A Cumberland Presbyterian Family on Nubbin Ridge
Knoxville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church sits on Nubbin Ridge Drive in the west Knoxville hills, part of a small American denomination that traces its roots to 1810. The congregation describes itself in plain words - community, family, people who worship the risen Jesus with vigor and joy. The hope, members say, is that everyone who walks through the doors feels loved and welcomed, and that those who come with open hearts meet God and, in time, give their lives to Jesus Christ.
A Distinctive Denominational Voice
First Cumberland belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a body formed in 1810. The congregation notes one way it differs from other Presbyterian traditions: it holds to a "whosoever will" gospel rather than the doctrine of election. In other words, the invitation to Christ is extended broadly to anyone who will come, rather than limited to a predetermined group. The church sees itself first as a people in relationship - with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and with one another as family.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School, Worship, and Children's Church
The Sunday rhythm at First Cumberland begins at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School for all ages. Pastor Mike outlines three reasons the Sunday School hour still matters: it gives children, youth, and adults systematic teaching of Scripture; it organizes the congregation into small care groups where teachers know when someone is absent or hurting; and it creates natural settings for inviting neighbors, coworkers, and friends into fellowship.
Worship follows at 10:45 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The music program is led by Sam Ware, who serves as Music Director and Organist, and his wife Karen Ware, the Choral Director - both Tennessee Wesleyan graduates who have been leading church music since 1970 and have served at First Cumberland since 2005. Rev. Rebecca Prenshaw, an ordained Cumberland Presbyterian minister and a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, accompanies worship, leads small groups, and occasionally preaches.
At 11:30 a.m. the children are dismissed to their own Children's Church, where lessons are aimed at their level and the words of Jesus - "Let the little children come to me" - are lived out each week.
Pastor Mike and the Staff
Pastor Mike Wilkinson has served as the church's pastor since September 2013. A Knoxville native and Karns High School graduate, he entered ministry in 1992 after a twelve-year career in civil engineering and construction. He has pastored three other congregations - one in West Tennessee and two in Alabama - and earned his Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. He has served on the Ministry Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was elected Moderator of the denomination's 191st General Assembly. He and his wife Joanna have been married since 1982 and have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.
Crissy Collins serves as Children and Youth Ministry Director. A Blountville native who relocated to Knoxville in 1993, she met her husband David in 1994 and married him in the church's chapel in 1996. Her goal is to share God's word with as many people as possible, both inside and outside the church family.
Children and Youth Ministry
The Children and Youth Ministry at First Cumberland centers on three habits: praying to God with all their hearts, welcoming others to the church's activities, and loving and supporting one another. Bible study is application-oriented, designed to help young people connect what they read to how they live. The church sees its youth program as a place to build relationships and memories that last a lifetime, and it welcomes new faces and new members with open arms.
Music Ministry
Music is woven into the life of the congregation. Sam and Karen Ware have shaped the choirs and instrumental music at First Cumberland for two decades, building on careers that began in 1970. Worship is supported by an accompanist, a choral director, and an organist, and the Wednesday evening choir practice at 6:30 p.m. in the Choir Room keeps the music program active between Sundays.
Midweek Prayer and Fellowship
Beyond Sunday morning, the church gathers several times during the week. A Monthly Prayer Night meets in the Keene Room on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Friday Prayer Time gathers in the Keene Room at 11:00 a.m. and is open to both women and men of the church. The Friendship Club hosts a Dutch-treat lunch on a midweek morning and a Dutch-treat dinner in the evening, inviting anyone in the church to attend and bring a friend. A Cumberland Presbyterian Women's Ministry meets for fellowship and service projects, including an annual Craft and Bake Sale held in the church Narthex.
Mission and Outreach
The Mission and Outreach ministry exists to inspire, support, organize, and mobilize church members to share the gospel with others. Activities and events are designed to bring neighbors in to hear God's Word, and the church connects its members with the wider mission work of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination.
A Building with Room for Everyone
The church building houses a Sanctuary for worship, a Chapel, a Gym, a Meeting Hall, the Keene Room for meetings and prayer gatherings, and a Choir Room for music rehearsal. These spaces also host community groups. Classical Conversations, a homeschool program, meets at the church. Lighthouse Youth Theatre uses the facilities. Scouts BSA Troop 20 (male) and Troop 21 (female) are based there. Jazzercise holds classes in the building. Thursday Connection, a homeschool co-op, gathers on Thursdays. The Reserve a Room/Area page on the church's site lets outside groups request space for their own events and activities.
What the Church Believes
The Mission statement sums up the church's purpose: "For the glory of God, Knoxville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church exists to Worship Christ, Evangelize the lost, Love one another and our neighbor, and Learn more about our God." Worship is joyful and vigorous; prayer is encouraged both inside and outside the church; generosity, invitation, and compassion mark the way members treat people beyond the walls; and growth as God's children is pursued through teaching, small groups, and fellowship.
Getting Connected
Visitors and members can keep up with the church through several channels. Recorded sermons are posted online, including the current "Christianity 101" series, with a recent message titled "Unscripted: Things the Bible Does Not Say" walking through how cultural sayings sometimes get mistaken for Scripture. A monthly newsletter called The Cumberlander keeps the congregation informed. Giving is available online through the church's Donate page. The church office can be reached at (865) 588-8581 or by email, and the building at 6900 Nubbin Ridge Drive is the heart of ministry throughout the week, from Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. to Friday Prayer Time and everything in between.