In 1992, Fred Harrell, the then RUF Campus Minister, worked with Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church on the idea of a church plant near the Univeristy of Tennessee campus. In 1994, Cedar Springs decided to first plant Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Farragut. In 1998, a Sunday School class at Cedar Springs was created for the purpose of raising up a core group for a church plant near the UT campus.
Transition...
In 2001, as Cedar Springs moved in other directions, RUF Campus Minister, John Stone and others worked with the Tennessee Valley Presbytery and Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church to carry on the dream of planting a downtown, university church. Out of that work, a small group was formed and began meeting at the home of Chris and Marti Bolton.
Formation...
In 2002, a launch team for the church plant began to be organized and potential core families were identified. In March of 2002, a Sunday evening Bible study for the launch group began to meet at the Metron building (on the west end of Fort Sanders). In 2003, the launch team adopted the name Redeemer. In late Spring, Paul Hahn accepted the call from the launch team, Christ Covenant and the Tennessee Valley Presbytery to come as church planter. Josh Eby agreed to join him as part of a church planting team. In August, the Hahns and Ebys arrive in Knoxville.
Birth & Launch...
In January 2004, Redeemer Church of Knoxville held its first worship services in the Candy Factory building. The Candy Factory served as a wonderful home for Redeemer during our first year and a half as a worshiping community.
Today...
In 2005, Redeemer bought the church
building at the corner of Highland Ave. & 17th Street, in the heart
of the Ft. Sanders neighborhood. This is where we worship on Sundays,
have our offices and celebrate together on special occasions. Our
building is a place for the church congregation, but also for the surrounding
neighborhood and community.
Redeemer is a growing and diverse church that seeks to celebrate the
gospel of Jesus in worship, in community, and through service for
Knoxville and the University of Tennessee.
