Teaching Truth on Preston Highway in Shepherdsville
Little Flock Baptist Church sits along North Preston Highway in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, in the rolling country between Louisville and Bardstown. The tagline that frames the whole church is short and direct: Teaching Truth. Making Disciples. Reaching the Nations.
On Sunday mornings, cars fill the parking lot as families stream toward two morning services at 9:00 and 10:45 AM. Visitors are greeted at the door, children are escorted to age-appropriate rooms, and a worship band leads the congregation in modern, Scripture-rooted songs before the sermon begins. Little Flock, in the words of Lead Pastor Nate Ashbaugh, is built around a single, simple mission: To Know Jesus and Make Jesus Known.
Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known
Pastor Nate unpacks that mission in a welcome statement. Knowing Jesus, he says, is more than gathering information; it is about entering a personal, life-changing relationship with Him as a disciple. Making Jesus known drives everything from how members serve their neighbors to how they share the hope of the gospel and build meaningful relationships. Little Flock takes seriously the Great Commission of Matthew 28 to go into all the world and make disciples of every nation.
The church's statement of faith weaves that conviction through classic Baptist doctrine. Little Flock confesses one true and living God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons with distinct personal attributes but one essence. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son who, in His incarnation, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and provided redemption for humanity through His death on the cross.
The Holy Spirit is confessed as fully divine, the one who exalts Christ, convicts of sin and righteousness, and empowers believers and the church for worship, evangelism, and service. The Bible is received as God's revelation to humanity, written by men divinely inspired, totally true and trustworthy, and centered on Christ. Human beings, made in God's image as His crowning creation, possess dignity and worth, and salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, by whose blood eternal redemption is obtained.
What a Sunday Morning Looks Like
The week gathers around Sunday morning worship. Two services run back-to-back at 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM, both held in the Worship Center. Worship at Little Flock has a modern feel, with a full band and vocal team guiding the room in song. Members are quick to note that although the team strives for excellence, worship here is not a performance; it is a way of life the church extends to everyone in the pews.
Sermons are livestreamed on Vimeo, and a sermon archive keeps past messages available. Visitors are invited to dress comfortably, bring questions, and arrive a few minutes early to find parking and settle in. Friendly greeters meet each guest at the door, and a casual meet-and-greet after the service gives newcomers a relaxed chance to connect.
LF Kidz: Birth Through Fifth Grade
Children's ministry is one of the busiest parts of the building. LF Kidz welcomes children from six weeks old through fifth grade and seeks to partner with parents in raising children who will become faithful followers of Christ. Children learn through Bible study, praise and worship, and a steady rotation of fun activities that help them grow in their knowledge of the Bible and develop a lasting relationship with Jesus.
On Sunday mornings the rooms divide by age. At 9:00 AM there are Community Groups for Nursery (six weeks to 17 months), Preschool (18 months through PreK), and Elementary (Kindergarten through fourth grade). Fifth graders attend the worship service together with their families. At 10:45 AM the same age groups return, plus a dedicated Elementary Kidz Worship: K and first graders meet in Room 211, and second through fourth graders gather in Room 200.
On Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM the Kidz Wing offers two tracks. Kidz Jam gathers preschool through elementary for choir, music, instruments, games, and interactive learning about worship. Deep Dive, for third through fifth graders, digs deeper into God's Word through Bible study, games, and activities. Child Dedication is offered each May and November; parents are asked to be Little Flock members and attend a one-hour parenting class before signing up.
First-time families are pointed toward a designated check-in area where volunteers gather basic information (names, birthdays, allergies, contact numbers) and pair each child with a security-coded name tag that matches the parent's stub. If a parent needs to be reached during the service, the child's code appears on screens in the Worship Center.
LF Preschool: A Three-Day Week for the Youngest
A separate arm of children's ministry runs three days a week. LF Preschool is open Monday through Wednesday with two sessions, 9:00 to 12:15 and 9:30 to 12:45, for children ages two and a half through five. The preschool blends a planned, individualized daily curriculum with Bible-based stories, music, and recreation designed to nurture spiritual, mental, physical, social, and emotional growth. Carrie Patterson leads the Preschool Ministry side.
LF Students: Middle and High School
Across the courtyard is The Loft, a large open space dedicated to student ministry. Brennan Hardesty, the Family Pastor, oversees LF Students, which meets every Wednesday at 6:30 PM for an evening of worship, Bible teaching, games, and small group time. High schoolers gather in The Loft while middle schoolers fill The Theater for the same program.
Sunday mornings open with a 9:00 AM worship gathering designed for students in the Worship Center, followed at 10:45 AM by gender- and age-divided small groups back in The Loft. Before small groups, students share breakfast together and then break for discipleship and hangout time.
Students looking for an even deeper step can sign up for D-Groups, discipleship groups of four to six students that meet weekly or biweekly with a mentor. These groups focus on intentional Bible study, honest questions, and Christ-centered friendships. Annual highlights include Fall Retreat at Crossings Cedarmore and trips like the Holiday World summer outing and late-night After Dark evenings at Main Event.
Men's Ministry: The Foundry and Thursday Mornings
Men's ministry at Little Flock centers on two recurring gatherings. The Foundry meets on the second Saturday of every month at 7:30 AM in the Theater for large-group teaching, table discussion, and a shared breakfast. Men and students are welcome.
For men who like to start the day in the Word, a Weekly Discipleship Group meets Thursdays at 6:00 AM in The Loft. The early morning rhythm includes fellowship, coffee, and encouragement around God's Word. Annual events add the Fatherhood Workshop each October, the BetterMan Conference each February, and a Men and Boys Campout in May.
Women's Ministry: Sisterhood and Moms Connect
The women's ministry, led by Madison Cummings, organizes two recurring gatherings. Sisterhood gathers on the third Saturday of each month at 8:30 AM in Room 177 for fellowship, conversation, time in God's Word, and spiritual encouragement. Women of every generation are welcome. Moms Connect meets on the second Thursday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon in The Loft, offering mothers a place to build friendships and be encouraged in their walk with Christ; Kidz Care is provided so little ones can come along.
Worship Ministry and the Choir
Worship Director Stephanie Patterson leads the worship ministry, which is rooted in the conviction that Sundays matter. Worship at Little Flock has a modern feel, but Patterson is quick to note that the room is not a stage; it is a community gathered around Jesus.
The Worship Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM in the Choir Room and is open to singers from age 13 and up. The choir typically sings two features a month plus two special Nights of Worship each year. The Worship Band and Vocal Teams serve on rotation, and anyone interested in serving as a musician or vocalist can reach out to Patterson directly. Production Director Dustin Headley and Communications Director Susan Vincentz lead the volunteers who run livestream, audio, video, front screens, photography, and weekly announcements.
Wednesdays Around the Table
Wednesday evenings are a defining rhythm at Little Flock. Programming begins at 5:30 PM with Wednesday Night Dinner served in the Theater. Dinners are $5 per person with a $20 family maximum, and registration is due by Tuesday at 2:30 PM each week. At 6:30 PM the building fills with concurrent ministries: Adult Discipleship Groups, Kidz Jam and Deep Dive for children, student worship in The Loft, and a co-ed Large Group Bible Study led by Wayne Brown. The Worship Choir picks up at 7:30 PM.
Adult Discipleship Groups run on a semester model, with men's studies such as Called to Act and women's studies like Praying for the People You Love, alongside other topical offerings. Groups meet in classrooms throughout the building, mostly at 6:30 PM on Wednesdays. Community Groups, by contrast, meet on Sunday mornings during the 9:00 AM hour, in homes and around the church, providing a smaller weekly setting to build friendships and study Scripture together.
LF Academy of Arts: Dance, Music, and Art
For families looking for arts education with a Christ-centered setting, the LF Academy of Arts runs a year-round program in dance, music, and art. Private music lessons are available year-round for ages 6 through adult in piano, guitar, voice, percussion, and violin, with two recitals each year and tuition of $120 per month. Dance lessons follow a semester schedule with a Winter Showcase in December and a Spring Recital in May, directed by Makenzie Childs. Art lessons run from September through May at $100 per month, with summer art camps available.
A new Rhythm and Rhyme class meets Friday mornings at 10:00 AM, introducing infants and toddlers (six months to three years) and their caregivers to music and movement. The class is led by Lauren Schaffner in Room 102, runs 30 to 45 minutes each week, and is priced at $60 per month.
LF Recreation: Sports as Ministry
Recreation Director Noah Francke leads a recreation ministry that uses sports to meet physical, spiritual, and social needs. Children's basketball, soccer, and volleyball leagues run in seasonal blocks across the school year. Adult offerings include a summer kickball league, indoor volleyball, sand volleyball, pickleball, a golf league in spring, and an annual Golf Scramble at Heritage Hill Golf Club. A disc golf course sits in the field behind the main buildings and is open for recreational use. LF Recreation also hosts summer sports camps and clinics and is always looking for volunteer basketball and soccer coaches.
A JOY Group for older adults gathers monthly in the Theater for themed lunches and fellowship, giving seniors a regular touchpoint on the ministry calendar.
LF Counseling
LF Counseling is part of the church's commitment to caring for the whole person, meeting spiritual and emotional needs side by side. Individual, marriage, pre-marital, and family counseling are offered on a fee-for-service basis, and many sessions are eligible for health insurance coverage. Marriage and Family Therapist Morgan Dunford and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Normanda Jones staff the counseling team, with Dr. Christy Grey providing parent-child collaborative coaching and life coaching for women. Discipleship Pastor Dr. Stan Meador also leads prayer-focused studies as part of the discipleship pathway.
Pastoral Team
The pastoral staff is led by Lead Pastor Nate Ashbaugh. Brennan Hardesty serves as Family Pastor with responsibility for children, students, and young adults. Dr. Stan Meador oversees discipleship, and Brian Peck serves in a pastoral resident role. Stephanie Patterson leads the worship ministry. Keri McCormick oversees Children's Ministry, Carrie Patterson directs Preschool Ministry, Noah Francke leads Recreation, Dustin Headley heads Production, and Susan Vincentz leads Communications. Madison Cummings leads Women's Ministry.
Getting Connected
First-time guests can register online before they arrive. A sermon archive is available online, and services are livestreamed on Vimeo. Online giving is available, and devotional magazines are available for pickup outside the church library throughout the year, one of the church's quieter rhythms for members who want to cultivate a daily quiet time. Community Groups meet on Sunday mornings, Discipleship Groups meet Wednesdays, and the Wednesday Night Dinner gathers the church family around the table at 5:30 each week, all easy entry points into the life of the church within the first few weeks of visiting.
The phrase that captures the whole campus is the church's tagline: Teaching Truth. Making Disciples. Reaching the Nations.