A Year in Review

We’re rapidly approaching one year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Knoxville. Everyone’s tired of it. We all miss doing things and seeing people! But just so you know, COVID-19 did not stop Central Bearden from thriving in ministry this year:

Children

Our Children’s Ministry completed three virtual camps – VBS, Art Camp, and Jr Chef Camp! Just over 300 children attended and we were not limited to Knoxville. We had campers attending from Georgia, South Carolina, Idaho, and Hawaii!

In the fall, we also kicked off our new Wednesday night formats – WAM and M&M – successfully. In WAM, elementary children rotate through sessions of Worship, Activities, and Missions. Preschoolers gather for Music & Missions.

And rising kindergarteners received their own Adventure Bibles in a special Sunday Morning ceremony!

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Students

At the start of the pandemic, our Student Ministry adapted in-person events to “CB Students Virtual” – offering live video Bible Studies, Worship, Movie Nights, games, and much more. We were able to later shift to a hybrid format, offering both in-person and virtual platforms so all students had the opportunity to join.

The Student Ministry also worked to adapt special events such as graduate recognition, Thanksgiving Feast, summer camps, and our Christmas party. In addition to these events, we sponsored stations for the Trunk-or-Treat and Christmas Drive-Thru events.

“Our students are resilient and have continued to stay committed to their spiritual growth attending both in-person and virtually through 2020. We have incredible students and youth ministers that have adapted to change and continue to be Christ Centered. We are looking forward to seeing what God brings for 2021 regardless of what changes might occur!” – Nick Campbell

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Preschool Weekday

Our Preschool Weekday Program returned to their classrooms and worked hard to ensure special programs and activities, such as Trick or Treat, Thanksgiving Feast, and the Nativity Pageant were able to continue safely.

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College & Young Adults

In addition to adapting their gatherings, the college and young adults groups have adjusted to changes in leadership over the past year.

At the end of the Fall Semester, Josh Hickey enlisted the help of the young adults to pack just over eighty finals care packages to send to our college students as well as any of their friends or roommates they wanted to share with.

Our young adults found a new love for trivia nights, held a Thanksgiving Feast in the CORE, and sponsored Operation Christmas Child boxes together!

At Christmas, the college students and young adults gathered for a trivia night Christmas party in the CORE!

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Church-Wide Events

We had to get pretty creative with some of our typical events this year. The Deane Hill Diner volunteers held two “Drive-Thru Diner” nights in Spring 2020.

The annual Pumpkin Carving Event moved outdoors and welcomed guests from the community as well as church families!

Our annual Fall Festival became a Drive-Thru Trunk-or-Treat! Church groups decorated their trunks and we opened our roads to the community for a COVID-friendly Trunk or Treat event! We estimate just over 200 cars attended in the three hour event.

Inspired by the success of the Trunk or Treat event, we also hosted our first Christmas Drive-Thru! Just over 300 cars attended this community event. Church ministries again sponsored stations designed to tell the Nativity story as well as feature other fun Christmas activities.

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Milestones

We celebrated special milestones together this year: the ministerial ordinations of Bekah Rhea and Joyce Cope Wyatt, the deacon ordination of Nathan Johnson, three baptisms of young members of our congregation, and some significant anniversaries on staff – 30 Years for Mark Moreland, 20 Years for Pam Robertson, 10 Years for Wade Bibb, and 5 Years for Trey Ogle!

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Missions

The BLOOM Center kicked off its second year with new students and an expanding program for Adults with Special Abilities! The Girl Scouts pitched in to build a water harvesting system, and our volunteers added more potting stations and tables!

We were able to continue serving our community through missions by delivering weekly Mobile Meals at Cagle Terrace, community ramp building through Operation Backyard, FISH Pantry packing, Food Drives for students in need at Bearden Elementary and West High School, Christmas Giving Opportunities, Samaritan Ministry’s Drive-Thru Thanksgiving, a Flu Shot Clinic, Pro Dads (pre-COVID), numerous Small Jobs Ministry projects, over thirty beds delivered through Knox Furniture Ministry, and so much more!