About ALC
ALC History
Abundant Life Church began as a Bible Study in a living room here in Mount Juliet. As the group grew in size, a church was formed and was named the Chapel of Love. In 1988, the current structure was built on Woodridge Place. Along with the change of venue the name of the church was also changed to Abundant Life Church. Previous pastors of the church included Wilburn Fisher (Founding Pastor), Ray Hughes (1990 -1992) and Rick Duvall (1992-2000). In 2001 Pastor Larry Grainger became the Senior Pastor of ALC and still resides at ALC in that same capacity.
Abundant Life Church
(615)-754-7035
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Weekly ALC Meetings
Sunday 9:30am: Church Service
Mon 10am: Women's Bible Sudy
Tues 6:30pm: Pody Home Group
Wed 6:30pm: Hullett Home Group
Thur 7:00pm: Spencer Home Group
1st Fri 6:00pm: Band of Brothers
3rd Fri 7:00pm: Ladies Fellowship
Sat 8:00AM: Men's Bible Study
Vision Statement
Preparing God’s People for the Mission Field of Life: (REAP)
- Reaching out to the lost and Unchurched of our community
- Equipping and Discipling God’s people to do the work of the ministry
- Anointed praise and worship that exalts the Lord Jesus Christ and sets captives free
- Practical demonstrations to one another of God’s love toward us.
What We Believe
We believe all Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, was given by inspiration of God as the writers were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of God, and that these Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
We believe in the one true God…who has revealed Himself as existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit; distinguishable but indivisible. (Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:21-22)
We believe the human race was originally created by God in His image, until sin entered by disobedience and rebellion and left humanity totally incapable of saving itself. (Romans 5:12, Genesis 1:27)
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very man. (Luke 1:26-35, John 1:1,14,18, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6)
We believe Christ our Savior died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and appeared to His disciples.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 4:25)
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation as Lord to the right hand of the Father, and His literal, physical return the second time for the Church. (John 14:2-3, 1 Thessalonian 4:13-18)
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of Christ upon the cross by which we obtain the remission of sins through His shed blood. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:12-14, Romans 5:11)
We believe in the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment, and life everlasting. (John 3:16, 5:24-27, Mark 9:43-48, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 20:11-15)
Meet Our Staff
Larry and Anne Grainger
Pastor & Pastor's wife
Larry Grainger is the Senior Pastor at Abundant Life Church. He is married to Anne and they have four sons and four great daughter-in-laws. They also have fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Originally from Panama City, FL, they have been residents of Middle Tennessee since 1986.
In 1998 the Grainger family became a part of ALC, with Larry becoming the pastor in March of 2001. Larry and Anne have been involved in ministry since 1973, having been pastor, teacher, associate pastor and general support for other pastors.
Rob and Cyndy Shearer
Pastoral Team Members
Rob Shearer serves on the Pastoral Team at ALC. The Shearers also direct our children’s ministry, with Cyndy writing the curriculum we currently use. Rob and his wife, Cyndy, are longtime educators and are leaders in the home school movement. Rob currently serves as the President of the Tennessee Association of Church Related Schools (TACRS).
They are accomplished authors as well as the founders of Greenleaf Press, a resource center for home-schooling parents. Rob and Cyndy are the Co-Directors of the Francis Schaeffer Study Center, a ministry of Abundant Life Church. FSSC offers a mid-week tutorial for home-schooled students, and a 2-day-a-week Charlotte Mason tutorial for studentsin grades 1-7.
They have 12 children, eight of whom are married: John, Micah, Jeremy, Paul, Rachel, Hannah, Jessie, Corrie, Joy, Sarah, Merry, and Sage. They also have five grandchildren.
Don and Aubrey Poythress
Worship Pastors
Don Poythress is an elder as well as the Worship Pastor of Abundant Life Church. Don is a noted songwriter, having songs recorded by Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Sir Cliff Richard and Tim McGraw, among many others.
Don recently scored a number one hit on the Country charts with the single “I’m a Little More Country Than That” recorded by Easton Corbin. He has also penned the Dove Award-winning Song “The Promise” as sung by The Martins. It was awarded top recorded song in the Southern Gospel Category. He also wrote the Dove Award nominated song “Lay It Down” by Jaci Velasquez and the London Philharmonic.
Don is married to Aubrey and they reside in Mt Juliet. Don and Aubrey have two sons, Oren and Aaron.
Phil and Clancy Eakes
Elders
Phil Eakes has served as an Elder at Abundant Life Church since April 2010. Phil became a member of ALC in 2005 and had previously served as an Elder at Victory Fellowship in Nashville, TN. Phil has long been a part of the modern day move of the Spirit and studied at Rhema Bible School for three years in the late 70’s.
Phil has been a successful business man in this area since 1975 and has spoke at numerous Christian businessmen meetings and various churches within the US. He is also a member of Opportunities-Inc, led by Ron Gray, a minister within the CSM organization, taking the Gospel to the nations through business connections. Additionally he is a recognized minister within the Apostolic Resource Ministries organization.
Phil and his wife Clancy met on the band field in college and have been married since 1973. They have three children (Chris, Aaron and Chase) and three grandchildren (Henry, Rylee and Adam). Clancy is a retired special education teacher from the Wilson County School District as well as a committed mother and avid tennis player. They have been a part of the Mt. Juliet community since 1975.
Cheryl White Jones
Office Administrator
Cheryl joined the ALC staff in November of 2013. She is married to Billy Paul Jones, a long time member of Abundant Life Church. She is also a member of The Whites, a singing family who have been members of the Grand Ole Opry since 1984 and were 2008 inductees into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. The Whites also have the distinction of being cast members of the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou” as well as Grammy award winning recording artists. Cheryl and Billy Paul were married in 2006, and she has one daugher, Rachel Leftwich. Cheryl comes to ALC with many years as a church administrator and secretary, having served the church she grew up in in Hendersonville, TN.
Kevin and Karen Brummett
Staff
‘Kevin & Karen Brummett both grew up right here in Mt. Juliet. Having been close friends since Jr. High, they graduated from Mt. Juliet High School and attended Middle Tennessee State University together. They were married in 1982 and have a son, Christian, who is married to Rowan, and a daughter, Katy, who is married to Dan Jones. Kevin and Karen have eight grandchildren. The church’s support of home-schooling families was what brought the Brummett’s to ALC in 2000. Kevin is a veterinarian and he and Karen own and operate The ARK, a veterinary clinic just east of Mt. Juliet.
Rod McIvor
Youth Pastor
Care Team