Our Church History |
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Living Word was established when several people came to this area who were members of the church body called the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Since the closest WELS congregation was Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran in Knoxville, the pastor traveled here once a month to lead a worship service. The congregation gathered in members’ homes, and as the group grew, we began to meet twice a month. Eventually we grew large enough that we began renting a room in the Jonesborough Visitor's Center. This arrangement, however, was not the most effective way to reach out with the Gospel. We approached the WELS Board for Home Missions, who were excited by the dedication of this small group of people and by the prospects of our growing community. The Board agreed to financially support a new mission in the Tri-Cities area, and Pastor Thomas Kock became the first full-time, on-sight pastor in July 1992. Growth! When Pastor Kock and his family arrived, the congregation, consulting regularly with the Home Mission Board, laid plans for the future. A name was chosen - Living Word Lutheran Church - and we got to work. We wanted to let as many people as possible know about the new congregation, and to touch their lives with the good news that Jesus is their Savior. Without a facility of our own, we were compelled to rent one. We preferred to meet in a well-known facility, so that directions could be easily given. A workable situation was found with the Johnson City Seventh-Day Adventist congregation. Since the Adventists worship on Saturdays, their facility was available for Sundays, and they agreed to rent us a portion of their facility for our Sunday School and worship needs. Because the sanctuary was too large for our group, we used the fellowship hall for both Sunday school and worship. So the stage was set, and March 21, 1993 – the date set for our opening service – arrived. Seventy-two people came for worship, a few were from Shepherd of the Hills in Knoxville, some were simply curious, and some were interested in becoming more involved. Our Sunday School program began several weeks later, and from that time on, we’ve held worship and Sunday School each week. In May of 1994 Living Word purchased a split-foyer parsonage. Pastor Kock and his family live there, and it has both an office area and a large room which serves as a classroom and fellowship area. Aggressively reaching out with the Word of God continued to bring positive results. Our membership grew steadily and soon we found we needed more room for our Sunday School and worship, so in June of 1998, we began renting the Seventh Day Adventist sanctuary area as well as two more rooms for children’s Sunday School. In July of 2000 Living Word purchased 4.5 acres on the Kingsport Highway, purchasing it from White's Foods for $350,000. Since we pretty well drained our building fund buying the land, it was a couple years before we could seriously consider building. When the required down payment was made to the Church Extension Fund (CEF), the grading work began, in fall of 2003. An extremely wet fall/winter led to months of delay, so the pad wasn't able to be poured until late spring of 2004. Work progressed rather steadily since then, and we were blessed with a contractor (Rick and Larry Sangid) who allowed us do some work ourselves. So, the congregation held workdays almost every Saturday - and many Sundays, too - since the beginning of February, 2005, with the resulting building before you today. We began worshiping every Sunday on the last Sunday in May of 2005, held Dedication Sunday on June 19th, with a Grand Opening weekend being held September 10-11.Today … and tomorrow! Where are we now? Having started with such humble beginnings Living Word has now grown to more than 165 members. Ministry opportunities have continued to grow as well; we now offer a full slate of Sunday School opportunities, mid-week Bible Studies, youth instruction classes, children's and youth fellowship activities, congregational fellowship activities, men's and women's group, a home Bible study group, English-Second-Language classes, etc. And the future? It's exciting! We've begun exploring the possibility of beginning a pre-school, or adding staff. Eventually Living Word plans to begin daughter congregations in other areas in upper east Tennessee. In short, a gracious God has blessed us richly in the past, and we're fully convinced that He will continue to bless us in the future! Come, grow with us! We're makin' a difference! Come! Grow with us! |
