Greeneville, Tenn.

New start: Greeneville, Tenn., is a growing community positioned between the Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol metro area and Knoxville. While the area reflects strong Bible Belt culture and openness to conversations about faith, currently no confessional Lutheran church serves the community. A committed core group, supported by nearby WELS congregations in Johnson City and Morristown, has been meeting regularly and actively engaging with the community. Greeneville represents an opportunity to establish a confessional Lutheran presence in a community where none currently exists.

Fast facts:

  • Greeneville serves a county population of approximately 70,000 people, functioning as a regional hub for surrounding rural communities.
  • The nearest WELS congregations are located 33–35 miles away in Johnson City and Morristown.
  • A core group of 14 people has been meeting regularly and has already hosted public worship services, drawing more than 40 people to its first service and averaging mid‑20s attendance at subsequent gatherings.
  • Outreach efforts have included door‑to‑door canvassing, participation in community events, and local advertising, resulting in nine new families added to the prospect list and multiple repeat worship visitors.

Contacts:

Chip and Steph Mauer, Core group members