A Hundred Years Near the University of Tennessee
Laurel Church of Christ sits at 3457 Kingston Pike, just west of the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. The congregation first gathered in 1911, when four people began meeting together in what would grow into a church family of about 500 members. Before the members hired their first full-time preacher, E.C. Holt, university students filled the pulpit.
In 1928, the church purchased a building from the Church of Christian Scientists at the corner of Laurel Avenue and 17th Street, close to campus, and took the name Laurel Avenue Church of Christ. When that space was no longer large enough, members moved to the present location on Kingston Pike in May 1968 and shortened the name to Laurel Church of Christ.
Even after leaving the original neighborhood, the family at Laurel stayed committed to the campus. Members had begun the Christian Student Center in 1955; the CSC moved to its own home at 1821 Melrose Avenue in 1963, where it still ministers to UT students. The congregation marked its centennial in 2011 and lives by a stated mission of "opening hearts, minds, and hands to the work of Jesus."
Sunday Mornings in the Worship Center
Laurel gathers for worship each Sunday morning in its worship center on Kingston Pike. The regular schedule is 8:30 AM Early Service, 9:30 AM Bible Classes for all ages, and 10:30 AM Worship. The 10:30 AM service is interpreted for the deaf and is livestreamed.
The two morning services follow the same simple, reverent pattern. As part of the Church of Christ tradition, the congregation sings a cappella, with words and music projected on a screen. The service also includes prayers, announcements about the church family, the Lord's Supper, a collection to support the church's work, and a Bible-based lesson from the pulpit minister. A weekly printed bulletin guides members and visitors through the order of worship.
Both men and women take part in leading - reading Scripture, leading prayers, and sharing thoughts about Communion. At the end of each sermon, the ministers extend an invitation: anyone who wants prayer can come forward, and anyone who wants to be added to the church through baptism can let the ministers know. Right inside the main lobby, a coffee bar team brews coffee from Knoxville Coffee Company to help Sunday mornings feel relaxed and welcoming.
During the 10:30 AM service, nursery care is offered for children from birth through age two, and Kids Worship Down Under is offered for children ages three through third grade. All adult and teen volunteers working with children have passed a background check.
Wednesday Afternoons and Evenings
Wednesdays at Laurel are built around a free mobile food pantry, a packed slate of Bible classes, and the youth group. Food pantry registration opens at 4:15 PM, and shopping begins at 5:15 PM in the main lobby. The pantry is a partnership with the Knoxville Dream Center and brings fresh produce and other groceries to families in a local food desert.
At 6:00 PM, the youth group begins with fellowship. At 6:45 PM, the youth group moves into worship, the FriendSpeak conversational English program begins, and the children gather for TeamKID (Kids in Discipleship). At 7:00 PM, adult Bible classes start: a study of Luke led by Wes Milam in the Laurel Room, a discussion class led by Jennifer Ray and Missy Clark in Room 214, a walking class and a running class that meet in front of the building, and Lobby Church, which offers coffee and fellowship in the lobby. Nursery care is available for children through age two during the 7:00 PM hour.
On Tuesdays, the Third Step Ministry hosts Encounter Recovery, with supper at 6:30 PM and support groups at 7:00 PM. The second Tuesday of each month is Encounter Celebration, with supper and a Bible study. A Tuesday morning Ladies' Class also meets during the school year for women of all ages, with in-depth Scripture study, monthly service projects, and a monthly covered-dish lunch; childcare is provided. The college ministry holds its own midweek Summit at the CSC house on Melrose Avenue, with a free dinner at 6 PM and worship, Bible-rooted teaching, and prayer at 7 PM.
Laurel Kids: Birth Through Fifth Grade
The Children's Ministry, called Laurel Kids, serves families from the nursery through fifth grade. Cindy Taylor, a former elementary and preschool educator and mother of three, directs the ministry and has been on staff since 2013.
Sunday morning classes meet at 9:30 AM. Infants through two-year-olds meet upstairs in the nursery with simple, repetitive songs and lessons that introduce them to Jesus. Preschoolers and elementary children meet downstairs; each grade level has its own classroom and curriculum that emphasizes how every part of the Bible tells one big story pointing to Jesus. Kids Worship Down Under, for children ages three through third grade, is offered during the latter portion of the 10:30 AM service.
On Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM, preschoolers meet in Room 104 with Mark Reese, and elementary children meet in Rooms 105 and 107 with Cindy Taylor for TeamKID. Throughout the year, Laurel Kids organizes Vacation Bible School, Trunk or Treat, and other events for Laurel families and the surrounding community.
On a first visit, parents sign children in for each activity, leave a phone number where they can be reached, and share any allergy information. Rest assured, the church says, that children will be in the care of responsible, background-checked Laurel members.
LYF: Laurel Youth Fellowship
The youth ministry, called LYF (Laurel Youth Fellowship), serves students in sixth through twelfth grade. Trey Clark, the youth minister, leads the program along with Ava Carter. Trey focuses on the relevance of Scripture in students' lives and pairs new Christians with adult mentors. Ava focuses on helping younger students build a foundation of faith that will continue to grow.
LYF organizes its work around three ideas: see, seek, and serve. Students are helped to see that they are loved by God and by the church, equipped to seek Jesus through Bible study on Sunday mornings and through spiritual disciplines at "Jesus Practice" gatherings on Sunday nights, and given opportunities to serve on a student leadership team and through service projects.
Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM, middle school students meet in Room 126 and high school students in Room 122, both in the east wing of the building under the worship center. By the time students graduate high school, they will have been taught through the entire Bible. On Wednesdays, open gym and dinner begin at 5:35 PM; worship, a short message, and small groups run from 6:45 to 8:00 PM. During the summer, open gym starts at 4:30 PM and dinner is served at 6:00 PM.
LYF also runs an annual summer mission trip. Each summer, the group attends Impact, a youth conference on the campus of Lipscomb University, and spends Memorial Day weekend at Smoky Mountain Christian Camp for Camp LYF. Monthly service projects often take place at the Sutherland Flatts apartments behind the Dollar General on Sutherland Avenue. The student leadership team is reset each year, with members applying to serve in areas like leading worship, teaching class, leading prayers, leading games, helping with events, and welcoming new students.
College Students at the Christian Student Center
Laurel's college ministry is the Christian Student Center, located at 1821 Melrose Avenue in the heart of the UT campus. The CSC aims to reach non-Christians with the love of Jesus, help believing students grow in their faith, and provide a community of faithful support. Taylor Whitney Holt has recently joined the staff as the new college minister.
On Sundays during the school year, UT students meet at the Kingston Pike building in the Orange Room (Rooms 113 and 115) at 9:30 AM. On Wednesdays, the CSC holds Summit at the Melrose Avenue house, with a free dinner at 6 PM and worship, Bible-rooted teaching, and prayer at 7 PM.
The CSC is supported by adult members of Laurel who provide Wednesday lunches, attend CSC events, and adopt individual students to mentor. The CSC and Laurel also partner with JustLead to reach at-risk and low-income youth in the Sutherland Avenue community just north of campus.
Small Groups Across Knoxville
Small Groups are the main way Laurel members build relationships outside of Sunday worship. Groups meet in homes or at the church building, generally with five to twenty-five people, and most meet on Sunday evenings. Each group is shaped differently. Some are intergenerational, others focus on young families, retirees, or college-age students. Most include a shared meal, prayer, Scripture study, and encouragement to shine Christ's light in everyday life.
About a dozen small groups meet in different parts of the Knoxville area, including North Knox, East Knox, Central Knox, West Knox, South Knox, and Blount County. There is a group for retirees, a group for baby boomers, several for young families, and a group for recent grads and non-traditional students. Jonathan Thomas, the Connections Minister, helps newcomers find a group that fits.
From Kingston Pike to the World: Missions
Laurel's local mission work centers on the three-mile radius around its campus. The Benevolence Response Team helps individuals and families during financial difficulty, runs the Wednesday food pantry, and serves lunch at the Volunteer Ministry Center on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM. Members also partner with the Compassion Coalition, Hope Central, and the Community Action Committee.
JustLead, a ministry in partnership with Emerald Youth Foundation, reaches at-risk and low-income youth in the Sutherland Avenue communities. The church points to Sutherland as a near neighbor with a high prevalence of single-mother-led households, low average income, limited community resources, and an extremely diverse population. Volunteers tutor, mentor, and provide enrichment in academics, health, sports, and spiritual discipleship. Brooke Taylor coordinates the program.
FriendSpeak is a free conversational English program for international students, families, and visitors in Knoxville. Conversation partners meet one-on-one with participants on Wednesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 PM at the Kingston Pike building. ESL classes are offered as needed. Third Step Ministry, the church's Christian outreach for people recovering from chemical addictions, hosts Encounter Recovery on Tuesday evenings with supper at 6:30 PM and support groups at 7:00 PM.
Globally, Laurel supports missionaries in Indonesia (Andrew and Uli Banjarnahor), Ukraine (Vitaly Samodin with the Ukrainian Education Center), Kenya (Greg Clodfelter), and Colombia (Enrique and Ana Vizcaino and Jhon James and Deisy Gonzalez, serving with Great Cities). The congregation also partners with World Bible School, World English Institute, World Christian Broadcasting, Health Talents International, and Eastern European Missions, and supports mission work in China, South Africa, and Kenya. The Young Professionals Ministry welcomes graduate, postgraduate, and professional students at local universities, as well as working adults.
The Life of the Congregation
Laurel describes itself as "an independent, Christ-centered, Spirit-led and Bible-based family of God." Leadership is shared by elders, ministers, and members. Elders are chosen by members based on biblical qualifications. The preaching minister, called the pulpit minister, is supported by Jonathan Thomas as Connections Minister, Trey Clark as Youth Minister, Cindy Taylor as Director of Children's Ministry, Brooke Taylor coordinating JustLead, Taylor Whitney Holt as the new college minister, and Ava Carter on the youth staff.
Worship is a cappella, in the Churches of Christ tradition, with weekly observance of the Lord's Supper. The congregation takes seriously the call to live daily life as an act of worship (Romans 12:1-2) and to gather together as a body (Hebrews 10:25). Members are encouraged to use their gifts through a wide range of ministries, including Adult Education, Angel Tree (the Christmas gift and food-basket program), Arts, Communications, Facilities and Grounds, Fellowship, Library, Men's Ministry, Nursery, Worship Assignments, Women's Ministry, and Young at Heart for members who are 55 and older. Women's Ministry touches Bereavement Food, Flowers to the Glory of God, Food Care for Sick and New Mothers, the Volunteer Ministry Center, and other service points.
Counseling referrals are available through the office. Although Laurel does not run a formal counseling ministry, members and local Christian professionals provide services on insurance, income-based, or sliding-scale fees.
Visitor Information
Laurel meets at 3457 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. The mailing address is P.O. Box 10248, Knoxville, TN 37939. The church office can be reached at (865) 524-1122 or at laureloffice@laurelcc.org. Jonathan Thomas can be emailed at jthomas@laurelcc.org.
Parking is available on all sides of the building, with guest parking marked. Visitors who need extra help can pull up under the covered East entrance, where a member will assist. Inside, greeters hand out bulletins, answer questions, and direct first-time visitors to the Welcome Center, where guests can fill out a card and receive a gift. The Family Room is up the stairs on the left of the lobby; it has a window overlooking the Worship Center, a changing table, and rocking chairs. There is also a nursing room in the nursery area.
Dress runs the gamut from "Sunday best" to jeans and a T-shirt; most members dress business-casual. The preaching minister usually wears jeans and a Hawaiian shirt. Parents are asked to check in children in fifth grade or younger for nursery and classes.
Giving is available online, by mail to the P.O. Box, or in the offering basket after Communion on Sunday mornings. The 10:30 AM service is livestreamed on YouTube, and past messages are available through the church's online media library.
The Third Creek Greenway runs behind the church building, and a water fountain is available on the western side of the property. Weddings and other events can be scheduled up to six months in advance by calling the church office.