Grand Opening of Nolensville

This past Sunday, February 12, 2023, we celebrated the Grand Opening of our new building at the Rolling Hills Nolensville Campus. Wow! What an amazing celebration it was. As I told everyone there on Sunday, we were truly standing on a miracle. Our God has done incredible work, and we are so grateful.

This was our first multi-site that we launched as a church 9 years ago. 9 years! Our God is so faithful. When we moved from the movie theater in Cool Springs to the Warehouse in Franklin, we knew it would be a challenge for people from Nashville and the surrounding area to drive all the way to south Franklin. We prayed and prepared to start this second campus. By God’s grace, we had a small launch team that agreed to go and we found our first location in Edmondson Elementary. We met there for two years before God opened the door for us to move to Nolensville Elementary. Jason Hale and David Curtis gave leadership to this young campus and they embedded themselves in the community of Nolensville.

After five years of meeting in the school, set up and tear-down every Sunday, the school told us that we needed to find a new place. There is a rule that you cannot be in a WCS school for over five years. We had no place to go. We had been looking and praying. Land in Nolensville was becoming more and more expensive. To buy land and build to the size we would need was cost-prohibitive. We knew we needed a miracle, and we began to call the church to pray.

We launched a Capital Campaign called, “For the Kingdom.” And, a major part of this initiative was a permanent church home in Nolensville. But where? Time was running out at the school. Yet, God was at work. We contacted every church we could find to see if we could lease space or meet there at night. Nothing. Then, God made a connection at a small church on Nolensville road called Revive. Revive had a great location, but the church was down to around 30 people. We began to meet and pray. They had 4 amazing, godly elders who caught the vision of us joining together. Then, just three years ago and after months of meetings and prayer, they voted to merge with us. This became our new Rolling Hills Nolensville campus. Only God!

By God’s grace, we went from having no place to go to now having 10 acres on Nolensville Road with a building (albeit a small building). Well, the campus started to grow, and it became obvious that we were going to outgrow the building. With the Capital Campaign, we were able to secure the resources needed to start building a brand-new building. This past Sunday, what a celebration to move into this new space.

As I worshiped our great God on Sunday, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for how He provides. When we think there is no way, God always comes through. And, He comes through with “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.” All glory to our great God! Then, I thought about that early launch team. For 9 years, setting-up and tearing-down every Sunday. We laughed together in the lobby about the big yellow truck with all our sound and kid’s equipment inside that wouldn’t start on really cold mornings, the having babies in the school hallways or even using outdoor port-a-potties on Sunday mornings. I am so grateful for these incredible servants of God being so faithful through the years. Way to go!

After the service, I talked to all four of the elders from Revive. They were all in tears. The head elder buried his head into my shoulder and sobbed. He said, “This is everything we dreamed of. We knew God was going to do something big here and impact lives for Jesus and look at this.” His wife stood by him, his daughter, his grandkids and the lobby filled with people.

Eugene Peterson writes about, “A long obedience in the same direction.” Sunday was evidence of this. Jason, David, Becky, Mark, Emily, Bill, Charlotte, Danny, Eric, Larry, Patrick, Shaun, Sarah, Chrissy, Toni, Randy, Ken, Phi, Bill and so many more who sacrificed for years to see God build His Church in their community to impact generations for Christ Jesus. Sunday was incredible – everyone worshiping, celebrating and eating cupcakes. There was triple the number of people from a normal Sunday, confetti cannons and indoor bathrooms. It was awesome, but Sunday was not the end; it was only the beginning. Think about how many lives will be impacted for Christ. Think about how many people will give their lives to Jesus, be baptized, marriages dedicated and saved, and the next generation raised up with a spiritual foundation to become the next great spiritual leaders. All glory to our great God for what He has done and for what He will do. Our God is just getting started in His Church and in our lives. The best is yet to come!

Thank You, Father, for Rolling Hills Nolensville. We dedicate this new building to You as Your Church! Fill it up with Your Spirit and wear it out with children, families, joy, laughter and ministry. This is Your House, and we are Your people. Come, Lord Jesus. We give Rolling Hills Nolensville to You for this Grand Opening Sunday and for many years to come.