Changing the World with the Gospel, Starting in Franklin
Set along Lewisburg Pike on the south side of Franklin, Tennessee, Oak Valley Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist congregation whose mission statement sets the tone for everything that happens inside: "Changing the World with the Gospel, starting with the community around us." The church gathers a steady mix of families, students, and working adults from Williamson County, and the heart of its life together is a simple rhythm of worship, Bible study, and shared meals.
What Oak Valley Believes
Oak Valley holds to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the confessional statement of the Southern Baptist Convention. The church teaches that the Bible is the divinely inspired, trustworthy revelation of God; that there is one true God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, expressed in regeneration, justification, sanctification, and ultimately glorification. Oak Valley practices believer's baptism by immersion and observes the Lord's Supper as a symbolic act of obedience. The congregation is self-governing under the Lordship of Christ, with two scriptural offices: pastor/elder/overseer and deacon.
On the family, the church teaches that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman and that children are a blessing from the Lord. On the world, Oak Valley affirms the value of religious liberty, the separation of church and state, and the call of every believer to share the gospel and serve others.
The Values that Shape Daily Life
The congregation's commitments are spelled out in detail and reflect a strongly evangelical, discipleship-oriented identity. Members are called to love and honor God above all, to keep Christ at the center of every ministry, and to treat Scripture and the Holy Spirit as the authority for belief and practice. Prayer is treated as a constant, not an occasional practice. Oak Valley also commits to outreach and missions, to helping one another grow in Christ through study and mentoring, to maintaining the unity of the Spirit, and to involving every believer in service through the discovery and use of spiritual gifts. The church explicitly names its heritage as Christian, Baptist, and specifically Oak Valley Baptist, and pursues excellence in everything done in the name of Christ.
Sunday Morning: Worship Then Bible Study
Sunday mornings follow a clear two-part pattern. The worship service begins at 9:00 a.m., with the Worship Choir joining the band and worship leader in leading congregational singing. A nursery is available during the service for young children. At 10:30 a.m., the church transitions into Bible studies for every age. Children work through a Gospel-focused chronological curriculum built around The Biggest Story, starting each hour by practicing a memory verse and singing a hymn of the month. Students in grades 6 through 12 gather for an inductive Bible study, and adults open the Scriptures in their own classes. For families, the design is intentional: parents worship and study while their children learn at their own level on the same campus.
Wednesday Nights: Dinner Together, Then a Study for Every Age
Wednesday is the connective tissue of the week at Oak Valley. From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., the whole church gathers in the fellowship hall for a churchwide dinner - a tradition the church leans into as a way for every generation to share a table. At 6:00 p.m., the building fills again as children rotate through topical studies covering missionaries, hymns, apologetics, biblical feasts and festivals, church history, servanthood, friendships, and salvation. Middle and high school students head to their own Bible study, working through biblical teaching and worldview. The Worship Choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m. in the Worship Center, and adults gather for prayer and Bible study. The Wednesday Night Bible Study is also available as a podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, so those who miss a week can keep up.
Children's Ministry
Children's ministry is led by Amanda Mateer, the church's Children's Minister. In addition to Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. and the Wednesday evening rotational program, the ministry organizes regular fellowship events - past gatherings have included playdates at Chick-fil-A, creek stomps, hikes, camping trips, and pool parties. To support faith at home, the church emails parents weekly Bible verses and focus passages on Sunday afternoon that line up with what children are learning. First-time guest families can fill out a Kids Information Form, and a general permission and medical release form is available so parents can authorize both regular and special activities in advance.
Student Ministry
The student ministry covers grades 6 through 12 and is led by Jake Yarbro, who also oversees the young adult ministry. On Sunday mornings, students join the 9:00 a.m. worship service and then head to their own inductive Bible study at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. bring biblical teaching, worldview study, and a year-round program of activities. The ministry positions itself as a partner to parents, recognizing that families are the primary disciplers and that the church comes alongside them during the teen years.
Young Adults
Oak Valley's young adult ministry is built around the conviction that confidence in Christ grows in community. The group meets on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on campus, offering a relaxed space to study the Bible and build friendships. Singles and young couples in their twenties and thirties are welcome to drop in at any time.
Worship and Music
Music ministry at Oak Valley is a shared effort. Michelle Margiotta leads the worship team, which supports the Sunday morning service with a blended style that pairs a band and vocalists with the broader Worship Choir directed by Tricia Wakefield. The Worship Choir is open to all singers from 7th grade through senior adults with no audition required, and the ensemble also leads the church seasonally at Christmas, Easter, and other special services throughout the year. Andrew Yarbrough serves as the church's A/V director. Anyone with musical gifts or an interest in running sound is encouraged to reach out.
Elders, Staff, and Governance
The church is led by a team of five elders: Kurt Nichol, Bill Higdon, Ben Pate, David Burt, and Josh Yarbrough. Ben Pate serves as the Lead Pastor. Staff includes Jake Yarbro as Young Adult and Student Minister, Amanda Mateer as Children's Minister, Michelle Margiotta as Worship Leader, Tricia Wakefield as Choir Director, and Andrew Yarbrough as A/V Director. Consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message, Oak Valley operates as an autonomous local congregation under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes.
Facilities and Practical Details
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The 1161 Lewisburg Pike campus is available for outside use; groups and individuals can submit a Facilities Request through the church for further conversation. Giving is set up online, and the church maintains a sermon series page where past messages can be revisited. Oak Valley is not a livestreaming church, so those who cannot attend in person are invited to keep up with the Wednesday Night Bible Study podcast instead.