
Meetup is behind the Library - Downtown Greeneville

Note: After the scavenger hunt, enjoy time with your family at the Appalachian Autumn Festival. Plan a few extra minutes to find parking downtown.

No need to register. Just show up on Saturday! 

Every year, FCC hosts a Disciple Now (DNOW) Conference—a weekend designed to help students in grades 6–12 grow as disciples of Jesus through worship, the authority of Scripture, and living on mission.

This year’s DNOW, Fri-Sun, Nov 13-15, will focus on the heart of Worship! Our prayer is that students will understand what worship is and build a firm foundation and focus for their worship!

Register by October 1 to get a $10 discount. Use promo code: EARLY

The weekend includes soul-stirring worship, biblical teaching, fun activities, and opportunities to serve. Students will meet for large-group sessions at the church, stay two nights in grade- and gender-specific host homes, and on Sunday serve and worship at one of our FCC campuses. (Small-group leaders will select the campus. Parents will be notified before the event which campus their student will attend. Most groups will be encouraged to attend one of our portable campuses—South Greene or Afton.)

Pickup: Parents will pick up their student(s) at their respective campus at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. You’ll receive campus details ahead of the conference.

The cost is $80 per student, which covers the conference, t-shirt, notebook, meals (except Saturday's dinner, which is a group outing), and all activities.

Don’t miss this soul-shaping weekend!