Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church stands on a wooded stretch of Middlebrook Pike on the west side of Knoxville, Tennessee, just north of the I-75 and I-40 interchange and across Vanosdale from the Shannondale Retirement Center. The church's own vision - that EVERYONE is welcome, ANYTHING'S possible, and all are LOVED in the name of Jesus - is reflected in the many ways the congregation serves its neighbors: two Sunday morning worship services under one roof, a food pantry that has been operating for more than two decades, a licensed weekday preschool, and a calendar crowded with choirs, small groups, mission trips, and youth retreats.
Two Sunday Services at 10 a.m.
Worship at Middlebrook Pike runs on a simple plan: one church, two styles, the same hour. Both services begin at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, and worshipers choose their preference before they ever sit down.
The Traditional Service is held in the Sanctuary. It features classic hymns, liturgical elements, and a sermon rooted in scripture, with music led by the Chancel Choir under Director of Music Steven Brown, with Sabra Wright at the organ and piano.
The Contemporary Service meets in the Family Life Center and pairs modern worship music, led by Director of Contemporary Worship Justin Haynes, with a message designed to connect Christ's teaching to everyday life.
Holy Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month at both services, and the practice is open: visitors and members of any denomination are welcome at the table. A live stream of the 10:00 a.m. services is available on the church's YouTube channel for those who prefer to worship from home. After each service, Hospitality Time gathers everyone for coffee and light refreshments in the hallway.
The F.I.S.H. Food Pantry
The most visible ministry of Middlebrook Pike to the wider Knoxville community is its F.I.S.H. Food Pantry. For more than twenty-three years, volunteers have packed and distributed non-perishable groceries to families in need across Knox County. The pantry now serves over 700 people a month, including roughly 150 children and ten or more senior citizens. About 140 snack bags go out to children between the ages of 2 and 17, and home deliveries reach 35 families who cannot travel to the church.
Distribution happens on the fourth Friday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with volunteers gathering in the days before to pack boxes. A smaller ministry runs continuously: the Blessing Box, located in the church parking lot, is stocked with non-perishable food twice a day, seven days a week, and is available to anyone who needs it at any hour. The pantry is funded entirely by donations and volunteer labor from the congregation, with sponsorship opportunities offered by the church.
Other mission efforts include the annual Crop Drop sweet potato distribution (in which nearly 100 MPUMC volunteers recently bagged and delivered 3,700 bags to 35 agencies in East Tennessee), the Angel Tree gift program at Christmas, partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and CareCuts, neighborhood outreach events, and short-term mission trips.
Children's Enrichment Program
Located on the same campus is the Children's Enrichment Program (CEP), the church's licensed weekday preschool serving children from six weeks through five years old. CEP runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the school year, following the Knox County Schools calendar for weather delays and holidays.
Children spend their days in themed classroom learning, free play, and time in the playground and the church's full-size gym. Monthly chapel time introduces stories of God's love, and music and art are woven through the week. Registration is $125 per child, with monthly tuition of $210 (siblings receive a $20 discount). Director Sandra Valukas, a lifelong Middlebrook Pike member who attended CEP herself, leads the program alongside her team of infant and toddler teachers.
Children and Youth
Sunday morning programs reach children from birth through fifth grade. Children's Sunday School meets from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a PreK-Kindergarten class taught by Chasey Christian and a 1st-5th grade class led by Director of Children and Family Ministries Sydney Novais. Childcare for infants through fifth grade is available during the 10:00 a.m. worship services in a secure, age-appropriate environment.
From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., the BAMM program (Bible, Arts, Movement, and Music) gathers elementary children for an hour that blends Bible lessons with creative arts, movement, and music.
The youth ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12 under Directors of Youth Ministries Jenny Thompson and Zane Polling, who both grew up in the Middlebrook Pike youth program. Youth Sunday School meets in the upstairs Youth Room from 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sundays, and Youth Group runs from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, followed by Youth Worship Arts from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. The calendar includes retreats (such as Wesley Woods Fall Retreat), lock-ins, service projects, conferences, multi-church gatherings, and events like Trunk or Treat and Fantasy of Trees volunteering.
Music Ministry
Music is woven through nearly everything at Middlebrook Pike. The Chancel Choir leads worship each Sunday at the Traditional Service and rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., with a Sunday morning warm-up at 9:30 a.m. The Adult Handbells ensemble meets Sunday afternoons from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Two children's choirs introduce younger singers to the tradition. The Cherub Choir (preK-K) meets at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays in Room 26; the Angel Choir (1st-5th) meets at 11:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Beginning in January 2026, both children's choirs meet together on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., combining choir time with games and activities. Children's Music Director Abby Brown leads these choirs, which participate in the annual Christmas Cantata.
Wednesday Night Connection
Wednesday evenings have their own rhythm. Wednesday Night Connection is a pay-as-you-go community supper served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, with adults charged $8, children $5, and a family cap of $25. The weekly menu includes a main dish, vegetables, and dessert, with gluten-free and child-friendly alternatives offered most weeks. Registration is required the Sunday before, either in person during Hospitality, online, or by calling the church office.
Adult Ministries and Small Groups
Adults at Middlebrook Pike can choose from a wide menu of Sunday and weekday small groups. Sunday morning options (meeting at 8:45 a.m.) include Believers (a lecture and discussion class for ages 70 and up), Experiencing God (a women's Bible study for ages 50 and up), New River (open to all ages), and Genesis (a mixed group, mostly in their fifties). A second round of classes meets at 11:15 a.m., including Open Door (a study of contemporary Methodist authors), Pilgrims, Speak Easy (twenties to early forties), The Wired Word (current events through a scriptural lens), Better Together (mid-life), and The Next Chapter (post-secondary to young adult).
Weekday groups include the Mary Rayfield Circle (2nd Monday at 10 a.m. in Fellowship Hall), Sisters in Christ (2nd Thursday evenings), the NOW Circle (last Thursday evenings), the Willing Workers Circle (3rd Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.), and Keenagers (1st Wednesday at noon in Fellowship Hall) for older adults. Rhythmic Aerobics meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers at varying times to knit and crochet shawls for people on the prayer list.
Care, Counseling, and Recovery
A Care Team of pastors and volunteers supports the congregation through prayer requests, hospital visits, and pastoral care. Narcotics Anonymous meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Office Conference Room and is open to anyone affected by abuse, addiction, or mental health concerns. The Compassionate Friends grief support group, a national organization for parents who have lost a child, meets on the second Sunday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Room 31. The church also works to connect individuals with Christian counseling resources through its Counseling Ministries.
What Middlebrook Pike Believes
The congregation teaches that salvation is found in and through Jesus Christ, that the Bible is the word of God and the primary authority for Christian life and faith, and that salvation is by grace through faith, not works. Members are encouraged to grow in their faith and become more like Christ through a balance of heart and head, and to pursue evangelism, Christian service, and social change. The two recognized sacraments are baptism and Holy Communion.
The church names five core values. Faith is deepened through prayer, study, and worship. Inclusivity is a stated hallmark: the church welcomes people from all walks of life and affirms the sacred worth of every individual. Community is the conviction that people grow better together than apart. Authenticity is the freedom to be honest about imperfections while pursuing holiness. Compassion drives the church's outreach in Knoxville and beyond.
Pastors and Staff
Senior Pastor Troy Forrester joined Middlebrook Pike in July 2023. A native of the Tri-Cities who grew up in Kingsport and graduated from East Tennessee State University and Duke University, Forrester previously served as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge (2006 to 2016) and as lead pastor at First United Methodist Church of Knoxville (2016 to 2023). He and his wife Christina have two children, Callen and Mallory.
Associate Pastor Larry Trotter also arrived in July 2023. A third-career pastor, Trotter spent five years as a traveling musician and twenty years in radio before earning a B.S. in management and an MDiv at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He previously served Dutch Valley UMC (2 years), Martel UMC (6 years), and Concord UMC (22 years, as associate and then senior pastor). He and his wife Lynn have been married for nearly 45 years and have two daughters, Lauren and Christie.
The program staff includes Sydney Novais (Director of Children and Family Ministries), Jenny Thompson and Zane Polling (Co-Directors of Youth Ministries), Steven Brown (Director of Music), Justin Haynes (Director of Contemporary Worship), Sabra Wright (Organist and Pianist), Abby Brown (Director of Children's Music), and Sandra Valukas (Director of the Children's Enrichment Program).
Visiting Middlebrook Pike
The church sits at 7234 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37909, with parking available from either the Vanosdale or Middlebrook Pike entrances and hospitality greeters ready to help visitors find their way. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the phone line (865-690-8641) and inbox (info@middlebrookpike.com) are monitored during those hours. Sunday morning newcomers can fill out a Connection Card online to introduce themselves; members and those interested in baptism can fill out a New Member/Baptism form online. Online giving is available through the church's secure giving portal for one-time and recurring donations.