Wilson County churches: The Journey Church school update; Bridge Fellowship buys property
The Journey Church in Lebanon is moving forward on a building renovation as well as plans to launch a private school starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
Executive Pastor Matt Espenshade said the growth will be done in smaller phases to minimize long-term debt and will ultimately further its children's ministry.
The Journey Church has a master plan, starting with renovations to the church’s exterior, covered walkways and gymnasium expected to finish in June.
More than 100 parking spaces and a refreshed branding are also planned at the church located at 1240 Leeville Pike in Lebanon. The Journey Church moved into the former West Hills Baptist building in 2020.
Ryan Coatney has been named the head of the new school at The Journey Church, which will offer a classical curriculum with a Christian worldview, Espenshade said.
The future school will begin with grades 1-6. Kindergarten and grades 7-12 be added in future years and some could be part of the initial launch, Coatney said. The future name has not been decided.
Enrollment is expected to start in late 2024. Updates will be available on https://www.tjclive.com/the-school-at-tjc.
The Bridge Fellowship buys nearby church property, may expand
The Bridge Fellowship in Lebanon is evaluating campus expansion in addition to a recent purchase of a nearby white church building and property at the corner of Powell Grove Road and Lebanon Road.
The church building just purchased was last occupied by Powell Grove Church of Christ and is just west of The Bridge Fellowship campus.
The Bridge Fellowship is using the property as a multi-use space and for extra parking while various options are being explored for more long-term uses, Communications Coordinator Chelsea Yarosh said.
“We are excited about the ability to use the extra space,” Yarosh said.
The Bridge Fellowship draws between 1,300 and 1,500 attendees for Sunday services.
The church is also evaluating future expansion plans on its campus at 5066 Lebanon Road to keep up with growth, Yarosh said.
New Tribe moves forward on new Mt. Juliet campus
New Tribe Church, which meets in Mt. Juliet’s Valley Center, is finalizing design plans to build on about 12 acres on Clemmons Road near East Division Street that the church now owns.
The church has gotten annexation approval into Mt. Juliet and preliminary site plan approval, Executive Pastor Mike Cole said.
New Tribe is hopeful to start moving dirt this year, Cole said.
Liberty Church campus site launched in Mt. Juliet
The former Music City Baptist Church at 7104 Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet near State Route 109 has evolved into a satellite congregation of Liberty Church.
Brad Braggs is the campus pastor of the church that had its official launch with the Liberty name on Jan. 28, administrative assistant Tammy Crawford said.
The nondenominational Christian church averages around 120 per Sunday. Liberty campus churches are also in York, South Carolina and Clover, South Carolina.
The Mt. Juliet church also offers the Great Legacy Seniors program at 10 a.m., each Wednesday for ages 55-over in the community.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The Bridge Fellowship in Wilson County buys nearby church property
