Ordinary Folks Wanting More of Jesus
Celebration Church Tri-Cities sits on Shipley Ferry Road in Blountville, Tennessee, in the rolling hills of Sullivan County, and reaches across the broader Tri-Cities region of Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City. The church's own description of itself is one of the most candid around: "Ordinary folks wanting more of Jesus in our lives and healing for our community. We've found hope and we don't mind sharing." Pastors and members use the word "celebration" because the joy of being in Christ is meant to be visible, audible, and shared. With three weekend services plus a Wednesday night gathering, more than twenty ministry opportunities, and a separate Worship Arts program offering over 45 creative arts classes, the church is structured to make it easy for a first-time visitor to find a place to belong.
Come As You Are: A Casual, Family-Friendly Building
Celebration Church wants visitors to feel comfortable from the first step inside. "We don't dress up and don't expect you to," the church says plainly. "Come rest, and see what God may have in store." The atmosphere is built around Biblical themes in the music and a relaxed environment, and greeters are positioned to welcome newcomers. The building is described as "big and can be confusing at first," which is why a short video tour is available to help first-time families find their way to the worship center, children's areas, nursery, and café.
Worship services are designed for the whole family. Infants through age three are cared for in the Praise and Play Nursery by background-checked teachers and volunteers. Celebration Kids classes run during the Sunday services at 9:15 am and 11:00 am and on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm. There is no Saturday night children's ministry, but the Saturday service is intentionally simpler for adults and families with older children.
For newcomers, the church encourages three small steps: check your kids and babies in, grab a coffee from the Celebration Café, and make yourself at home. The church specifically tells first-time guests not to bring money and to take their time meeting people. "We are a big bunch but we don't bite."
Three Days of Worship: Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday
Celebration Church gathers for worship on three different days each week, giving flexibility for shift workers, traveling families, and anyone who wants a quieter Saturday evening service.
- Saturday at 6:30 pm: A Saturday night worship service held in person and online, often described as the church's smaller and more reflective gathering.
- Sunday at 9:15 am: The first of two Sunday morning services, with full children's programming available.
- Sunday at 11:00 am: The second Sunday morning service, also with children's programming.
- Wednesday at 6:30 pm: A midweek service combined with Community Groups, often anchored by a Wednesday Night Family Supper that begins at 4:30 pm in the kitchen and Summit Lobby.
On Sunday mornings before the first service, men gather at 8:35 am in Room S206 to pray for the country, for leaders, and for their own families. Each service blends congregational worship with expository preaching. The focus of each sermon is built around the point of the Biblical text being addressed, and the church places a high priority on the preaching and teaching of God's Word. Services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who cannot attend in person, and a sermon archive is available on the church's YouTube channel.
An Evangelical, Interdenominational Faith Led by the Spirit
Celebration Church describes itself as "an evangelical, interdenominational church with a message of God's grace for the Tri-Cities and the world." The church is non-denominational in affiliation but deeply committed to historic Christian doctrine. Core values include a community of believers in Jesus, celebration of God's love, an invitation for every person to join God's family, leadership by the Holy Spirit, adherence to Biblical truth, theological liberty on non-essential issues, development of growing followers of Christ, empowerment of individuals for personal ministry, sharing God's message with the world, and being "real" through transparency and honesty.
The church's mission is rooted in Matthew 28:18-20: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I commanded you." Its vision statement is to "worship Jesus in spirit and truth without fear, while also being a place to heal - emotionally, physically, and spiritually."
Beliefs include the one true God expressed in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, crucifixion, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; the headship of Christ over the church and His bodily return; the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit; the total depravity of humanity and salvation by grace through faith alone in Christ; the inerrancy of Scripture; the eternal security of the believer; the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the ordinances of Christian water baptism and the Lord's Supper; and the centrality of the local church as the Body of Christ. Theological differences on non-essentials are welcomed within these core commitments.
The Pastoral Team and the Elders Who Shepherd This Church
Robert F. Russell, PhD, has served as Lead Pastor of Celebration Church for more than 25 years and also serves as an Elder. He holds a BA from Emory and Henry College, an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia, an MA and MDiv from Luther Rice Seminary, and a PhD from Regent University. He previously worked in the Financial Division of Eastman Chemical Company and taught as a professor at Emory and Henry College and adjunct at King College. His wife, Michelle Anne Russell, leads the Worship Arts Ministry.
Jonathan Meo serves as Associate Pastor and has been involved with the church for over 20 years, with experience across worship, teaching, children, youth, young adults, and recovery ministry. He holds a Bachelor's in Bible and Religion from King University and a Master of Divinity from Regent University. Russell Jessee serves as Assistant Pastor and leads Bible study groups, with a particular heart for men to know God as their Father. Della Walker is the Ministries Minister and a graduate of ETSU and Emmanuel Christian Seminary (M.Div and D.Min). Louis Brittz serves as Worship Pastor and is a worship songwriter and musician from Pretoria, South Africa, who has been with the church full time since 2017.
The Elder team supporting pastoral leadership includes Rod Healy, Saul Hernandez, Jim Moore, Bob Rogers, Steve Smith, Bert Tagert, Gert Van Der Westhuizen, and Michael West. Elders serve as overseers of the church, not as directors, seeking to submit to the Lordship of Jesus and to the divine direction of the Holy Spirit.
Other key ministry leaders include Hannah Shank (Children's Ministry Director), Maggie Smith (318 Young Adult Ministry), James Shank (Youth Pastor), Sarah Haun (Adult Ministries), Leigh Sexton (Women's Minister), Ken Walker (Men's Ministry Coordinator), Tony Henson (Missions Coordinator), Ginger Story (Real Life Minister), Robin Henson (In His Image Ministries Director), Hettie Brittz (Family Ministry Consultant), Sheila Sproles (Dreamers Senior Coordinator), Tammy McFaddin (Nursery Coordinator), and Alicia Davis (Tech Manager).
From the Praise and Play Nursery to the Dreamers Senior Ministry
Celebration Church organizes its ministry around the entire life span. At the youngest end is the Praise and Play Nursery, which serves infants through age three during every worship service - Wednesday, Saturday, and both Sunday services. The nursery averages around 100 infants and toddlers each week across three classrooms, with a volunteer-to-child ratio between 1:3 and 1:4. Children participate in center playtime, interactive music, Bible teaching, crafts, and light snacks. Each parent serves one rotation per quarter. Baby dedications are also available.
Celebration Kids serves children from age three through elementary with Sunday classes at both morning services and Wednesday night programming. The Children's Ministry also runs Celebration Station, an after-school program. Hannah Shank directs the ministry, with Carter Henry as Children's Ministry Assistant.
Celebration Youth Ministry (CYM) gathers middle school and high school students on Wednesday nights from 6:15 to 7:45 pm in the Summit Gym, with Sunday morning Bible study at 9:30 am during the school year. Youth activities include retreats, basketball skills camps, paintball, downtown service projects, and small groups. James Shank serves as Youth Pastor.
318 is the church's young adult ministry for ages 18-24, meeting most Friday nights and rotating through worship nights, bowling, pickleball, game nights, and theme nights around the Tri-Cities. The ministry is named in the spirit of 2 Peter 3:18, growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Maggie Smith serves as the 318 Ministry Director.
For adults, Sarah Haun oversees Adult Ministries with Celebration Connect classes, discipleship classes, and Community Groups that include Home Groups, Growth Groups, Bible Studies, Online Groups, Prayer Groups, Mentoring, Watch-Parties, Special Interest Groups, and Service Groups. A Spiritual Gifts Assessment is offered at any time.
For seniors, the Dreamers ministry - coordinated by Sheila Sproles - reaches out to older adults in the congregation. The Men's Ministry under Ken Walker meets for Bible studies, breakfasts, and cookouts and even hosts "Ladies Oil Change" days where the men serve women in need with basic car services. Leigh Sexton leads the Women's Ministry under the GLOW name (Girlfriends Living Out Worship), hosting the bi-monthly "Live It Up!" women's events, conferences, retreats, the monthly "The Table" potluck luncheon on the first Tuesday of the month, and ongoing Bible studies including a chapter-by-chapter walk through Romans. Phyllis Runyon co-leads the Celebration Singles ministry along with a Divorce Recovery group.
Worship and Worship Arts: Music, Dance, Drama, and the Creative Arts
The Worship Ministry at Celebration is anchored by more than 80 musicians, singers, and choir members who lead congregational worship on weekends, at youth events, camps, and conferences. The team works from a mix of original worship songs written and produced by the church and from established hymns and contemporary songs. As Worship Pastor Louis Brittz puts it, the team's prayer is "to be loud and in tune but invisible" so that God receives the glory.
The Worship Arts Ministry is a separate but related program offering over 45 classes in dance, drama, music, and visual arts. It began in 2003 under Michelle Anne Russell, who continues as Worship Arts Minister. Classes include ballet, hip hop, tap, pre-dance, tumbling, contemporary dance, worship flags, sewing, percussion, praise band, art, drama, acting, stagecraft, chess, crochet, sign language, spoken words, swordsMANship (boys only), Latin fusion fitness, and worship flags for adults. Private lessons are available in guitar, ukulele, voice, piano, mandolin, bass, violin/fiddle, and drums.
Worship Arts classes are Christ-centered, include a weekly devotional, and use Christian music. Many classes have the chance to perform in weekend worship services and at outreach locations. A monthly tuition structure based on total family class hours keeps pricing family-friendly. The Tech Team - led by Alicia Davis as Tech Manager - runs sound, lights, lyrics, cameras, and streaming week in and week out to provide a distraction-free experience in services and online.
Family Café and Real Life Care: Walking Through Marriage, Parenting, and Hard Seasons
Family Café, led by contracted Family Ministry Consultant Hettie Brittz, is a "space of grace" for anyone in the marriage or parenting trenches - single parents, dating couples, grandparents, first-time moms, blended families, and anyone wanting to love and live better with others. Family Café describes itself as a "hug you rather than a how to" ministry. Free family counseling is available to church members by emailing Hettie to make an appointment, and the team can refer members to other counselors.
Family Café also offers parenting classes and seminars, including the six-session Evergreen Parenting Course, which covers adult and child temperament, healthy authority, compassionate discipline, and the eight types of misbehavior. Classes are repeated each quarter and are available to the community around the church.
Real Life Care is the umbrella under which the church provides pastoral care, resources, and comfort during the celebrations, losses, traumas, crises, and transitions of life. Real Life Minister Ginger Story leads Celebration Friends and Whole Life Healing. The In His Image Ministries Director, Robin Henson, provides spiritual, emotional, and practical encouragement through pastoral care, discipleship counseling, Christian coaching, and support for special needs families. Robin also walks with people experiencing depression and ADHD, and oversees the church's special needs ministry, including within the Worship Arts program where private music lessons are available for people with special needs. Pastoral care for freedom from pornography and other struggles is also offered.
Missions: 34 Partners in Northeast Tennessee and Around the World
Celebration Church treats the Great Commission as a central part of its identity. The Missions Ministry, coordinated by Tony Henson, supports 34 organizations and missionaries both locally and internationally through prayer, financial support, and personal involvement. The church also offers short-term missions support up to $1,500 per year for members attending evangelistic mission trips.
Domestic partners include Bancroft Bible Camp, Bristol Faith in Action, Campus Crusade for Christ, Community UMC, Crossroads Medical Mission (a free mobile medical clinic for the uninsured), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Friends in Need (medical care for the working uninsured in Kingsport), the Gideons, Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, Harvest Childcare Ministries (intensive services for hurting children), Haven of Mercy Rescue Mission (food and shelter in Johnson City), Haven of Rest (food and shelter in Bristol), Hope Haven Ministries, Hope House (crisis pregnancy ministry), Kingsport Community Ministry Center, Summit Leadership, The Well (outreach to college students), Vision Productions (camps and marriage retreats), and Young Life.
International partners include Bring Love In (Ethiopia), Avant Ministries (Mexico), Grace For the Children, KECU Russian Mission (Bible school in Russia), Manna International (orphanages, schools, and leprosy treatment centers in India - Celebration is the sole provider for 75 children), Mission Aviation Fellowship, New Life Fellowship Phnom Penh Thmey (Cambodia), Victorious Children's Home/Serving Orphans Worldwide (Kenya), and TEAM (Karanda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe).
Get Connected: Wednesday Suppers, Service Central, and Giving
Wednesday nights are designed as the church's main midweek gathering point. The Wednesday Night Family Supper begins at 4:30 pm in the kitchen, followed at 6:30 pm by the Wednesday Night Service and Community Groups. Volunteers are needed in the kitchen, the nursery, the café, and the worship team. Service Central helps connect new volunteers to one of the many serving opportunities in the church.
For newcomers, the Saturday Night and Sunday morning services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, online giving is available through the church's Realm account, and a sermon archive is available on YouTube. The church office can be reached at 423-323-3969 during business hours.
Celebration Church Tri-Cities is not about a building or a complicated religious system - it is about the relationships, the gifts, the ministries, and the people who come together to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. The door is open. The dress is casual. The coffee is hot. And the heart is set on more of Jesus.