About ALC

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 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 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, an ALC ministry. FSSC offers a mid-week tutorial for home-schooled students, and a 2-day-a-week Charlotte Mason tutorial for students in 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 Poythress is an Elder, as well as the Worship Pastor of ALC. 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.

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 & 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 Brummetts 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.