Oakland Avenue Baptist Church sits on the east side of Johnson City, Tennessee, on a quiet stretch of East Oakland Avenue. Founded in 1976 by Pastor George Higgins and his wife Fannie, the congregation has served the same Johnson City community for nearly fifty years, first under the name Tabernacle Baptist Church and later under the street name it carries today. Its motto, "Pressing On for His Glory and Praying for Revival," captures the tone of a church that describes itself as independent, Bible-believing, and traditional in its worship.
The church sits in a single campus that grew in three stages. The sanctuary was completed on October 9, 1978 for worship services and the preaching of God's word. A two-story educational wing was added later for the teaching of the Word, with the aim of helping everyone reach their full potential in the Lord. A third building followed, adding more classrooms, the church offices, and a large fellowship hall. Oakland Avenue, formerly Tabernacle Baptist, remains debt free, and the congregation gives that distinction the simple praise, "To God be the Glory."
From Tabernacle to Oakland Avenue
Pastor Higgins opened the doors of Tabernacle Baptist Church on March 21, 1976, carrying a burden, given by the Holy Spirit, for a lost and dying community without the Lord Jesus Christ. Through prevailing prayer and powerful preaching, souls began to be saved and God began adding to the church. The name was later changed to Oakland Avenue Baptist Church to reflect its location within the Johnson City area. Brother George Higgins passed away on September 24, 2010 and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 83. His burden for the lost remains the church's burden today.
A Sunday Built Around the Word
The Sunday schedule begins early. At 8:45 a.m., the Sonrise Devotional Program is broadcast on Facebook and YouTube, giving those at home a way to start the day with Scripture. A prayer meeting follows at 9:15 a.m., and Sunday School for all ages meets at 9:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship gathers at 10:45 a.m., with Sunday Evening Worship closing the day at 6:00 p.m.
Throughout the ministry, the AV 1611 King James Bible is used as the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God for English-speaking people. The congregation is independent and fundamental in conviction and traditional in the area of worship.
Wednesday Evenings at 6:30
Midweek follows a steady pattern. A prayer meeting runs at 6:30 p.m., and the same hour opens three Discovery Clubs for children: Beginners for ages four and five, Primary for grades one through three, and Junior for grades four through six. Teen Bible Study for grades seven through twelve meets at the same hour, September through May. The children's Discovery Clubs focus on deeper study of the Word, age-appropriate Biblical lessons, and an early start in Scripture memorization. Teens also gather for the Wednesday evening service, which combines the teaching of God's Word, discipleship groups, food, and fellowship.
What Oakland Avenue Believes
The Statement of Faith holds to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the verbally inspired, infallible, and authoritative rule of faith and practice. There is one God eternally existent in three persons, and the church affirms the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, and His ascension into heaven. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come, and by His indwelling presence enables Christians to live a godly life.
All men are, by nature and choice, sinful and lost. Salvation is by grace through faith, the free gift of God, received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and all believers possess the gift of eternal life. The church affirms the existence of Satan, the imminent return of Christ for His church, and a personal and visible second coming. A New Testament Church is understood as an organized body of baptized believers practicing two scriptural ordinances given to the local church: baptism by immersion of believers only and the Lord's supper, partaken of by obedient believers.
Sunday School for Every Age
Sunday School meets every Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m., with classes designed for the needs and age of each classroom. The nursery covers birth through age three. Beginners is for ages four and five, Primaries for grades one and two, and Juniors for grades three through six. Teenagers in grades seven through twelve have their own classes. On the adult side, the College and Career class serves ages nineteen through thirty, Young Adults covers ages thirty-one through forty-five, and there are classes called the Pastor's Bible Class, the Men's Bible Class, and the Ladies Bible Class.
Children's Ministry
The Children's Ministry serves children ages three through fifth grade. Sunday School meets at 9:45 a.m. and is followed by Children's Church at 10:45. Discovery Clubs on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. round out the week. The teachers and staff use these ministries to lay basic Biblical foundations, show the love of Jesus Christ, and help students begin Scripture memorization. During the summer the children enjoy trips to Summer Camp and Vacation Bible School, a season of learning about the Savior along with snacks, crafts, and games.
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry of Oakland Avenue gathers students in grades six through twelve. Its focus is to help students build a strong spiritual and Biblical foundation that will carry them throughout their life, with a mission to radically change the next generation with the message of Jesus and a heart to impact the community by showing the love of Jesus. The Wednesday evening teen service is the highlight of the week, with teaching of God's Word, discipleship groups, food, and fellowship. Teens meet Sunday mornings at 9:45 for Sunday School, divided between Junior High (grades six through eight) and Senior High (grades nine through twelve), with activities scheduled throughout the year.
Nursery and Mighty Oaks
The Nursery Department provides a bright, cheerful, safe, and loving environment for children from birth through age three while parents attend services. In the early years, the nursery staff seek to lay a foundation of love, sharing, patience, cooperation, and learning about God.
For older members, The Mighty Oaks is the church's seniors ministry, gathering adults for fellowship and the kind of community that keeps a multi-generational church connected.
The People Who Serve
Rev. Charles Biggs has served as Senior Pastor since January 2013, when the Lord led his family from Belle Meadows Baptist Church to Oakland Avenue. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1967, trusted Christ as Lord and Savior in 1979, and surrendered to the call to preach in 1988 at a Stand Up for America Rally. He holds an associate degree in Pastoral Theology from Belle Meadows Baptist Bible College and attended the Pastors College at The Crown College in Powell, Tennessee. He and his wife LaVonda have two children, Carson and Mary Beth.
Robert (Bobby) Laughlin, a native of Bristol, joined Oakland Avenue in July 2018 with his father. After serving as assistant choir director, he became Music Director in April 2019, with a desire to see the church and the choir grow in the Lord and to see true revival come "one more time." Leon Jr and Aubri Humphrey joined Oakland Avenue in June 2024 as Media Directors. They maintain the church's online presence and run the sound booth, helping with the online video services and keeping the church's digital outreach running.
For anyone without a ride, the church vans will pick up for services.