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 Saturday, October 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
10 a.m.
Meet in the parking lot of First Baptist Church - Downtown Greenville

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!

On August 10, 2026, a powerful earthquake struck Colombia’s Pacific coast, leaving families without homes, people injured, and an entire community facing fear, loss, and uncertainty. As cities across the country began collecting food, medicine, hygiene supplies, and other necessities, the church we partner with in Colombia, La Barca Church, could not simply stand by.

They opened their doors as a collection center. First Christian Church donated $1,100, and in just five days, La Barca Church collected approximately seven tons of supplies.
Every bag of food, every mattress, and every donation represented more than an item. It was a way of telling someone miles away, “You are not alone.”

But as the donations kept coming, they also realized that the people affected needed someone to listen. They prayed together as a team and decided to go to Puerto Meluk and be with the people.

Puerto Meluk, in Medio Baudó, Chocó, is one of those places in Colombia that few people ever reach. Access is difficult; some communities can only be reached by river, and the presence of illegal armed groups makes the journey one that many people simply do not want to take.

Once there, the local school became their base. Members of La Barca Church spent time with children, teenagers, and teachers, leading workshops and sharing the gospel. Hearing what they had experienced during the earthquake was difficult. Some had lost their homes. Others had lost family members. Many were still afraid when they talked about what had happened. However, in the middle of those difficult conversations, they were able to share the peace and hope found in Jesus.

During those days, La Barca distributed 150 food packages to families in the community and 70 to the school’s teachers. The remaining supplies were sent to Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities throughout Alto and Bajo Baudó, along the river.

One of the days was incredibly hot. The humidity was intense and, as often happens in the community, the power went out. Church members explained that sometimes the community can go as long as three days without electricity. No fans. No easy access to cold water. The simplest things we take for granted suddenly had a completely different meaning.
Then, just before the team was about to head back to their hotel, the power came back on. The entire school celebrated. The teachers explained that this is normal. Everyone feels a huge sense of relief when the electricity returns.

When it was time to say goodbye, there were many hugs and many thank-yous. On the way back, La Barca Church members had plenty of time to think about and process everything they had experienced. They came to the same conclusion: they did not want their relationship with Puerto Meluk to end with this earthquake.

So they will keep praying. Keep serving. Keep building relationships. And they will continue looking for ways to support these communities spiritually, medically, psychologically, and socially.

What began as a response to an earthquake has now opened the door to something more: an ongoing relationship with a community La Barca Church hopes to continue loving and serving in the name of Jesus.

On Aug. 18, Pillar celebrated five years of ministry! Nearly 50 people gathered for the occasion, and it was a joy to celebrate all that God has done through this beloved community.

Over the past five years, approximately 500 different people have visited Pillar, with more than 200 attending in the last year alone. Today, Pillar averages about 40 people each week. Even more exciting, 38 adults who have attended Pillar have taken the next step of placing membership or being baptized.

During the celebration, Pillar also recognized faithful attendee Kaylee Brooks and the way she has embodied what it means to be a “pillar of the truth” this year. Kaylee is there week in and week out—making coffee, leading breakouts, and welcoming others with a bright smile. She also pours into the members of her group beyond Tuesday nights, intentionally connecting with them throughout the week.

Pillar’s mission is Helping Young Adults Find and Follow Jesus, and perhaps the best way to see that mission in action is through the lives of the young adults who call Pillar home. During the celebration, three people shared their testimonies, including Allie Loveless, who shared how God has used Pillar in her own life. Below is an excerpt from her testimony:

"When I first started coming, I really didn't know what God was going to do with it. I thought I was just walking into a young adults group on Tuesday nights, but God knew that I needed community. He knew I needed people who would pray for me, encourage me, challenge me, and point me back to Him.

This past year hasn't necessarily been an easy year in every area of my life. God has had me face things within myself—things like pride, anger, my self-worth, wanting to have control, and learning how to surrender things to Him when I don't understand what He's doing. And one of the biggest things He keeps teaching me is that my identity has to be found in Christ.

Pillar has given me a place where I've been able to grow in that. I've learned that following Jesus doesn't mean you have everything figured out. Sometimes it looks like showing up and saying, "God, I don't know what You're doing, but I'm going to trust You anyway."
And probably one of the most unexpected parts of this year has been getting the opportunity to serve the girls here. Because I came into Pillar needing people to pour into me, and somehow, in less than a year, God has already started allowing me to turn around and pour into somebody else. That has taught me something I don't think I'll ever forget: God doesn't waste anything. He can take things you've struggled with, things He's taught you, and even seasons that you didn't understand while you were walking through them, and use them to help you love somebody else better."

Five years, hundreds of young adults, and countless stories of God at work. We are so thankful for the ways God has used Pillar in Allie’s life and in the lives of so many others. We look forward to seeing how He continues to use this ministry to Help Young Adults Find And Follow Jesus in the years to come!

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

The FCC Church Leadership Residency (CLR) is designed to develop strong local church ministry leaders in four areas: Biblical Discipleship, Practical Ministry, Personal Mentoring, and Vibrant Community.

Residents are invited into FCC’s staff culture and ministry systems, with nearly every environment and team serving as a place to discern gifts, develop leadership, and gain hands-on ministry experience. The program is open to anyone who wants to grow as a member of the body, explore a possible call to vocational ministry, or prepare for full-time ministry.

For Ally Loveless, joining Residents was about growing deeper in her relationship with Jesus and learning to put her faith into practice.

“Through Residents, I’ve learned how important it is to be gospel fluent, live in community, and speak the truth of Jesus into the everyday situations and relationships around me,” Ally shared. “It’s equipping me to be more confident in sharing my faith, encouraging others, and allowing God to use my story and what He has taught me to serve others wherever He calls me.”

Another Resident, Tyler Brinegar, joined the program because he wanted to grow in personal discipline and leadership.

“I learned that ‘you become what you worship,’” Tyler shared. “What you read, watch, or give your attention to inevitably molds you, for better or worse. All Christians are leaders, which means how we carry ourselves has influence on everyone in our lives.”

The Residency can be tailored to each participant based on individual goals and interests, determined through an interview with Residents Director Travis Chapman. FCC has also partnered with Longview Ranch and its Live Bold Interns, giving Residents additional opportunities to serve, lead, and learn alongside experienced ministry leaders.

Residents participate in weekly, intentional one-on-one mentoring meetings with FCC pastors and staff. Their learning also includes cohort meals, shared projects, conferences and retreats, book discussions, life-on-life hospitality, conflict resolution training, and practical ministry experience.

For Tyler, those experiences have helped shape not only the kind of leader he wants to be, but the kind of life he wants to build.

“I want to build my life on Christ, taking care how I build (1 Cor. 3:10), such that my manner of life is worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27), and that those around me are led to Jesus.”
Whether God calls a Resident into full-time ministry or faithful service in another vocation, the goal is the same: to help develop disciples who know Jesus deeply, lead faithfully, and use what God has given them to serve others and point people to Him.

Whether God calls a Resident into full-time ministry or faithful service in another vocation, the goal is the same: to help develop disciples who know Jesus deeply, lead faithfully, and use what God has given them to serve others and point people to Him.

John Hamilton is being presented to the congregation for another term as an Elder beginning Oct 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 be a blessing to 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 a Director of Marriage Ministries at FCC. We are thankful for his willingness to continue serving our church family in this way.

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 6, 5:30–7p at Catalyst Coffee Company.

Voting will take place through Sun, Sep 27. In-person voting is also available during regular office hours.

Current Elders: Carl DelSorbo, Mark Liebert, Mike Schubert, Bill Richards, and Scott Wakefield. If you have any questions, talk to one of the Elders or Pastors.

What can spare change really do? At First Christian Church (FCC), the answer is—a lot!

Each May and June, FCC partners with the Hope Center in Greeneville for its annual Baby Bottle Campaign, a simple but powerful way to support women and families facing unplanned pregnancies. FCC families take home empty baby bottles and return them a few weeks later filled with generosity—and, hopefully, plenty of loose change! This year, those bottles came back clinking with compassion.

Together, FCC members raised an incredible $6,064.01—nearly $1,500 more than last year!

That total is a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a church family comes together behind a meaningful cause. Even more exciting, churches throughout the community collectively raised more than $33,000 for the Hope Center.

The Hope Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides essential resources to individuals navigating the uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy. Through pregnancy testing, counseling, education, and compassionate support, the Hope Center staff walks alongside every woman and man who comes through its doors. All services are confidential and completely free.

According to Executive Director Brittany Adams, the Baby Bottle Campaign plays a vital role in keeping these services available. The funds help cover the Hope Center’s daily operations and support Honeysuckle Studios, a housing program that gives pregnant women and new mothers a safe place to land, regain stability, and begin rebuilding their lives.

A bottle filled with coins may seem like a small offering, but when a church—and an entire community—gives together, that spare change can help change lives.
The Hope Center is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday, October 2–3, for a special Women’s Weekend at the Greeneville Campus!

Life can feel full—full schedules, full responsibilities, and plenty of things competing for our attention. During Women’s Weekend, we’ll spend time together in God’s Word, worship, and fellowship as we consider what it means to abide in Christ—not simply adding one more thing to our already-full lives, but learning to remain in and depend on Jesus.

We’ll begin Friday evening with dinner together, followed by worship, teaching from John 15, and time to reflect and pray with other women. Afterward, stick around for dessert, games, coffee, conversation, and plenty of time to simply enjoy being together.

Saturday will include more time in God’s Word, practical encouragement for abiding in Christ through different seasons of life, Bible study tools you can take home with you, and an afternoon set aside for fun, creativity, and connection. We’ll wrap up our weekend by looking at the fruit that abiding in Christ produces in our lives.

Weekend Schedule
Friday, October 2
6:00 p.m. – Dinner
7:00 p.m. – Session One: Abiding in Christ
8:30 p.m. – Dessert, Games, Coffee & Fellowship

Saturday, October 3
8:00 a.m. – Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – Morning Session: Meditating on the Word
10:15 a.m. – Abiding Through Different Stages of Life
11:00 a.m. – Bible Study: Verse Mapping
11:45 a.m. – Lunch
12:30–2:30 p.m. – Afternoon Activities & Free Time

Choose how you’d like to spend the afternoon! Options will include things like mini golf, crafts and coloring, Bible art and journaling, manicures, games and puzzles, or simply sitting and catching up with friends. Some activities will have a small additional cost.

2:30 p.m. – Final Session: The Fruit That It Produces
4:00 p.m. – Weekend Concludes

Whether you’re in the middle of raising little ones, navigating the teenage years, enjoying an empty nest, caring for others, or somewhere in between, we hope you’ll join us. Come spend a weekend slowing down, opening God’s Word, connecting with other women, and learning together what it looks like to abide in Christ.

“You don’t stumble upon great Christian community; you create it.”

This is a common statement around First Christian Church because we truly believe that connecting with a small group is essential to building healthy, lasting relationships with other believers. These relationships help create the God-designed environment of connection and care that we all need.

Creating great Christian community requires the personal investment of consistent connection. That is how Life Groups become communities of care where people can grow in their faith and walk through life together.

Life Groups are sermon-based, campus-specific small groups of approximately 6–12 people. They meet weekly in participants’ homes to build relationships, study God’s Word, and pray for one another.

Mike and Debbie Mather have led a Life Group for the past eight years. Mike describes a Life Group as “Sunday school on steroids.”

“The Life Group structure creates a hard-to-find opportunity to develop deep and meaningful relationships and community,” Mike explained. “Like other godly pursuits, the more you put into your Life Group, the more you benefit. Our Life Group truly enriches our lives.”

Debbie agrees. “We’ve been blessed by the friendships we have developed over the years, and we have enjoyed sharing our Christian journey through life’s many praises and prayers. It is good to have brothers and sisters to walk through life with!”

Linda Crump is one of the group’s faithful members.
“Jimmy and I have been part of the Mathers’ Life Group for several years. We are so blessed to have these people in our lives and to be part of this group. Mike and Debbie are wonderful leaders who truly love the Lord and want all of us to remain focused on His Word and grow together in our faith. We can be open and honest about our struggles without feeling judged. Being part of this group has also helped us feel more connected to our church.”

Kristie Wilhoit also shared about their group, "Our life group is important to us to navigate daily Christian life with other believers in an otherwise dark world. We love the fellowship and the prayers and support we receive."

Are you ready to take your next step toward deeper connection at FCC? Let us know through the Connect Card you receive each Sunday or complete the card in the FCC app. Once we hear from you, Life Groups Director Chris Oaks or your campus pastor will contact you and help you find the right group.