Two Centuries on State Road 144
Bluff Creek Christian Church is one of the oldest congregations in Johnson County, with roots reaching back to 1827, when 22 neighbors gathered in the home of Henry Brown for worship. Nine years later, those believers built their first meeting house from hewn logs with the help of local farmers. In 1884, the log structure was replaced with a new building at the church's present location on State Road 144. A tan brick veneer and additional classrooms followed in 1916, and tragedy reshaped the campus again on February 20, 1946, when the building was lost to fire. Immediate plans led to a Bedford limestone sanctuary, dedicated on May 22, 1949, with further additions in 1963 and 1970.
A new wing opened in 2012 with a children's area, a spacious auditorium that doubles as a gymnasium, a fellowship hall, and an adult wing with classrooms. The original limestone building still anchors the property, now housing the student center, church offices, and the Shoes for Souls shoe pantry. The church's mission is to be a congregation that shares its faith, grows in hope, and transforms lives through the love of Jesus.
Sunday Morning at Bluff Creek
Worship at Bluff Creek is contemporary and Bible-focused, blending modern music with teaching aimed at everyday application. The Sunday service begins at 10:00am, with adult Sunday school offered at 9:00am. Guests are invited to arrive early for coffee and a snack in the church cafe.
Parking is laid out in front of Building A, with reserved visitor spaces, accessible parking, additional parking behind Building B, and a lower lot. Dress runs the full range, from suits and ties to jeans and t-shirts. The whole service is livestreamed each week, and the church notes that in-person attendance is the primary way to experience the gathered community.
Bluff Creek sits a mile and a half east of the I-69 and SR 144 interchange, near the intersection of Smokey Row Road and SR 144, with entrances off either main roadway.
What Bluff Creek Believes
Bluff Creek holds to an evangelical Christian faith. The Bible is treated as God's word, written under the Holy Spirit's guidance and serving as the supreme source of truth for belief and living. God is Creator and Ruler, one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, rose again after three days, ascended to heaven, and will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer, offering power, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for daily life.
Human beings are made in God's image but are separated from him by sin. Salvation is a gift received by grace through faith, and the church teaches that baptism by immersion is the God-ordained response, associated with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. The church understands itself as the body of Christ on earth, called to share the good news, teach followers of Jesus to obey his teachings, and equip them for ministry. Heaven and hell are described as real, eternal destinations determined by a person's response to Christ.
Children, Students, and Young Adults
Children from birth through fifth grade meet in the children's wing during the 10:00am service, with check-in opening at 9:50am. Every volunteer who works with children is background checked and trained through the Ministry Safe program. The children's ministry focuses on relationships, outreach, kindness, and faith, working to root kids in God's word so they grow the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23.
Middle schoolers gather at 10:00am in the Embrace Classroom for their own time of teaching and friendship. High school students are welcomed into the main worship service and are also invited to Connect, the high school program that meets Sunday evenings at 6pm in the student center, October through May. Connect weaves together Bible study, music, and games in a small-group setting.
Young adults from their late teens into their early thirties have their own ministry, a community designed for college students, early-career adults, and people still figuring out their next steps. They gather for Bible study, service projects, and casual time together, with activities ranging from grilling out and pickleball at Kephart Park to group outings at Indianapolis Indians games.
Lifegroups and Adult Discipleship
Bluff Creek encourages every member to be part of a smaller group outside the Sunday service. The lifegroups program offers a mix of ongoing and seasonal small and midsize studies for adults, men, women, and students, with sign-ups coordinated through the Church Center app. Adult Sunday school meets at 9:00am, and a women's lifegroup works through 52 themes of Christian faith week by week, blending scripture and personal reflection. Other groups work through books like the M'Cheyne one-year reading plan, Ray Vander Laan's "That the World May Know" series, or the book of Ecclesiastes.
The church also points members toward free resources for individual study: a one-year Bible reading plan of its own, an M'Cheyne one-year reading plan, and curated links to BiblicalTraining.org, The Bible Project, Blue Letter Bible, and the resources of Dallas Willard Ministries.
Men, Women, and the Golden Group
The men's ministry meets Mondays at 6:30pm in the Gathering Room, gathering men for fellowship, faith, and discipleship. Women of Joy, the women's ministry, builds connection through events, teas, craft nights, and game nights, with hosts welcomed to put on gatherings at the church, at home, or in a local coffee shop. A Secret Sisters program pairs women in the church for prayer, encouragement, and a small gift during an annual luncheon.
The Golden Group is the church's ministry for retired adults, organizing outings, luncheons, and other events throughout the year for those who enjoy fellowship with other believers.
Movement and Healing
Revelation Wellness is a faith-and-fitness program that meets Wednesday mornings at 10:00am in the auditorium. Each class opens with scripture and prayer, then moves into safe, functional movement designed for all ages and abilities: core work, strength, balance, cardio, endurance, and mobility, with equipment and chairs available.
For those who have lost a loved one, Grief Share provides a steady, judgment-free place to process grief. Sessions mix guidance from grief experts with honest conversation and encouragement from others walking the same road, and people can join regardless of when their loss occurred.
Loving the Greenwood Community
The church partners with several local ministries to meet practical needs around Johnson County. The original limestone building houses Shoes for Souls, a shoe pantry, and the Bluff Creek Community Garden is part of the church's ongoing outreach. Bluff Creek also serves as a clearinghouse of information about other resources: food assistance through The Hub in Franklin, the Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County, drive-up groceries at First Christian Church of Bargersville, Meals on Wheels, the Franklin-area Trustee's Office, and The Refuge, a faith-based community outreach center. Lists of local Christian counselors, food pantries, free community meals, transitional housing, and shelter resources are also maintained for the community to use.
Going to the Nations
Global missions are part of the church's heartbeat. Bluff Creek partners with a network of organizations around the world, including AFCI, Camp Allendale, CBM in Brazil, India Mission, CRAM, CSF Indy, Extended Hand Ministries, GNPI, Hippo Valley, Johnson University, and TCM International Institute. Those who feel called to missions can connect through the church office.
The Pastoral Team
Jeremy Towne is the lead pastor and has served at Bluff Creek since 2012, stepping into his current role in 2020. A graduate of Anderson University, he is pursuing graduate studies with TCM International Institute. He and his wife Raegan have four children.
Sadie Arney is the associate pastor. She and her husband Mike joined Bluff Creek in 2008, began working in the office in 2012, became children's pastor in 2018, and took on her current associate role in 2020. She oversees the children's and women's ministries.
Dalton Mouser joined the team in 2024 as associate pastor focused on discipling 6th through 12th graders. A 2017 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University in youth ministry, he and his wife Caroline are devoted to helping the next generation grow in Christ.
Taking the Next Step
For those exploring faith, the baptistry is open every Sunday. The members class is a way to learn more about who Bluff Creek is, what it believes, and how to belong. Giving is supported through secure baskets at the back of the auditorium and through the Church Center app. The church office can be reached at (317) 422-5718 or office@bluffcreek.org.