History of Our
Early Church Plants
A Vision for Multiplication
From the beginning, Fellowship Church believed in expanding the Kingdom not just through growth at its central location but also by planting like-minded churches throughout Knoxville and beyond. As the church grew in the 1990s, it became a regional church, drawing people from across Knoxville and surrounding counties. Naturally, groups from similar areas began forming house groups and Bible studies, expressing a desire for local churches near their communities. Two significant groups emerged: one in Farragut and another in Maryville.
Two Rivers Church
In 1997, Fellowship hired Brad Brenson as a church planter, tasking him with establishing a church in Farragut. With experience in planting churches and mentoring leaders within the Evangelical Free Church of America, Brad developed a core group and was sent out in 1998 to establish Two Rivers Church. About 200 members joined him, and the church began meeting at Farragut High School. Today, Two Rivers is a thriving congregation with campuses in Roane County and Bearden.
River Oaks Church
Similarly, a house group formed in Maryville with a vision to plant a local church. Fellowship identified Doug Halsne, an experienced leader on staff, to lead the effort. In September 2001, River Oaks Church launched in Maryville and has since grown, planting River Oaks - Clover Hill in Blount County in December 2023.
From the beginning, Fellowship Church believed in expanding the Kingdom not just through growth at its central location but also by planting like-minded churches throughout Knoxville and beyond. As the church grew in the 1990s, it became a regional church, drawing people from across Knoxville and surrounding counties. Naturally, groups from similar areas began forming house groups and Bible studies, expressing a desire for local churches near their communities. Two significant groups emerged: one in Farragut and another in Maryville.
Two Rivers Church
In 1997, Fellowship hired Brad Brenson as a church planter, tasking him with establishing a church in Farragut. With experience in planting churches and mentoring leaders within the Evangelical Free Church of America, Brad developed a core group and was sent out in 1998 to establish Two Rivers Church. About 200 members joined him, and the church began meeting at Farragut High School. Today, Two Rivers is a thriving congregation with campuses in Roane County and Bearden.
River Oaks Church
Similarly, a house group formed in Maryville with a vision to plant a local church. Fellowship identified Doug Halsne, an experienced leader on staff, to lead the effort. In September 2001, River Oaks Church launched in Maryville and has since grown, planting River Oaks - Clover Hill in Blount County in December 2023.
A Renewed Focus on Church Planting
Reigniting the Vision
During the early 2000s, church planting efforts were temporarily paused due to Fellowship’s leadership transition. However, with the launch of the “Season to Engage” in 2009, the church renewed its commitment to “strengthening our core to extend our reach,” focusing on developing leaders within Fellowship who embodied its ministry DNA in worship, teaching, and service. This effort began with the organic growth of internal leaders, and the first church was planted in North Knoxville.
In 2014, Fellowship Middlebrook strategically hired Kyle Landis as Pastor of Church Multiplication to oversee this mission. Under his guidance, Fellowship began systematically identifying, training, and launching church plants with a goal for each to become self-supporting and autonomous within three years.
During the early 2000s, church planting efforts were temporarily paused due to Fellowship’s leadership transition. However, with the launch of the “Season to Engage” in 2009, the church renewed its commitment to “strengthening our core to extend our reach,” focusing on developing leaders within Fellowship who embodied its ministry DNA in worship, teaching, and service. This effort began with the organic growth of internal leaders, and the first church was planted in North Knoxville.
In 2014, Fellowship Middlebrook strategically hired Kyle Landis as Pastor of Church Multiplication to oversee this mission. Under his guidance, Fellowship began systematically identifying, training, and launching church plants with a goal for each to become self-supporting and autonomous within three years.
Key Church Plants and Leadership
- 2013 – Fellowship North Knox launched with Michael Thomas as lead pastor. (Autonomy achieved in 2021)
- 2014 – Kyle Landis joined as Pastor of Church Multiplication.
- February 2015 – Fellowship Church Pellissippi launched, later renamed Fellowship West; Kyle Landis initially led, with Brad Raby taking over in 2018 as Kyle focused on new plants. (Autonomy achieved in 2022)
- August 2018 – Fellowship Church Northshore launched, later named Water’s Edge, with Ryan Elliott as lead pastor.
- January 2019 – Commonwealth launched with Aaron Loy as lead pastor. (Changed affiliation in 2023, did not join Koinonia)
- July 2020 – Mosaic Knox launched in partnership with Fellowship North and Fellowship Middlebrook, led by Wes Mills.
- January 2021 – TriStar launched with Matt Grimes as lead pastor. (Set for autonomy in 2024)
- January 2024 – Koinonia Network formed, bringing all church plants except Commonwealth into a shared network.
- January 2025 – Local Church Knoxville is set to launch with Landon Reynolds as lead pastor.
The Koinonia Network: A New Era of Collaboration
Strengthening the Church Planting Movement
Starting in 2022, Fellowship Church and its plants began collaborating more intentionally, creating a church-planting network to support future growth. By early 2024, this network formalized as the Koinonia Network, bringing six churches together to share resources and a united vision for Kingdom expansion. This partnership extends Fellowship’s early dreams, equipping churches to multiply and reach new communities with shared values and purpose.
Starting in 2022, Fellowship Church and its plants began collaborating more intentionally, creating a church-planting network to support future growth. By early 2024, this network formalized as the Koinonia Network, bringing six churches together to share resources and a united vision for Kingdom expansion. This partnership extends Fellowship’s early dreams, equipping churches to multiply and reach new communities with shared values and purpose.
