On Dayton Boulevard in Red Bank just north of Chattanooga, Red Bank Church of Christ has gathered disciples of Jesus Christ since 1931. The congregation's mission is to glorify God and reach all people with the Good News of Jesus Christ, which it sums up through three values that Jesus taught and modeled: connection, calling, and celebration. Across more than nine decades, the church has grown into a multi-generational body known for biblically-grounded preaching, harmony singing, and a deep commitment to both its Red Bank neighbors and mission partners around the world.
A Red Bank Congregation Since 1931
Red Bank Church of Christ sits at 3600 Dayton Boulevard in Chattanooga. The congregation's mission centers on glorifying God and reaching all people with the Good News of Jesus Christ - a message of hope, peace, and eternal security. Sound biblical teaching and preaching, age-appropriate programming, and a variety of ministry and discipleship opportunities shape the week.
Three values summarize how the church tries to live out that mission:
- Connection - linking people locally and globally to God; connecting members within the body for worship, accountability, support, encouragement, study, and prayer; and reaching into the community with shared resources.
- Calling - inviting every believer to serve the Lord using unique, God-given talents, to equip and empower others in God's name, and to be creative in how the calling is carried out.
- Celebration - honoring each person's worth without regard to race, age, nationality, gender, educational level, or socioeconomic status, and giving glory to God for every milestone.
That three-fold shape - connecting, being called, and celebrating - runs through everything from children's Sunday school to the church's partnerships with missionaries on three continents.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like at Red Bank
The church's main weekly gathering happens on Sunday mornings. Bible study classes meet at 9:30 am in person and online, with separate adult, youth, and children's classes running at the same time. The worship service follows at 10:30 am, also offered both in person and live online. An evening Bible study gathers at 5:00 pm.
The worship service is rooted in the Church of Christ tradition. Visitors can expect biblically-grounded preaching, harmonious acapella singing, heartfelt prayers, and a time set aside to remember Jesus' sacrifice through the Lord's Supper. Children's programming is offered during the sermon so that parents can worship while their children learn in an age-appropriate class.
Preaching Minister Tommy Stone has been on staff at Red Bank since 1993. He describes the church's desire simply: "The Red Bank Church of Christ exists to reach all people with the Good News about Jesus Christ! It is our mission to simply be disciples who make disciples and to love and serve our community. We strive to be a warm and welcoming group of Christ-followers...and we would love to meet you or hear from you today!"
For those new to the building, the church has prepared a "What to Expect" guide that covers what to wear, where to park, which entrance to use, what happens during worship, and where children fit in. First-time families are greeted in the lobby by a Welcome Team ready to walk them to the right class for their child - and often to a class for the parent as well.
The FLOCK: Teaching Children the Whole Bible
Red Bank's children's ministry is built around a program called FLOCK, a name drawn from Jesus' teaching in John 10 and Matthew 19 about children following the Good Shepherd. Children's Director Denise Stone, who has served in that role since 2012 and holds a B.A. from Lipscomb University, oversees a curriculum designed so that every child will journey through the entire Bible three times before middle school.
Classes are divided by age:
- Infant and Toddler (3 to 23 months): stories, songs, and thematic lessons built around "God Made Me" and "God Loves Me."
- Preschool and Kindergarten (2 to 6 years): biblical values and knowledge, with Old and New Testament exploration that introduces a personal relationship with God and the Golden Rule from Luke 6:31.
- 1st through 5th Grade (7 to 11 years): deeper study of biblical truths and how to apply them in everyday life, growing in the image of God and understanding the plan of salvation.
All teachers are background-checked and committed to sharing the love of Jesus and helping children grow in God's image. A Children's Ministry Registration Form is offered so that future visits can move more smoothly.
Youth: Connection, Calling, Celebration
The youth ministry organizes its work around three words: connection, calling, and celebration. Youth Minister Blake Hayes leads the group with a goal of giving middle school and high school students a space where they can be encouraged by one another and equipped to navigate life around them.
Connection is about helping each student see the importance of church relationships and growing in God's Word so they can serve Him. Calling is about recognizing that adolescence is a season of growing independence and helping each young person develop a faith that will hold when they leave for college or career. Celebration is about giving students strategic opportunities to use their talents in service and to mark the milestones of growing up with joy.
Whether a teen joins for a Sunday gathering, an off-site event, or just to tag along for the next event, the group meets them where they are and works one-on-one and as a group to explore biblical truths, characters, and God's expectations. A permission and medical release form is provided for off-site activities.
Adults at Every Stage of Life
The adult ministry is intentionally structured for every life stage. Gospel-centered teaching aims to transform members into lifelong learners of the Bible and develop their ability to serve and share God's love.
The Ladies Ministry gathers women of all ages to know, love, and serve the Lord, fostering discipleship, celebrating life events, and creating opportunities to deepen faith. The Men's Ministry encourages evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and leadership, supporting men as they build friendships and equip themselves to share the good news.
Couples - whether married or dating - find a ministry designed to strengthen and enrich their relationships through periodic retreats and events set aside to fellowship, pray together, and renew focus without outside distractions. The Young at Heart Ministry focuses on members over 60, hosting monthly meals, game nights, day trips, and service projects that honor the wisdom and example of more experienced members.
For deeper connection, weekly Life Groups meet in various locations around the community. These small groups help people grow as believers, gain victory in daily life, serve with their unique gifts, and build the friendships that hold a church family together. The church also partners with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga through the UTC Student Center to support college students.
Ministerio Hispano
Red Bank's Hispanic Ministry is dedicated to reaching and sharing Jesus with the Spanish-speaking population of the Chattanooga area. The ministry works to encourage and form women, men, and children to be strong and spiritual Christians - a cooperative effort within the church to see all people, regardless of language, live a life of joy, hope, and love found only in Jesus.
Spanish-language worship takes place on Sundays at 5:00 pm, and a Spanish Bible study meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. The Hispanic Ministry holds annual family retreats that gather every member for a weekend of time together, and the group participates in quarterly area-wide congregational gatherings to encourage one another in their love for Christ.
Midweek at Red Bank: Wednesday Meals, Bible Study, and Thursday Mornings
Wednesday night at Red Bank starts with food. The Wednesday Night Meal gathers the church family in the Large Fellowship gym from 5:15 to 6:15 pm for dinner at $5 per person or $20 per family. No RSVP is needed; meals are served first come, first served while supplies last.
Wednesday Bible study classes for adults, youth, and children begin at 6:30 pm. For those who cannot attend in person, an online congregational study discussion meets earlier at 1:00 pm.
For those who want extra time in the Word outside the regular services, a Thursday Bible Study meets at 10:30 am in Room 126 for an additional hour of study, with room for questions, sharing, and mutual encouragement.
Feeding Red Bank: Food Pantry, Manna Monday, and the Community Food Bank
Food security is central to Red Bank's outreach. The church's own Food Pantry provides physical nourishment for families in need in the Red Bank community, while also offering spiritual nourishment through God's Word. Each week, members donate food and toiletry items and pack boxes that include enough supplies for a family for a week. Every box contains a Bible and an invitation to engage in church activities.
Manna Monday takes the same care out the door. Every Monday from 11 am to 1 pm, volunteers serve a free meal and necessity-based resources to neighbors in need, sharing life stories, providing insight into church activities, distributing pantry resources, and sharing God's Word.
Red Bank Church of Christ also partners with multiple area churches and organizations through the Red Bank Community Food Bank, which operates out of Red Bank United Methodist Church. Volunteers unpack and pack boxes, pick up food from drives and retail locations, organize shelves, distribute food, and recruit business sponsors.
Quilts, Mentors, and Cards: Hands-On Outreach
Three smaller ministries show the same attention to detail in different ways.
The Quilting Ministry brings experienced members together with others who want to learn, producing wheelchair quilts, activity blankets, and masks for nursing homes, cancer and dialysis clinics, and other medical facilities across the community. Local news has covered the group's work, including a special project of red, white, and blue quilts for Memorial Day.
Monday Night for the Master gathers members to write handwritten cards of encouragement, care, gratitude, sympathy, and celebration - the kind of personal note that is rare in an age of instant messaging.
Sowers is the youth ministry's mentoring program, based on the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. Every middle school student in the youth group is matched with an adult "Sower" or family who commits to praying for them, communicating regularly, sharing a meal, attending extracurricular activities, writing cards, and serving together - a village of support for adolescents.
Inner City Outreach and Beyond Chattanooga
The Chattanooga Inner City Outreach teaches, trains, and tutors residents of three communities - College Hill Courts, Emma Wheeler Homes, and East Lake Courts - about the love, mercy, and forgiveness God offers. The ministry shares the Gospel, provides mentorship, and feeds people spiritually and physically, supported by multiple area Churches of Christ and powered mainly by volunteers sharing their time, love, and faith.
Throughout the year, Red Bank Church of Christ also runs a series of congregational service events: Vacation Bible School, Rake and Bake, College Move-In Day, Small Group Clean-Up, Lads to Leaders, and Meals to Shut-Ins and Families. Women's retreats, men's camping trips, and other gatherings round out the calendar.
Going Global with Gospel Chariot and Manna
Red Bank's mission giving stretches well beyond Chattanooga. The congregation supports Gospel Chariot Missions, Save Asian Souls (including its safehouses and graduation work), Pacific Island Bible College and missionaries Robert and Mary Martin in the Pacific Islands, Mike and Funmi Glover in Liverpool, England, and Manna Global Missions and its Manna Christian School. Photos from missionaries in the field appear on the church's media pages.
Elders, Ministers, and the Welcome Table
The church is shepherded by a team of elders. Kevin Risley works to foster a warm, faith-centered atmosphere centered on God and family. Phil McCormick, who has served as an elder since 2003, prays that the church will reach more people with the gospel and "preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Kip Young aims to show the community that a follower of Christ can find peace in a changing world while remaining true to God's unchanging Word. Don Steere focuses on helping those in need in the community, equipping members, and sharing the gospel beyond the church's walls. Tommy Reese is passionate about supporting families as they teach their children about God and praying that the church's youth commit their lives to God. Walter Jones prays for a praying, loving, and caring church that "seeks the good in others, loves the unloved, and brings the Good News to a world in need of Christ." Mark Beckham served from 2003 to 2019 and returned to the role in spring 2024. Steve McDonough focuses on outreach to the community and fellowship among the congregation.
The ministerial team includes Tommy Stone (Preaching Minister, on staff since 1993), Steve Lusk (Discipleship Minister, associated with Red Bank since 1981), Blake Hayes (Youth Minister), Roberto Rios (Hispanic Minister, serving since 2025), and Denise Stone (Children's Director, since 2012). The church office is open Monday through Thursday 9 am to 4 pm and Friday 9 am to noon.
What Red Bank Believes About Discipleship
The basis of Red Bank's faith is the Bible. The church teaches belief in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in the Bible as the Word of God, in baptism, in salvation, and in human destiny. Church membership is offered as a meaningful step for those who want to identify with the congregation.
Discipleship is described as the ongoing, lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus. The church defines it through a practical list of characteristics of a growing disciple: devoted to prayer, fruit-bearing, generous, servant-hearted, obedient, shaped by God's Word, committed to the lordship of Jesus, teachable, an evangelist, and faithful in fellowship with other believers. Making disciples - going, baptizing, and teaching - is the church's core mission, drawn from Matthew 28:19-20.
RightNow Media and a Library at Your Fingertips
To help members grow between Sundays, Red Bank Church of Christ has invested in a full subscription to RightNow Media, giving every member and friend free access to more than 20,000 Bible-study videos for kids, youth, and adults. The library includes content from more than 250 Christian publishers and ministries, covering marriage, parenting, youth, recovery, leadership, finances, and more.
The church also maintains a list of recommended books on discipleship and Christian living, a daily devotional that can be picked up in person or viewed online as weekly summaries, and a Bible Reading Plan with reading checklists and a "Bible Books at a Glance" guide. A page of scripturally based prayers covers topics like courage, speech, finances, children, the church, and relationship with God, and visitors can submit prayer requests online.