KNOXVILLE — Washington Pike Church in north Knoxville celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, quite an accomplishment for a church that was on the verge of closing just two years earlier.
But the story actually began in the mid- 2000s when First Baptist Church, Powell, acquired the property of First Baptist Church, Fountain City, and began a revitalization effort that eventually led to them giving the property to the new Fountain City Church.
While the church was undergoing a transformation, Chris Conner accepted Christ at Fountain City Church in 2009 at the age of 28.
After two years of being discipled, Conner felt called into the ministry. He then began serving in student ministry at his home church.
In 2019, Conner felt God was calling him to lead a church and he talked with his pastor at Fountain City, Donny Wadley. They reached out to Phil Young, director of missions for Knox County Association of Baptists about the possibility of planting a church.
Young, however, suggested church revitalization, knowing the history of Fountain City Church.
Young told them about Washington Pike, an older, traditional church that was on the verge of closing. Fountain City Church began talking with leaders from Washington Pike about helping to revitalize the church, but some of those leaders were resistant, Conner recalled.
During that process, COVID-19 hit in March of 2020 and Fountain City Church, like others across the nation, had to meet online.
Conner hosted a small house group that met during that summer and prayed and fasted about the possibility of joining with Washington Pike. Later that summer, Conner met with Washington Pike leaders again.
“God had softened their hearts and moved in a mighty way,” he recalled, noting they were much more receptive to the Fountain City offer to revitalize their church.
In December of 2020, Conner and 30 people from Fountain City Church (including his entire house group) held their first service at Washington Pike with a total of 45 in attendance.
The church is now averaging about 100 people weekly as folks from the community are seeing a difference at the church and are beginning to attend, he said, adding that 15 people have accepted Christ since the revitalization began. “The church had not baptized anyone in a long time before that.”
In effect, Washington Pike is now being revitalized by a former revitalized church and is led by a pastor who accepted Christ during a church revitalization.
Conner knows his life was changed because “faithful saints” went out into the community in Fountain City. “I saw how awesome it was.”
Kevin Smith was one of the 30 members from Fountain City who came with Conner and he is also the associate pastor at Washington Pike. He had relocated to Knoxville a few years earlier and had joined and became involved in Fountain City Church. “God called me into ministry and asked me to be a part of what He is doing at Washington Pike,” he said.
Smith recalled that before they arrived at Washington Pike, people would just drive by the church. “They may have thought it was closed.”
The church began to reach out in the community hosting block parties and showing love to the children and families in the area. They recently held a Back to School Bash and gave away backpacks filled with school supplies. The church also has begun a clothes closet. “We want to bless our community,” Smith said.
Conner agreed. “We want to engage our community.” Conner said his desire is to start a Celebrate Recovery program in the church. They are also partnering with local ministries to meet needs in the community.
The pastor stressed that Washington Pike wants to impact lostness in north Knoxville. “We want to reach people with the good news of Jesus.”
Smith added that God has provided Washington Pike with a global opportunity as people from many countries and nationalities live within a one-mile radius of the church. “We can reach the nations here in north Knoxville where He has placed us.”
Millie Badgett is one of the 15 members or so still at Washington Pike when the Fountain City group came over in late 2020. She served on the revitalization committee that worked out the details. Other than selling the property, revitalization was basically the only other option. “We wanted the church to be a light on top of the hill,” she said.
She acknowledged there have been a lot of changes and that “we are getting used to contemporary music” but she is pleased with what is happening. “We saw three people baptized this past Sunday (July 31).”
When Fountain City Church began the revitalization, the majority of Washington Pike’s members were senior adults and there were only four children,” Badgett said. “Now, we have children and youth in all age groups, from babies through high school and college-age,” she said.
Badgett added that the church is now visiting the neighborhood. “We were not doing that three years ago,” said Badgett, who has been a member of the church most of her life.
“I was glad to get a group to help us witness in our neighborhood,” she continued. And, it is showing results. “We are getting some of our neighbors now visiting the church on Sundays.”
Badgett is happy that the church made the decision to invite Fountain City Church to come and help revitalize Washington Pike. “I am glad the Lord is working in this situation. I give Him the praise and the glory.”
The pastors agreed. “God has done some amazing things here,” Smith affirmed.
Conner added, “It’s incredible and humbling to be a part of what God is doing at Washington Pike.” B&R