Poplar Ridge Christian Church sits along Poplar Ridge Church Road in Piney Flats, just outside Johnson City in Sullivan County, Tennessee. Its tagline, "A Place To Call Home," captures the way the congregation describes itself: a friendly non-denominational body where visitors are welcomed as guests and invited to become family. Services meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, with the later service also carried by livestream.
What the Church Believes
The mission of Poplar Ridge Christian Church is to "Love God, Love People," drawn from Matthew 22:36-40, and the vision is to be "A Place To Call Home" for everyone who joins in worship and service. The congregation is intentionally free from denominational organizations and creeds, looking instead to Christ as the head of the church and to the Bible as the sole authority for faith and practice. On matters where Scripture does not speak, members are encouraged to extend liberty and fellowship in Christian love.
Poplar Ridge teaches a straightforward set of biblical convictions: that all have sinned, that sin separates people from God, that God loves the world and sent Christ to die for it, that Jesus is the Son of God, that believers should confess faith in Christ, repent of sin, be baptized into Christ, live faithfully, gather regularly, and look for the return of Jesus.
Sunday Mornings: Contemporary Worship and Communion
Each Sunday the congregation worships through contemporary songs, opens the Bible in teaching, collects an offering, and shares the Lord's Supper together. The worship center features exposed beams and neutral decor, seating up to 315 guests, with full sound and overhead projection available for ceremonies and services. There is no dress code - guests are invited to come as they are - and a welcome team meets first-time visitors at the Welcome Center with a small gift before or after the service.
RidgeKids: A Full Children's Ministry
Children have a place of their own at Poplar Ridge. The RidgeKids wing is staffed for nursery (birth through 2.5 years), pre-K (2.5 through 5 years), and elementary (kindergarten through fifth grade) during three weekly windows: Sunday mornings 9:00 AM to noon, Sunday evenings 5:30 to 7:00 PM from August through May, and Wednesday nights 6:30 to 7:30. Children's Minister Casey Blevins oversees the program, which gathers for Vacation Bible School one week each June and supports the church's ongoing Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection.
Student Ministry: Middle and High School Together
Students in grades 6 through 12 meet on Sunday mornings for Sunday school at 9:00 AM, return Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 PM for a large-group time of games, worship, and teaching, and gather again Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 for small-group discussion of the previous Sunday's Scripture. Youth Minister Elijah Grubbs leads the ministry. Each summer the group travels to Christ In Youth (CIY) MOVE, a five-day conference at Johnson University in Knoxville, with scholarships available to help families cover the cost.
Adult Groups, Electives, and Discipleship
Adults at Poplar Ridge can join small groups that meet in homes and on campus and take part in a rotating slate of Wednesday-night electives. Recent rounds have included a Prayer Practice elective led by Associate Minister Matt Mangrum and an Apologetics elective that builds confidence in sharing faith and answering tough questions. Pathway, a two-week newcomers' class, is the recommended next step toward church membership and a way to get to know staff and other families. Baptisms are offered at the close of most services, and anyone interested can walk forward during the invitation to speak with a minister.
Sending Out: A Wide Missions Portfolio
Poplar Ridge supports a broad network of missions locally, nationally, and internationally. Education efforts include ETSU Campus House, a Christian community on the East Tennessee State University campus. Local partnerships include Isaiah 117 House, which provides a comforting place for children awaiting foster care; Appalachian Christian Camp, a non-denominational youth camp; and the Kingsport/Sullivan County chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which leads more than forty huddle groups and reaches over a thousand area students.
Benevolent work includes Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia, where children from around the world have been cared for since 1921, and Agape Women's Services, which serves women before, during, and after an unplanned pregnancy. Internationally, the church walks with AVANT Ministries in Honduras and Angola, Bethshean Mexico Mission in Estancia de Animas, Hisportic Christian Mission among Portuguese-speaking people, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Kids to Christ in the Dominican Republic, and SportQuest Ministries in Belgium. Several of these missionaries are members of the Poplar Ridge family.
A Building That Hosts the Community
The Piney Flats campus is more than a Sunday venue. Members of the congregation and approved guests can reserve the CLC Gym, which seats up to 275 with a full commercial kitchen, stage, and balcony; the Youth Room, a casual space with kitchen, couches, and gaming; a Gathering Place that seats 30 and suits showers and small parties; and several classrooms. Two church vans, a Ford 12-passenger and a Kia Sedona, are also available for church functions. The Worship Center and event spaces can be booked for weddings, receptions, and large gatherings.
Leadership and Getting in Touch
Brad Perry serves as Lead Minister, with Matt Mangrum as Associate Minister, Elijah Grubbs as Youth Minister, Casey Blevins as Children's Minister, David Tester as Worship Minister, John Leffler as Worship Leader, Mike Griffith as Technical Director, and Randall Gilmore as Senior's Minister. Elders Steve Pierce, Stacy Ivester, Bill Lizzio (Chairman), and Andy Sweeney shepherd the congregation alongside a Board of Deacons. The church office can be reached at (423) 538-6057 or systems.prcc@gmail.com, with a "Connect" text line for weekly updates.
Giving and Staying Connected
Giving is received during Sunday services and through online, mobile app, Venmo, PayPal, and text-to-give options. The Church Center app, available on iOS and Android, hosts giving, registrations, sign-ups for small groups, and the church calendar. A "Plan Your Visit" form and a digital Connect Card help newcomers and regulars stay plugged into the life of the church.