• Dunlap, TN
• Tiftonia, TN
• Ringgold, GA

Rural Church Development

Rev. Corey Pelton

Southern Appalachia
Rural Church Development Website

A PCA pastor for 25+ years, Corey Pelton has been called to the unique role of rural church developer. Similar to the apostle Paul’s work and the Methodist circuit riders, Corey is seeding church plants all along the Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia borders.

Small mountain towns in southern Appalachia need the gospel, but they are often overlooked. Through this initiative, we hope to bring robust, grace-filled theology to people in easily isolated areas. Key to the success of the plants, local leaders are one of Corey’s main focuses. As he travels across the region, Corey will get to know each community and work with local leaders.

Redeemer Athens

Rev. Curt Stapleton

Athens, TN
Redeemer Athens Website

Curt planted a church in Morgantown, WV where he faithfully served for thirteen years before returning to his home region of Eastern Tennessee to plant Redeemer Presbyterian. His mission is to reach the Athens and McMinn County areas with the gospel of Jesus. His youngest daughter attends McMinn County High School where the Stapletons are building relationships and forming the core group of the church.

Lakeway Presbyterian

Chris Talley, Planting Pastor

Morristown, TN
Lakeway Presbtyerian Website

Lakeway Presbyterian Church exists to make much of Jesus and His Gospel and to plant churches that have the same commitment.

Communities in the Lakeway area are greatly under-served by the work of the larger church to establish new church plants. The population centers in the suburbs and cities get far more attention. Situated between Knoxville and Johnson City, this part of East Tennessee is dotted by smaller towns and is known for its rural beauty. As the main town in a larger trade area of 120,000 people, Morristown is the key location to establish a resource church that could reach the smaller, outlying communities with future church plants.

Our desire is to plant a church that is a safe place for anyone (the un-churched, the de-churched, and those needing a church) to explore Christianity and grow in their understanding of who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him in community with others in the Lakeway area. We are here for the convinced and the unconvinced, for the lost, the found, the burned, the bored, the cynical and the spiritual. We open wide our doors no matter where people are in their faith journey.

Church planting is the most effective means to reach those who have not yet trusted Jesus. Church planting is about both evangelism and discipleship. The church is a community of friends who delight in the gospel of Jesus, are growing in His grace and willing to sacrifice for His kingdom. We also have the great privilege to partner and serve with Reformed University Fellowship at Carson-Newman University, reaching and serving the rising generations. We hope to build connections and partnerships with other area churches to reach the Lakeway area for King Jesus.

Woodlands Gathering

Greg Baney, Planting Pastor

Hamilton and Sequatchie Counties, TN
Woodlands Gathering Website

Woodlands Gathering is a mission church plant in the Tennessee Valley Presbytery that intentionally seeks to reach the Native American population in Hamilton and Sequatchie counties with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Woodlands Gathering is currently in the gathering phase of ministry. This means we are seeking to build a core team of Native believers who are willing to live out the Christian faith as people indigenous to this continent . We hope to launch (meet regularly on a weekly basis) in January 2021.

Mosaic Fellowship

Luke Banner, Planting Pastor

Chattanooga, TN
Mosaic Fellowship Website

Christ Church Presbyterian

Pastor John Blevins

Powell, TN
Christ Church Website

We are a church on a mission to glorify and enjoy God as we gather, grow, and go.

Restoration Southside

Jared Huffman, Planting Pastor

Chattanooga, TN
Restoration Southside Website

Restoration Southside is a church in and for the city of Chattanooga. A place for people who struggle but are tired of striving. A place for honest questions and authentic friendship. A place to be known. A place to experience something different. We believe the gospel of Jesus is able to restore us and give us hope.

Grace + Peace Church

Benjie Slaton, Planting Pastor

Ooltewah, TN
Grace + Peace Website

Benjamin (Benjie) Slaton is planting a new PCA church in the I-75/Hamilton Place/Ooltewah area of Chattanooga. He brings to the work an amazing family and lots of experience. He and his wife Natalie both grew up in Dallas and attended SMU for college. After seminary at RTS in Jackson, they returned to Texas for Benjie to serve as the RUF Campus Minsiter at UT in Austin, and then as a pastor on staff at All Saints PCA in Austin and Redeemer PCA in San Antonio. Together, they have 3 children and have diligently taught them to love good tacos and spicy salsa.

Even while calling Texas home, the Slatons have long considered Chattanooga their second home. As undergrads, Benjie and Natalie worked at camps on Lookout Mountain (Alpine Camp for Boys and Camp DeSoto for Girls), and they went on date nights to Chattanooga. In subsequent years they returned for Benjie to serve as the camp minister at Alpine. And as their children have grown, the family has made the trek out to these camps almost every summer. During those years, the Slatons have developed a love for Chattanooga and have made numerous friends in the area. They are delighted to join with God’s work through the churches in the TVP and see a new expression of the church born in the northeast part of the metro area.

Resurrection Presbyterian Church

Rev. Brent Harriman

Knoxville, TN
Resurrection Knoxville Website

Brent is a native of Memphis, TN and a graduate of The University of Mississippi (BS in Business Management) and Covenant Theological Seminary (M.Div. in Biblical Studies and Counseling). While in St. Louis, he met his wife, Emily, who earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling from Covenant. Upon graduation, they moved to Knoxville. Brent served as a campus minister with Reformed University Fellowship at The University of Tennessee from 2004-2012. He then continued with RUF, on the National Staff, as an area coordinator, overseeing and starting new campus works in Tennessee, Kentucky, and throughout the Midwest. In January of 2017, the Harrimans accepted a call to plant Resurrection in the Bearden area of Knoxville.

Christ the King Church

Alcoa, TN
Christ the King Website