Tim was raised in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. His journey with God started out in a Christian reform school in the heart of southern Georgia. It was there that he encountered some authentic Christian people who really cared, leading him to experience the redemptive power of Christ s love. Tim later went on to college and received a degree in Biblical Studies. As someone who always had a pioneering spirit, he began to focus his entrepreneurial skills and sensibilities toward starting new kingdom ventures. Over the last 20 years, by God s grace, he helped plant two churches in both urban and suburban contexts, started a campus ministry, an inner city mentor program for at-risk youth, as well as several businesses. Tim also co-authored a book with Alan Hirsch entitled The Permanent Revolution where they outline the movemental significance of the five-fold ministries for both personal and organizational development. For the past 4 years, Tim has been coaching and consulting planters, church leaders and training organizations on how to become more movemental in their approach to discipleship, community, and mission. After this extended season of investing in other leaders, Tim and his wife Tiffany have been called by God to re-enter the field to plant churches again. Tiffany grew up in Montgomery, AL where she was actively involved in mentoring teenagers and adults in under-resourced urban neighborhoods. After receiving her degree in social work, she began focusing her experience and training around ministering to women as well as empowering women in their callings for ministry. Tiffany is passionate about efforts related to social justice and sustainability. In the recent past she has volunteered with Hope Pregnancy Center as a Mom2Mom mentor, while running her own start-up business called GreenHouse: Natural Products, Healthy People. Tim and Tiffany value leading together as a team and, after 14 years of marriage, have learned how to draw from each others unique giftings to meet the diverse challenges of pioneering leadership.
With what seems like a church on every corner, do we really need more church planting in Nashville? Think again. While Nashville has traditionally been known as the buckle of the Bible belt, did you know that over the past 20 years that belt has been steadily unbuckling? Check out these stats: 19 out of 20 churches are in decline 30 foreign people groups with less than 2% gospel witness 75% of the population is not attending a church This unbuckling of the Bible belt is a reflection of a much larger trend taking place across the entire religious landscape of America. Nashville a global opportunity The Nashville region is becoming the epicenter of a cultural renaissance. Take a look at these developing trends. Projected population growth of 1.8 to 3 million over the next 25 yrs. Fastest growing immigrant population in US Nashville Metropolitan Government The IT city New York Times 2013 No majority race or ethnicity by 2040 NashvilleNext Report 2nd most vibrant creative city in the nation National Center for Arts Research As a magnet for creatives in a diversity of industries, Nashville is becoming an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation. With the racial and ethnic identity of the city continuing to diversify, this is quickly becoming a global city. In the midst of this avant-garde culture, we are presented with a strategic opportunity to, quite literally, influence the world.
When Jesus started his public ministry, the religious landscape was filled with a diversity of religious groups - Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots to name a few. Each one of these groups had a specific way of engaging culture to bring about change. To varying degrees, each group made their mark, for better or worse, on the realities of their day. However, for the most part, their efforts to bring about change were largely unrealized. Jesus stepped onto this diverse religious landscape and, interestingly enough, chose not to adopt any of those existing strategies. More of the same would only lead to well more of the same. Jesus had a new message the kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news. This new message required a new method - follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Jesus strategy was to create an alternative culture that was both redemptive and generative. Over time, this new culture ended up multiplying into every cultural pocket of the Roman Empire. Jesus started a missional movement that continues to influence the world to this day. Our vision is to be a transformative movement of discipleship, community, and mission that saturates the entire Nashville metropolitan area, and beyond. This vision is radical, but it s not new. It s rooted in the ancient ways of Jesus himself. Using the message and methods of our founder, we will be the change that we want to see.
Our values will be like a rudder on a ship. They will help us stay on course as we navigate the constantly shifting waters of our existing culture. GOSPEL The good news that God reigns, in Jesus, through his incarnation, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, by the power of the Holy Spirit. DISCIPLESHIP The relational process of being supported and stretched to become more like Jesus. COMMUNITY A rugged faithfulness to walk with one another through highs and lows, knowing and being known through a shared rhythm of life. GIFTINGS Each one of us has been uniquely gifted by Christ with a fivefold ministry, and can be naturally supernatural with the gifts of the Spirit. Everyone gets to play. MISSION The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit send us into the world to participate in their mission of renewing all things. INNOVATION In order to reach people no one is reaching, we will have to do things no one is doing, and go places no one is going.
We will have three primary vehicles to help us pursue our vision and practice our values. T-GROUPS MISSIONAL COMMUNTIES PUBLIC WORSHIP GATHERINGS 4-6 people who meet weekly to be discipled into the comprehension, competency and character of Jesus. 20-50 people who gather regularly as an extended family, to develop their UP-ward relationship with God, their IN-ward relationships with one another, and their OUT-ward relationships with a particular neighborhood or network. 70+ people who gather weekly to cast vision, celebrate what God is doing, meaningfully connect with others in the movement, and communicate the gospel in compelling ways. The movement, as well as the first local church plant, will be called OneLife.
1 2 3 Launch First T-Group Launch Missional Community Multiply T-Group & Missional Community 4 Launch Public Worship Gathering 5 Multiply T-Groups, MC s & Churches
Partner With Us PRAY God is the true pioneer who goes before us and blazes the trail. Will you pray that we will have the courage to follow his lead and rely on his power and presence to fulfill his calling in our lives? NETWORK Will you introduce us to friends and family who might be interested in hearing about what we are doing? JOIN We are praying for God to show us people who may want to join us in Nashville as we see this vision become a reality. If that s you, we would love to talk with you. GIVE Would you pray about investing financially through monthly or one time giving? All gifts will be tax deductible. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3-5 CHECK ONLINE Send checks to: OneLife PO BOX 330576 Nashville TN 37203-1266 What Our Partners Can Expect From Us Stories from the frontlines through once a month email updates. Yearly Giving Statements for your tax records. A return on investment through diligent implementation of the vision.