Why We're Planting Manna Church in Clarksville, Tennessee

So, why plant a church in Clarksville, Tennessee?

The short answer is: God told us to. I know that might sound like a spiritual answer, but honestly, that’s the most important reason. For years, Katie and I have known that God was calling us to plant a church. It was never a question of if; it was just a matter of when and where.

The Divine Invitation

For the when, in 2024, we felt this clear nudge from the Holy Spirit to start taking steps towards this calling. We brought it before God in prayer. We sought counsel from our pastors and narrowed it down to a few cities we felt like God might be drawing us to. To be real, Clarksville was at the top of that list.

When we visited Clarksville, we noticed a lot of great things, but what stood out to us the most was this deep sense that God is moving in Clarksville, and that he was inviting us to be a part of it—not just Katie and me, but Manna Church to be a part of what God is doing there. It was as if God was saying, "I'm doing something in this city. Do you want to be in on it?" We've joyfully accepted that invitation.

Practical Reasons for Planting in Clarksville

Now, that’s the spiritual side of the story, but there are also some very practical reasons why we believe Clarksville is the right place.

A City of Growth and Families

Clarksville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. Depending on what list you look at, it might be as high as the 22nd fastest-growing city. It’s an affordable, high-quality place to live that a lot of families are moving to.

There’s a ripple effect of growth from the Nashville area that’s landing in Clarksville. And much of that growth is coming from young families, which hits close to home for us because we have four young kids ourselves. We feel this deep burden to reach and to minister to young families who are planting roots and looking for purpose.

A Place of Unique Need: Fort Campbell

I’ll go back to the Fort Campbell piece for a moment. Clarksville is closely tied to Fort Campbell, one of the largest military bases in the world. Tens of thousands of soldiers and military families live right there. These are men and women who serve our country, but often feel spiritually disconnected and overlooked. We believe the local church should be a place of strength, healing, and hope for everybody, but that is especially a need in a military community.

The Greater Spiritual Need

As Clarksville grows, the need for a thriving, Jesus-centered church grows, too. Because the truth is, thousands of people in Clarksville still haven't encountered the hope, grace, and purpose that only comes through Jesus.

Our Divine Assignment

Clarksville isn't just another city; we truly believe it is a divine assignment. We believe God's heart is for this city, and we believe Jesus is still changing lives. We believe that a healthy, life-giving local church can be one of the greatest forces for good in a community.

So that’s why we’re planting Manna Church Clarksville: to create a place where people can encounter God, find authentic community, and discover their purpose and make a difference.

If you’re in Clarksville, we'd love to connect with you. We'd love for you to be a part of the story. If you know someone in Clarksville, connect us—we would love to meet them.

Join us. Pray with us. Come and be a part of what God is doing.

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