Rocky Valley Baptist Church sits along Old Murfreesboro Road on the east side of Lebanon, Tennessee, in the rolling country of Wilson County. The congregation dates back to 1852, when early settlers in this stretch of middle Tennessee first gathered to worship on these grounds. Today the church is led by Pastor Jason Mull, who has been preaching from the pulpit here since 2014, and the building still stands at 5745 Old Murfreesboro Road E. The rhythm of the week is unhurried and familiar: Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., morning worship at 10:30 a.m., and a Wednesday night Bible study at 6:45 p.m.
A Faith That Goes Back to the 1850s
Rocky Valley Baptist Church has been part of Lebanon for more than 170 years. The congregation dates its founding to 1852, when the area was still largely rural and the churches of Wilson County were being planted by pioneers who carried their Bibles with them wherever they settled. The church describes itself as a beacon of faith, rooted in the enduring principles of the Bible, and traces an unbroken thread from those early gatherings to the present-day body that still meets on the same stretch of Old Murfreesboro Road.
The long history is treated as a trust rather than a relic. Members speak of honoring the heritage while continuing to share the transformative message of Jesus Christ with future generations. Through wars, economic shifts, and the steady growth of Lebanon itself, the church has remained committed to the same conviction with which it began: the unwavering belief in the gospel.
What the Church Believes
Rocky Valley Baptist holds that the Bible is the unchanging and authoritative foundation for our faith and practice. The congregation is committed to traditional biblical doctrines and seeks to provide a space where individuals can deepen their understanding of Scripture and grow in their relationship with God. As part of the broader Baptist family, the church affirms the historic Baptist conviction that Scripture is the final authority for faith and life.
Rocky Valley's belief statement is short and clear. Members believe in the authority of God's Word, the centrality of Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life (quoting John 14:6), and the importance of teaching that connects the gospel to daily life. Worship services are designed to help believers grow in their understanding of the Scriptures and live out what they learn.
Worship That Mixes Hymns and Modern Songs
Sunday morning worship at Rocky Valley blends the richness of traditional theology with contemporary expressions of faith. The congregation sings hymns that have stood the test of time alongside modern worship songs that resonate with today's generation, celebrating the diversity of worship styles rather than choosing one over the other. The preaching is expository, walking through books of the Bible week by week, and Pastor Mull's messages tend to run around thirty minutes.
Sunday Morning at 5745 Old Murfreesboro Road
The Sunday schedule is straightforward. Sunday School meets at 9:30 a.m. with classes for every age, followed by the main worship service at 10:30 a.m. A nursery is available during the Sunday morning hours for the littlest children, so parents can attend their own classes and the worship service with one less thing on their minds. Recent sermon series have worked through Colossians, James, and Philippians under the theme "Rooted: Deep Faith in a Shallow World," with messages posted afterward on the church's YouTube channel.
Wednesday Nights at the Church
Wednesday night is when the ministries of the church come together. The evening kicks off at 6:45 p.m. with Bible study, and most of the church's small groups also meet at that hour. Nursery care is provided, so parents of young children can participate in adult classes. The midweek gathering is intentionally structured to give every member of the family a place: children have their own classes, students meet in their own group, young adults gather separately, and men and women each have their own ministry rhythms during the week.
RVBC Kids and RVBC Youth
The RVBC Kids Ministry puts the priority on learning about Jesus, Scripture memory, and hands-on fun. Classes are offered for Pre-K through fifth grade during Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and on Wednesday nights at 6:45 p.m. A nursery is available for infants and toddlers on both Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, so the whole family can be in classes at the same time. Josh and Brittany Hearn direct the children's ministry.
RVBC Youth aims to lead the next generation to take their stand for Christ in every aspect of middle and high school life. Classes for sixth through twelfth graders meet during Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and on Wednesday nights at 6:45 p.m. The Hearn family also leads this ministry, working closely with both the children's and student sides of the church's family discipleship plan.
Young Adults, Men, and Women
The RVBC Young Adults ministry focuses on keeping Jesus the priority in college, careers, and young families. The group meets Wednesday nights at 6:45 p.m., with nursery provided so that young parents can attend. Andrew and Kayla Groce lead the group.
Forged Men's Ministry is built around the proverb that iron sharpens iron. The group is committed to growing men into the leaders God created them to be. Bryan Kemp and Jason Mull lead, and meeting times are posted on the events calendar and social media.
The Valley Girls Women's Ministry is described as a real-life, deep dive into the Bible that challenges us to represent Jesus in every aspect of our lives. The group meets once a month at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, with Teea Green and Leitte Mull leading. Dates and topics are posted on the events calendar and social media.
Pastor Jason Mull and the Leadership Team
Pastor Jason Mull has faithfully served as pastor of Rocky Valley Baptist Church since 2014. His ministry is marked by expository preaching, a passion for discipleship, and a heart for the local church. He and his wife Leitte have four children: Cason, Carter, Makenlei, and Madi Jae. Beyond the church, Jason runs Steve Mull Plumbing, a family business serving Lebanon and Wilson County, and serves the wider community as an umpire in the Lebanon Youth Baseball Leagues, where he enjoys encouraging young athletes.
When he is not preaching or serving, Jason enjoys reading, playing music, traveling with his family, and spending time in the kitchen cooking. His philosophy sums up simply: Whether in the pulpit, in his home, or in the community, he strives to live with integrity and joy, always pointing others to the hope and life found in Jesus Christ.
A team of deacons oversees the work of the church, each with a defined focus. Irvin Boston leads Outreach and Fellowship, Bryan Kemp leads Adult Ministry, Mark Forkum oversees Family Care, Michael Lalonde directs Welcome and Reclaim, Larry Garrett oversees Missions, Gary Renfro handles Building and Grounds, Josh Hearn leads Children's Ministry, and Charles Scott leads Senior Adult Ministry.
A Pastor Who Writes
Pastor Jason writes regularly for the congregation and beyond, and his writing has become a recognizable part of Rocky Valley's ministry. Two recurring series come from his pen. Echos From The Valley shares insights from the previous week's sermon, expanding on the Scripture and themes from Sunday's preaching. Light In The Valley offers a biblical perspective on current events.
Recent posts have considered how Christians should think about politics and the limits of political hope, the value of every human life as bearers of God's image, the danger of borrowed convictions in an age of instant opinions, and the discipline of being doers of the Word rather than hearers only. The writing is pastoral in tone, often walking through a passage of Scripture and applying it directly to everyday decisions, whether that means resisting worry through prayer or refusing to let a thirty-second video shape what a person believes.
Family Events and Community Life
Throughout the year, Rocky Valley hosts family-friendly events that bring neighbors onto the property. Family adventure nights, seasonal gatherings, and youth activities are all part of the rhythm, along with women's and men's ministry events that vary by season. Online giving is available for those who want to support the church's work.
Visiting Rocky Valley Baptist
First-time visitors will find the church at 5745 Old Murfreesboro Road E, on the east side of Lebanon. Sunday School begins at 9:30 a.m. and the main worship service at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday night programming starts at 6:45 p.m. Nursery care is available during both Sunday morning and Wednesday night programs, so families with young children can attend adult classes with confidence. Visitors can connect by email at rockyvalleybaptistchurch@gmail.com.
Services are held in English, and the worship style is a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary songs. The preaching is expository, the atmosphere is described as friendly, and the people are committed to Scripture as their guide. Anyone visiting will find a small-group connection waiting for them on Wednesday night, a Sunday School class that fits their stage of life, and a pastor whose door is always open.