One Body on McFarland Avenue
Rossville Church of Christ meets at 1100 McFarland Avenue in Rossville, Georgia, just south of Chattanooga where Walker County meets the Tennessee state line. The congregation describes itself with three phrases: "ONE BODY, LOVING GOD, MAKING DISCIPLES." That motto shapes everything from unaccompanied Sunday singing to a Monday-evening food pantry that feeds roughly 150 families each week.
Elders Mark Crowder and Hal Hunt shepherd the flock alongside four ministers: Jack James as Senior Minister, Andy Baumberger on the pulpit, Adam Miller overseeing the Connections ministry, and Alan Pitchford serving youth and family. Their shared leadership holds together a church that is family-centered in its culture and outward in its service.
Sunday at 9:30, 10:30, and 6:00
The Sunday rhythm opens at 9:30 a.m. with Bible classes for every age, from nursery through adult. Classes gather around tables to teach God's Word together across generations.
At 10:30 a.m. the family moves into the auditorium for worship. Voices lift together in unaccompanied songs of praise - believers themselves are the instruments, the church teaches. Bibles open together as one of the ministers guides the mind through a passage. The Lord's Supper is shared each Sunday morning as a remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Sunday evening brings the family back together at 6:00 p.m. for a congregation-wide, intergenerational discussion class. Ministers walk through a single passage in an informal setting, and the floor is open for comments and questions. The relaxed feel invites members and visitors to dig into Scripture in their own words.
Wednesdays and Tuesdays in the Word
Midweek, the building fills again. Wednesday Bible classes begin at 6:30 p.m. for kids, youth, and adults, offering a place to break up a busy week and be refreshed and recharged. A short devotional with a few songs follows in the auditorium at 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday mornings offer another Bible study at 10:00 a.m., running September through May. Together, the Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday gatherings turn the whole week into a steady rhythm rooted in Scripture, with three weekly teaching times on the schedule.
Groups for Every Stage of Life
The groups ministry turns the rest of the week into smaller circles of belonging. OWLS (Older Wiser Livelier Saints) is the church's senior adults group. The Families group gathers households striving to raise their children in a godly manner and shares life over meals and get-togethers. The Ladies Ministry centers its activities on Christ while making time for fun and spiritual service.
Young Adults ages 18 to 30 meet weekly for Bible study with regular outings sprinkled through the year. The Youth Group serves sixth through twelfth grades with weekly classes plus added events to grow closer to God and to one another. Praise Park serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a hands-on, visually interactive way to learn the Bible. The congregation also participates in Lads to Leaders, a program that trains children and teens in leadership, Bible knowledge, and Scripture recitation.
Monday Food Pantry and Year-Round Missions
Beyond its walls the church runs a Food Pantry every Monday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. All the food is donated by local stores and distributed from the pantry on the church property. On a typical week an average of 150 families are served, and donations from the wider community keep the shelves stocked.
The mission reach stretches well beyond Rossville. Stateside partners include In Search of the Lord's Way, the UTC Student Center, Church of Christ Disaster Relief, Greater Chattanooga Christian Services, and Chattanooga Area Outreach. International partners include Andrew Young in Australia, James & Meredith in Thessalonica, David Nance in India, Chris & Michelle Herd in New Zealand, Robert Hall & Kyle Clayton in India, and Carlos & Emily Hernandez in Latin America.
What the Church Believes
The Rossville church of Christ describes itself as a family united in the Father, Son, and Spirit by His abundant grace. Members strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and to stand on the eternal truth of His inspired Word. Because He loves so deeply, they seek to obey the Greatest Commandment to love God with everything they are. True love for God flows out into love for neighbors; true love for neighbors motivates them to make disciples of Jesus.
The church exists, members say, "to make disciples of Jesus Christ by His grace and for His glory." Making disciples includes going, baptizing, and teaching others to obey Jesus, with each member using his or her unique gifts to help others reach maturity in Christ.
Visitor Basics and Online Resources
First-time visitors can reach the church at 706-866-1119 or at contact@rossvillecoc.org. A Fellowship Form gives visitors an easy way to introduce themselves, and a separate "Get Involved" form connects those ready to serve.
Audio and video from services and classes appear on the church's YouTube channel, and Sunday services are livestreamed on YouTube. The "Streams of Water Bible Study Podcast" is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Online giving is available through the church's portal, and a digital directory, leadership calendar, duty rosters, and bulletins are archived online. The church is active on Facebook and Instagram at @rossville_coc.