2025 

Annual Report of Timberlake Church 

Take a look at all the ways God has shown His faithfulness to Timberlake Church in 2025.

Every story, every step forward, every changed life is a testimony to His steady hand at work among us.

Click below to jump to the various sections of the report.

A word from Pastor BradImpact StoriesAttendance NumbersAge Level MinistriesChild Development CenterFeeding Ministry UpdateConnections & Discipleship UpdateLeadership Team UpdatesLooking Ahead: A word from Pastor Mark

A Message from Pastor Brad

Dear Friends,

I continue to be amazed at your faithfulness and God’s goodness. Rarely have I seen a church so alive!

Everywhere I look, there are signs of vitality and peace and generosity and joy. We are reaching, feeding, and releasing people to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It makes me proud to be your pastor, and to serve the Lord together alongside you. Here are a few highlights from 2025 which come to mind:

We baptized 26 people and received 62 new members. Celebrate this with me: All of these men, women, and children made a public profession of faith and repentance of sin, and a commitment to follow Jesus and serve the ministry of Timberlake. Praise God!

We dedicated a home at Valor Farm for the veterans who will live there, and benefit from the life-transforming care at the National Center for Healthy Veterans in Altavista.

We continue to feed hundreds of people every week in our dozen-plus feeding ministries. This includes families, school children, and seniors who are ill or shut-in.

We continue to offer excellent, Spirit-filled worship throughout the year, both on campus and online. I am amazed at the commitment you have made to attending to the things of God, especially in liturgical seasons like Advent and Lent. When the sanctuary is full on Ash Wednesday, we know God is moving!

We are increasing our reach to the students of our community. In terms of numbers, we have experienced an increase of 250% – two and a half times more! – middle and high school students who are participating in our ministry. In terms of faith, they are growing in their love of God, their knowledge of the Bible, and their service to the church. 

We are making great strides in our Roots to Fruit Campaign. The Lord has called us to renovate and build ministry space, for hospitality and a front entrance, for student ministry, and for worship, both traditional and modern. If you haven’t already made a commitment to help, I invite you to do so now. 

Please remember that all of this vitality and growth is happening really for just two reasons: the power of the Holy Spirit, and the willingness of our people. That’s it! There are no tricks or magic bullets. Rather, this kind of ministry takes a big God and big faith. Thank you for your faithfulness, brothers and sisters.

I am reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isa 40:3-5)

May it be said for generations to come that the people called Timberlake prepared the way for the coming of the Lord, such that through us the glory of the Lord is being revealed, that all people shall see it.

Glory to God!
Pastor Brad 

Impact Stories

Click below to read how God is moving in the lives of our people.

We first came to the church after being invited by a longtime friend. Meeting Pastor Brad made a deep impression on both of us. His sincerity, warmth, and humility immediately put us at ease.

In the past, we had experienced disappointment in other churches. We had seen many people walk away from God because of the lack of hospitality and judgment they experienced, and although we never lost our faith, we often felt out of place. Because of that, we were cautious and unsure of what we would find here. What we discovered instead was a community filled with compassion, acceptance, and genuine love.

Not long after we began attending, our family faced several major health crises, including the terrifying moment when our grandson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was one of the hardest seasons of our lives. During that time, the pastors and the church surrounded us with prayer, support, and kindness. The corporate prayer of this church family played a powerful role in our grandson’s ultimate healing. We are profoundly grateful for the love, encouragement, and faith that carried us through that storm.

We also found ourselves deeply aligned with the mission of the church. The commitment to feeding families each month, the dedication to supporting veterans in the community, and the heart for serving others resonated deeply with us. It felt like a place where faith wasn’t just preached. It is lived out in meaningful, practical ways.

Life groups have become an important part of our spiritual journey. They give us the opportunity to study the Bible, grow in our understanding, and build real fellowship with others. Through these relationships, our faith has deepened, and we’ve found a true sense of belonging. We are grateful for the friendship and fellowship of every person we have met.
This church is compassionate, loving, and grounded in Scripture. Pastors Brad, Jessie, and Joe each have a unique gift for meeting people exactly where they are with grace, understanding, and care. Their leadership has helped us grow closer to God and to one another.

We also feel blessed to serve. Tony uses his musical gifts by playing guitar in the worship band. I serve by giving communion. This role has become incredibly humbling and meaningful to me to be able to serve others in such a sacred space. Serving together has strengthened our connection to God and to each other.

Looking back, we can see how God led us here with purpose. This church has helped us heal, grow, and rediscover what it means to be part of a loving, Christ-centered community. We are grateful beyond words for the support, the prayers, the friendships, and the abundance of love we’ve received. This is home for us, and we are thankful to be part of what God is doing here. 

- Tony and Jean Franko 

Toward the end of 2022, my wife Lynne and I felt the call of God to seek a church that would fulfill our desires to be a part of a Christian community, that had ministers whose words would reach us in a meaningful way, that provided a safe place for us to escape the confusion of a divided country, and that offered a traditional service of worship. Throughout most of my childhood, and later as an adult, my worship experiences were at traditional, denominational churches, while Lynne is moved more by the unique energy found in less formal formats. So at the beginning of 2023, we found an old dry-erase board. On it, along with our desire to find a church home, we listed several goals for the year, including finding Christian friends and mentors and seeking God’s purpose for our lives. We then started meeting early each morning to pray, read & study scripture, and to wait. 

We did not wait long. Within weeks, and almost consecutively, God began opening the floodgates in response to our prayer requests. And only by the miracle of God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ were our prayers not only answered, but answered in a way that demonstrated the difference between the simplicity of our requests compared to the abundance of His response. 

Lynne found herself sitting next to the wife of my future mentor, and we have now become mentors to each other. We were invited to join a Life Group at a church unfamiliar to us, and to my surprise, I was engaged and inspired by the diversity in this small group. At the same time, I began researching local churches with traditional services. I soon realized that traditional services, along with two modern services, were offered at Timberlake…the church where we attended Life Group. God’s abundance was on full display! 

After attending these services online for a few months, a friend in our Life Group was joining Timberlake church and asked Lynne and me to attend the service with her. We attended the 11:15 AM modern service, and from the moment we pulled into the parking lot, we were treated as if we were already part of the Timberlake family. We were greeted by church members guiding us to parking spots, greeted at the door as we entered, and when they discovered we were ‘first-timers,’ the person at the door escorted us to the Family Life Center. The lighting and audio technologies, along with the comfort of the space, created a positive first impression. The warmth, sincerity, and clarity of the presenters and pastors during the service left me with the assurance that this place of worship met all of my needs. But by the time we joined Timberlake a few months later, I had only begun to realize the immaturity of that statement. 

Until then, my idea of church success was leaving the building on Sunday feeling energized, educated, and refueled enough to get me through the upcoming week. After a short time at Timberlake, my eyes were opened to the idea of an outward-looking community of believers, of a church family that not only nurtures each other but also our neighbors and our world, and of a spiritual mindset to uplift and encourage others to be devoted disciples of Christ. The simplicity of the Timberlake mission statement, while easy to recite, reflects the beauty of God’s will for all of us. “To reach, feed, and release people to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” And if Timberlake’s mission includes being the hands and feet of Jesus, we should also note Jesus’ words to all of us…

“Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’”
(Matthew 22:37-39)

I thank God every day that Timberlake was able to REACH me using the gifts and resources of God’s children, was led to FEED me with the Word along with food and community, and then RELEASED me (ongoing) with the conviction to serve God’s people instead of prioritizing my own needs. 

All of our requests on that dry-erase board were answered in ways we still struggle to comprehend. The response to send us to Timberlake, and their work done on our behalf, was God’s way of delegating power to His good and faithful servants. We are blessed!

- Frank Weinmeiste250r 

As I am writing this article, I realized that it has been exactly one year since my family joined Timberlake. I started attending church here through a women's bible study that was (at the time) meeting at what is now “The Fillin’ Station” I was invited to go to that women’s group with my long time friends, Deb Lester and Mae Hamlet,. After one season with that group, Deb decided start LIFT so that we could be a multigenerational group to support each other. Women supporting women at so many levels. What started as a small group has grown into a “not so small” group. I attended LIFT while attending worship at another church here in town. That church is BIG. I was just going to church and coming home. While the music was great and the message was always “spot on”, something was missing. There was no connection.

I decided that it was time to come to Timberlake for all my spiritual needs. A place where I would be fed on Sunday mornings and get refreshment on Wednesdays. It was exactly what I needed to get me through the week. As time went on, I started serving at other levels as well. I feel great joy to meet people at the door and also an honor serve communion. It is also very satisfying to know people on a very personal level. Since living within a 5 mile radius of this church for most of my life, I am blessed to call a good portion of Timberlake church my friend. Both of my sons in law refer to me as “the mayor”. Neither of them live in their hometowns so they think I know everybody. It is true blessing to feel the connection with “our” people.

After attending Timberlake church on Sundays and Wednesdays for at least eight years, I often wonder what took me so long to “join” this church, It just took time for everything to fall into place. Several years ago, my daughter and her husband decided to start coming to Timberlake as well. They have two small children and they want them to “grow” in Treehouse Kids. This church is very blessed to have such a great children’s program where we pour the love of Jesus into children of all ages. Children give a church so much life. Under the great leadership of Treehouse Kids, my daughter has been given the opportunity to serve. My son in law has also found his place of service here at Timberlake as well. I praise the Lord for these opportunities.

Last year, we decided to join Timberlake together. My son in law was baptized and it was a beautiful day for my family. I am happy to be a part of a church where our pastors are preaching the gospel, the REAL gospel, not beating around a bush about the TRUTH.

Women In Worship is a night I look forward to all year. A room full of women eager to hear The Word. Sing His praises. Worship together and support a local mission. I look forward to this night as much as I look forward to Christmas.

One of my favorite things about Timberlake is funerals. In fact, it played a significant part of why I wanted to be a member of Timberlake. Funerals are something that Timberlake does exceptionally well. We wrap these families with love and compassion at a point in their lives when they needed to feel it the most. The death of a loved one is never easy but at Timberlake we are so blessed to have pastors that care, a grief team and a church family that really cares.

Timberlake is more than the church I attend. It is the church I belong to. I am grateful that the Lord, in His perfect timing, led my family here and planted us in a place where we are known, loved, and growing together.

- Amy Howard

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8

We’re not entirely sure what Abraham felt the day he was called to leave his home, but we can certainly tell you what we felt: panic. A few short weeks after we were married, we packed up our lives in Mississippi and moved to Lynchburg to begin a brand-new chapter together. We left behind our friends, family, and church community – everything familiar and comfortable – to step into the unknown.

In the middle of that transition, one of our first priorities was finding a local church. We knew we didn’t just want a place to attend on Sundays; we needed a spiritual home. Thankfully, Lynchburg has no shortage of churches. We visited several, but for a while we were unsure where we would fit or what it was we were looking for. Something was missing, but we could not articulate it. 

We first visited Timberlake on a whim just before Easter 2025. Within a few weeks, something became clear: this was where the Lord was planting us. 

So, what was it that we found at Timberlake that was so unique? The only way I can describe it is that Timberlake has both fresh life and an old soul. It is both “the faith once for all delivered,” and “a new work God is doing among us.” From the beginning, it was evident that the pastors and elders shepherd the church in a direction that prioritizes genuine spiritual depth in both faith and practice.

Our time at Timberlake has reshaped our faith in many meaningful ways. Gathering weekly around the Communion table has deepened our understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and our unity as His body. We’ve rejoiced in watching a number of new believers be baptized into Christ. Each Sunday, we get to experience the joy of singing our praises to God, either in hymns or contemporary worship. The teaching we sit under is thoughtful and challenging, consistently inviting us into deeper union with Christ. 

In an environment like this, worship and service feel less like obligation and more like joy. They are simply the natural response to what God is doing among us. 

Life Groups have played a particularly important role in keeping us connected. Through studying Scripture, praying together, and learning from spiritual mentors, we have found genuine community. As newlyweds in a new city, those relationships have mattered deeply. They have shaped not only our individual faith, but our marriage – teaching us what it looks like to build our home on Christ. 

Serving has also become a meaningful part of our life here. Nathan has been blessed to serve in the worship band, helping to lead the church in worship. Leslie has faithfully invested her gifts as well, and Life Group (shoutout LIFT!) has been a great opportunity for this. Serving has allowed us to integrate into the church family, making new relationships built on our shared faith. Using our time and talents has allowed us to move from being newcomers to being family.

Supporting the ministry financially flows from that same conviction. We give because Timberlake is not simply a place we benefit from, it’s a mission we believe in. We have seen how faithful stewardship supports discipleship, outreach, pastoral care, and the many unseen ministries that sustain the body week after week. Giving is one way that we can tangibly declare that this is our church home and that we trust God to work through it.

Looking back, what began with uncertainty and even fear has become gratitude. God led us here in a season of transition, and through Timberlake, he has provided spiritual depth and authentic community. For these reasons and many more, we feel very grateful to have a church that is walking faithfully and calling new people into a Spirit-filled life. Week after week, we continue to see God at work here, drawing people in, strengthening families, and forming a Christ-centered community.

Just as He called Abraham to step out in faith, God called us to step into something new. We are thankful that, in His kindness, God led us to Timberlake, a place we are grateful to call our new church home. 

- Nathan & Leslie Smith

The Holy Spirit is moving...

705 - Average On-Campus Attendance

Online Attendance

606

9am Traditional Online Average Attendance

453

11:15am Modern Online Average Attendance

9am Traditional On-Campus Attendance

188 adults / 2 kids

9:45am Traditional On-Campus Attendance

262 adults / 64 kids

11:15am Traditional On-Campus Attendance

184 adults / 35 kids

Look where 

God is leading us

Timberlake Church is growing—in faith, in people, and in impact. Over the past several years, our leaders have been praying and planning for how to best make room for this growth on our campus. We recognize the need for facility renovations, capital improvements, and new construction to support what God is doing here. Learn more at RootstoFruit.org

Age-Level Ministry Updates

In 2025, TreeHouse Kids experienced meaningful growth in both numbers and spiritual depth. Week after week, children were welcomed into a safe, joyful environment where they encountered Jesus through Scripture-rich teaching, worship, prayer, and small groups. Families were encouraged and supported as we partnered with them to disciple their children at home and in the church. God’s kindness was especially evident as 14 children took the step of believer’s baptism, a powerful reminder that our ministry is about real stories, real faith, and real transformation. We’re grateful for every child reached, every volunteer who faithfully served, and every family taking next steps toward Christ.

In 2025, TreeHouse Kids experienced meaningful growth in both numbers and spiritual depth. Week after week, children were welcomed into a safe, joyful environment where they encountered Jesus through Scripture-rich teaching, worship, prayer, and small groups. Families were encouraged and supported as we partnered with them to disciple their children at home and in the church. God’s kindness was especially evident as 14 children took the step of believer’s baptism, a powerful reminder that our ministry is about real stories, real faith, and real transformation. We’re grateful for every child reached, every volunteer who faithfully served, and every family taking next steps toward Christ.

Timberlake Students experienced a change of leadership in 2025. Despite the adjustment, the student ministry saw an overall 30% growth in weekly attendance over the course of the year. Middle school attendance, in particular, has more than tripled since the spring! We have implemented student leadership teams, with students serving in areas such as music, audio/visual, social media, small groups, planning, and more. Most noticeably, we created a student band, and eight students have been leading worship for their peers weekly. Timberlake also confirmed eight students this year and witnessed seven student baptisms.&nbsp;<br>Over the summer, we took 18 students on a mission trip to Minneapolis. These students served others, learned a lot about service-focused organizations, and nightly led their own music and teaching sessions. This trip was a catalyst for many students’ faith journeys, which have been evident since returning.&nbsp;

Timberlake Students experienced a change of leadership in 2025. Despite the adjustment, the student ministry saw an overall 30% growth in weekly attendance over the course of the year. Middle school attendance, in particular, has more than tripled since the spring! We have implemented student leadership teams, with students serving in areas such as music, audio/visual, social media, small groups, planning, and more. Most noticeably, we created a student band, and eight students have been leading worship for their peers weekly. Timberlake also confirmed eight students this year and witnessed seven student baptisms. 
Over the summer, we took 18 students on a mission trip to Minneapolis. These students served others, learned a lot about service-focused organizations, and nightly led their own music and teaching sessions. This trip was a catalyst for many students’ faith journeys, which have been evident since returning. 

This year, our young adult ministry has truly become a family. Deep, authentic relationships have formed, and at the same time, brand-new faces regularly share how welcomed they feel from their very first night. People are connecting daily—spending time together, praying, talking, and walking through life side by side. We’ve seen individuals take initiative, step into roles, and live out their faith in organic ways clearly led by the Holy Spirit. This has been a living picture of Ephesians 4: leaders equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Rather than Jessie and Doug serving alone, the group has grown into a community that serves one another together. We have also seen many people receive inner healing through the teaching and prayer times that follow, with testimonies of the real and powerful work God has done in their hearts. Jessie and Doug have also spent significant time walking with people one-on-one, fostering the spiritual growth of both seasoned and new Christians, including a young man who recently came out of Islam and has now prayerfully given himself a new name reflecting his new life in Jesus.

This year, our young adult ministry has truly become a family. Deep, authentic relationships have formed, and at the same time, brand-new faces regularly share how welcomed they feel from their very first night. People are connecting daily—spending time together, praying, talking, and walking through life side by side. We’ve seen individuals take initiative, step into roles, and live out their faith in organic ways clearly led by the Holy Spirit. This has been a living picture of Ephesians 4: leaders equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Rather than Jessie and Doug serving alone, the group has grown into a community that serves one another together. We have also seen many people receive inner healing through the teaching and prayer times that follow, with testimonies of the real and powerful work God has done in their hearts. Jessie and Doug have also spent significant time walking with people one-on-one, fostering the spiritual growth of both seasoned and new Christians, including a young man who recently came out of Islam and has now prayerfully given himself a new name reflecting his new life in Jesus.

Our Senior Ministry continues to thrive as a broad and active community of fellowship, discipleship, care, and support. One important expression of that ministry is O.W.L.S. (Older. Wiser. Livelier. Seniors.), who gather monthly for connection and encouragement. This year, the OWLS also hosted a special evening gathering that welcomed our “Younger OWLS,” creating meaningful intergenerational fellowship within the senior adult community.

Our Senior Ministry continues to thrive as a broad and active community of fellowship, discipleship, care, and support. One important expression of that ministry is O.W.L.S. (Older. Wiser. Livelier. Seniors.), who gather monthly for connection and encouragement. This year, the OWLS also hosted a special evening gathering that welcomed our “Younger OWLS,” creating meaningful intergenerational fellowship within the senior adult community.

In addition to OWLS, our senior men meet every other Thursday at 9:00 AM in Hughes Hall for breakfast, devotion, and prayer. These gatherings provide steady spiritual encouragement and brotherhood.

Our seniors also shared meaningful time together through travel and fellowship. This year they traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, enjoying visits to Dollywood, Paula Deen’s, and several shows. They also participated in multiple one-day trips throughout Virginia, strengthening friendships and creating lasting memories.

The Senior Adult Ministry also provides compassionate care through our Grief Team, which meets monthly. This dedicated team serves at funeral services and hosted both a Fall workshop focused on navigating the holidays and a Spring workshop centered on the loss of a spouse. Throughout the year, they also facilitate Dementia Support Groups and offer an End-of-Life Planning Workshop, extending Christ-centered support to families in every season.

Children Cared for in each age/program grouping
Infants and Toddlers: 30
Preschool Age (2-5 yrs): 76 School Yr; 59 Summer Session
School Age for Before and After School Care: 60
SA Summer Camp: 111

The CDC employs 18 part-time and 17 full-time staff

Volunteer Hours
Over 100 hours from volunteers serving as classroom readers, infant “cuddlers”, and event support. We host Liberty University students completing service hours throughout the year and will host a student completing an early childhood education internship in 2026.

Tuition Assistance Fund
Over $18,000 of Tuition Assistance was granted to families in need in 2025.

Participation In Missions:
• CDC families collected food items for the Fillin Station Christmas Distribution during the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Intergenerational Relationships with the Timberlake OWLS and residents of the Summit during several events during the year. 

CDC Family Testimony

Our 3 year old, Isaiah, started at the Child Development Center this past Fall in September. From the time we took a tour to our daily interactions, the staff has been so welcoming and accommodating of Isaiah and our family. We have seen tremendous growth in Isaiah socially and academically, but most importantly spiritually. He's able to recite parts of the weekly Bible verse focus, retell stories he's learned throughout the week and during the Christmas season he was able to share so many details about the birth of Jesus with us. He adores his teacher Ms. Vicki and we've been so grateful for all she has poured into him. We appreciate the communication and transparency as well, it's a real gift as a parent to feel like you know exactly what your child is doing on a daily basis and then see him demonstrate that learning at home. Isaiah loves school and the friends he's made there, we couldn't be more grateful for the Child Development Center, we've already recommended several friends who will have toddlers ready for preschool in 2026! Thank you for your investment in our child and our family, this work has great, eternal significance.

Tally Updike 

Feeding Ministries Update

The Fillin Station has had an incredible year! Through faithful volunteers, generous partners, and God’s provision, we’ve touched lives and met critical needs. From July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, we served 677 unique households and 2,166 individuals—12,450 visits in total, averaging 239 neighbors each week. Beyond numbers, this reflects volunteers showing up with compassion, organization, and care, making the Fillin Station a place of relationship, dignity, and hope—a tangible expression of our church living out Jesus’ mission.

Through partnerships during July 2024-June 2025, we distributed 187,819 pounds of food, valued at $239,048. These pounds translate to meals on tables, reduced stress for families, and consistent nourishment for our neighbors, demonstrating the growing reach and impact of our ministry.

This year we added a new partnership with McDonald’s in the Old Forest Rd shopping center. This fall, we added a daytime distribution to meet neighbors’ needs during darker winter months and busy schedules. Since starting in October, participation has grown every week. We also launched a Prayer Team: on Monday nights, two volunteers collect prayers car-to-car, which are then shared with our prayer team for ongoing support. This connection between our food ministry and church ministry has already shown fruit through answered prayers.
Weekly, we offer roughly 63 volunteer opportunities: partner pickups, trash and cleanup, packing bags, unloading deliveries, and serving at distributions. Each role is essential to keeping operations smooth and neighbors cared for.

Looking ahead to 2026, we aim to secure grants to expand food storage, allowing us to serve even more families with variety, efficiency, and care.

Together Night continues to bring generations together under one roof, sharing meals, filling hearts and souls. We continue to see upwards of 260 individuals each month. We are striving to always create a joyful, vibrant, and welcoming space for all.

Thursday Morning Meal Ministry continues to serve our homebound, healing, and/or grieving church family. Our numbers have greatly increased to serve between 50-60 people each week. This is one way Timberlake strives to love on our church family.

Connections/Discipleship

2025 was a great year at Timberlake Church for connections and discipleship. Our LifeGroup rally in August had new people sign up for LifeGroups and a few new LifeGroups were formed. In September we saw 34 LifeGroups come together, doing life and ministry. Some are large and meet on campus, while others are smaller and more intimate, meeting in homes. Nearly 500 people participated in LifeGroups in 2025. Many books have been studied, ministries have been served, and lives have been impacted. LifeGroups served in many areas, including at Valor Farms, Fillin’ Station and with Christmas-related ministries. Our LifeGroup ministry continues to be a principal way that people at Timberlake can “do” life with one another, serve in mission, and use their spiritual gifts. 
Experiencing good growth, our church greeted hundreds of visitors at our Connect Center. 

Here are some interesting numbers:

198  first-time guests were greeted at the Connect Center
97 people were fed at Starting Point
62 made vows to join Timberlake in mission through membership
27 people were baptized in commitment to Christ


Additionally, we launched a great opportunity for spiritual growth, to supplement our LifeGroup and First Wednesday Theology offerings. In September we started a quarterly Foundations Class designed both for the newer Christian, as well as for the older Christian. These discipleship classes will be offered once a quarter and will be 5-6 week classes. They will be offered on Sunday mornings. The first class tackled the question “who is Jesus” and dealt with issues like the Trinity, Jesus in the Old Testament, Christ as the “Son of God and the Son of Man,” and Jesus’ deity. These classes are designed to be an additional resource to help our church deepen their relationship with Christ as disciples. We look forward to new classes that will be beneficial to our church, like: Discovering your Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Growth 101, Dealing with Anxiety and Despair, and Developing Godly Relationships (Friendships, Parenting, Marriage). In 2025 we thought through our discipleship processes with a mandate to be very intentional in how we make disciples. With this in mind we look forward to 2026 as we continue the Foundations classes and launch new discipleship opportunities (like a quarterly Saturday Men’s Breakfast). Continue to pray for our Discipleship ministry at Timberlake. 

Leadership Team Updates

Elder Team - G.W. Hall

Growth is the word that best captures my reflection on 2025 at Timberlake Church. It has been a year marked by God’s faithfulness and His continued work among us. We have experienced spiritual growth in our hearts and lives, growth in the number of people calling Timberlake their church home, and growth in our physical campus footprint. We have also seen significant growth in our impact within the local community and an expansion of our outreach through missions. These are just a few of the many ways we have clearly seen and felt God’s blessings poured out over our church this past year.
Throughout 2025, God has been at work in powerful ways—often through simple acts of obedience, generosity, and service. Lives have been changed, faith has been strengthened, and relationships have been restored. As a church, we have continued to seek God’s direction and trust His timing, and He has proven once again that He is faithful to lead us forward when we place our trust in Him.
As we look ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be another year filled with promise, vision, and opportunity. Our pastors continue to bring insightful, challenging, and thought-provoking messages that encourage us to grow deeper in our faith and live it out daily. The Roots to Fruit campaign will conclude in early 2026, marking an important milestone in our church’s journey. With its completion, our Master Facilities Planning Team will begin the exciting work of turning vision into reality—breaking ground on new and improved facilities that will better serve our congregation, our ministries, and our community for years to come.
In addition to growth here on campus, our Missions Team is prayerfully preparing for expanded opportunities in international missions and disaster relief. These efforts allow us to extend the love of Christ far beyond our walls, meeting physical and spiritual needs in places that desperately need hope. Each step forward in missions reminds us that Timberlake Church is not just a building, but a body of believers called to make an impact both locally and internationally. None of this would be possible without God’s direction, wisdom, and provision, and we remain committed to seeking Him in every decision we make.
As the year comes to an end, I have spent time personally reflecting on how Timberlake and this incredible church family have impacted my own life. As I continue to grow spiritually, I find that this church family has become more and more like my own family. The relationships I share with so many of you have deepened and grown stronger over time. Through worship, serving together, prayer, and fellowship, meaningful connections have been formed that I will always be grateful for. I truly look forward to continuing to grow in relationship with you in the years to come.
As we step into 2026, I want to challenge each of us to pause and reflect on an important question:
What am I doing to help Timberlake Church continue its mission of Reaching, Feeding, and Releasing people to be the hands and feet of Jesus?
There are many ways each of us can take part in what God is doing here:


• Are you serving? If not, there has never been a better time to step in and serve. Your time and talents can make an eternal difference.
• Are you actively involved in a small group or life group? Community is essential to spiritual growth, and there is no reason to walk this journey alone.
• Can you serve a neighbor at Timberlake? Sometimes the simplest acts—like a phone call, a visit, or a word of encouragement—can have the greatest impact.
• Do you have an area of expertise or experience that could be used to help lead, mentor, or strengthen our congregation? Your gifts matter, and we need you.


We cannot accomplish all that God has planned for 2026 without one another. Whether it is through faithful prayer, willing hands, generous hearts, or quiet acts of service, every contribution matters. We truly need each other. Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10:
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”
As my predecessor, Dean Nuckles, so wisely stated last year, “Our faithfulness and growth have brought Timberlake Church to a place where we must now look with enthusiasm toward the expansion and modernization of our facilities.” As we move forward and embrace all that is new, we humbly ask that you continue to pray for our leadership teams. Pray for wisdom, unity, and discernment as we work together to strategically plan for the future of Timberlake Church. Our sincere prayer is that the decisions we make today will leave a lasting legacy—one that equips future generations to share the love of Christ and make a meaningful impact in our community and beyond.
It is truly an honor and a blessing for my family and me to serve you and your family. Thank you for your faithfulness, your generosity, and your continued commitment to Timberlake Church. We are excited to see what God has in store as we move forward together.


Many blessings,
G.W. Hall 

Staff Parish - Jennifer Beeker

The Staff Parish Committee is a small group of Timberlake Church members who act as a liaison between staff, pastors, and the congregation, supporting staff and helping the church reach its mission, to Reach Feed and Release people to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Serving on the Staff Parish committee this past year has been an honor and a blessing. In 2025, we focused on supporting Timberlake Church’s mission and our staff’s growth in a collaborative, Christ-centered environment. We look forward to continuing our work with church leadership and the congregation as we move into 2026, trusting in God’s guidance. 

We were delighted to welcome several new staff members in 2025, each of whom has brought unique talents and gifts that have enriched our church ministries and made staff operations more effective. Jon Shepherd, who joined us earlier last year, now serves as our Director of Student Ministries. Thanks to his leadership, Timberlake youth take part in engaging Christ-centered activities and community-building fellowship. Kristen Moore has come on board to lead our feeding ministries—including the Fillin Station, Together Night meals, and Sunday Coffee Bar—transitioning into this role after serving faithfully as a volunteer. Elizabeth Horine, who joined us this summer as our Administrative Assistant, has offered essential support to both the Lead and Executive Pastors. She organizes visits, schedules, and data for the Roots to Fruit Capital Campaign and works alongside the church’s Business Manager. Lastly, Taylor Kennedy is serving as a part-time Worship Leader, assisting with Sunday services and leading our Modern Worship band.  
Our staff continues to play an integral role in advancing the Roots to Fruit Capital Campaign, working diligently to support its goals and actively participating in visits and strategic planning. They remain attentive to the evolving needs of our church community, ensuring that ministries are maintained and strengthened. Through dedicated coordination of volunteers, our staff ensures that church events and Sunday services run smoothly, fostering an environment where everyone can worship, serve, and grow together in faith. 

 
Staff Parish extends our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff and the entire Timberlake congregation. It is a true blessing for the Staff Parish Committee to serve alongside you and witness the strength and stability across all levels of staffing and ministries at Timberlake Church. We are deeply thankful for your unwavering commitment to God’s work and for fostering a community where everyone feels welcomed and supported. Together, we remain steadfast in our faith and service, trusting that God will continue to guide and bless Timberlake Church in the coming year.  

Facility and Grounds  - David Polk

2025 has seen a change in the name of Trustees to the Facility and Grounds Committee. I assure you this is only a change in name, as the committee remains dedicated to ensuring that the church’s physical assets are safe, functional, and well maintained to support our mission to reach, feed, and release people to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

God has continued to bless Timberlake Church in 2025. This past year has been marked by the excitement of finalizing plans for our future expansion/remodel and the start of our capital campaign. Combining this with our continued growth and the increased usage of our current facilities has required thoughtful consideration and prayer from the Facilities and Grounds Committee in our decision making so that Timberlake Church can continue to transform lives through the power of Christ.

Our largest and most time consuming project of 2025 was the addition of a new sewer line. While not an exciting project it was a necessity to support our future expansion and growth. Our current sewer line runs against gravity toward Timberlake Road and requires a pump station which has become unreliable with increased usage. In conjunction with a local engineering firm and Campbell County Utilities and Service Authority plans were developed and approved to add a new gravity fed sewer line along the back of church property to Greenwell Court. This plan will support our current needs as well as any future expansion. This is a two phase process; phase 1 of this project, placing manholes and pipe, was completed in October of this year. Phase 2, connecting the sewer line to church facilities, is scheduled for early next year.

A second large scale project was the replacement of a section of the flat roof on the church building. Due to continued water leakage in some CDC/Sunday school classrooms that were unresolved with patching, it was determined that replacement of this section of the roof was necessary. We are happy to report that the water issues have been resolved.

Ensuring comfortable and safe travel for church groups and our children is a very important role of the Facility and Grounds Committee. With this in mind, we purchased a gently used 15 passenger transit van in 2025. This gives us an easier to drive vehicle and provides more flexibility for our transportation needs. In addition, both our current buses received professional cleaning and detailing.

Two additional projects in 2025 were focused on improving the functionality and usage of our facilities. The first of these projects was removing two walls between classrooms in the children’s wing of the building. This transformed four small classrooms into two large classrooms allowing more efficient use of this space for Tree House Kids, as well as allowing the CDC to better serve their students. The second involved adding a wall to the choir room, dividing a large under utilized space into two multiuse rooms.  

Some smaller but notable projects completed in 2025 included addition of more handicap parking spaces, refurbishment of the columbarium memorial benches by Earl Reger, and landscape cleanup at the Eagle House. In addition, we continued to contract with Landscape Workshop for lawncare and ohDeer for tick/mosquito control.

As I reflect on 2025 and the work the Facilities and Grounds Committee has completed, I am mostly grateful for this team of dedicated, talented and hard working individuals. We look to 2026 with great excitement and readiness, prepared to provide a safe, inviting, warm facility to gather in and worship a God who makes all things new.   

Finance - Robin Grier

Thank you, Timberlake family, for your generosity and faithful gifts to our missions and ministries. 2025 was a banner year as our total giving increased 71 percent. Most notably contributions to our Roots to Fruit Campaign, our traditional Christmas Miracle offering, and a special Easter offering for our Child Development Center on top of giving to our longstanding programs provided this remarkable growth. In 2025 we received $1,431,752 for our upcoming building project as we kicked off our Roots to Fruit Campaign. For our CDC Easter offering, we received $26,145, for our 2025 Christmas Miracle offering we received $78,386, and throughout the year, we received $1,634,805 toward our “general budget.” These four categories add up to $3,171,088 for 2025 as compared to $1,855,790 in 2024, a growth rate of 71 percent.

We appreciate that so many of you have pledged to both our 2026 general budget and to our Roots to Fruit building campaign. Knowing the amounts that you anticipate giving greatly help us to plan the upcoming year and for upgrades to our facilities. 2026 general budget pledges are $1,052,180 as of December 31, 2025: that’s a 4 percent increase over the year before. We also appreciate your consistent giving throughout the year including on-line gifts that simplify the work of administering these deposits while also continuing to celebrate that act of worship that in person and traditional mail in giving demonstrate. In 2025, 37 percent of our gifts arrived on-line including automatic transfers and text to give, 16 percent via mail, and 32 percent in person. Thank you for financially supporting our missions and ministries in the manner that is most in line with your spiritual walk.

Our staff demonstrated excellent stewardship with the funds that you provide to grow our missions and ministries while enabling lay persons to exercise each one’s gifts.  In 2025 we continued to leverage our financial resources paying staff to organize and manage impactful programs like the Fillin Station, three worship services, and programs for children, youth and adults, while funding tools like Planning Center that enable volunteers to sign up for and be reminded of opportunities to serve or simply be fed
In 2026 we will continue to provide excellent programs while we conclude our Roots to Fruit campaign.

In 2025 we visited 227 families and in 2026 we encourage all remaining Timberlake families to learn more about our expansion plans and make a financial commitment to it during a personal visit. 

Thank you again for your financial support of Timberlake Church Missions and Ministries. 

Missions - Kim Lancaster

During 2025 the Mission Team work was organized by pillars to help guide our strategic planning, decision making, and distribution of funds. The five pillars include Feeding, Valor Farm/Veterans, Local/Children and Family Support, International Missions, and Disaster Relief. We enlisted the help of many volunteers and life groups as partners to carry out projects that met both physical and spiritual needs of people in our community and beyond. 

The Fillin Station ministry was blessed with a new coordinator Kristen Moore this year. You can read her report above.

We continued to support feeding ministries through Park View Community Mission. Justine Kiger has a dedicated team of volunteers, as well as several life groups that prepared and served around 120 meals on ten Wednesday evenings throughout the year. Alice Pirtle and Pam Compher continued to deliver the Food for Thought School Bags to LRES and BMS, and the Men’s group packed and delivered bags to Tomahawk Elementary. Our $18,000 annual contribution has also just begun to serve students in need at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School with support from TJE parents to pick up and deliver the bags for distribution. 

Several Blessing Boxes were repaired and/or relocated to best serve the local communities, and plans are in place to install new boxes in areas of greatest need just after the new year. Our contributions to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank purchased the food, and the Hight family continued to faithfully keep the boxes filled and ready for life group members to stock empty boxes. Church volunteers also delivered meals to local residents provided through the Meals on Wheels program.

We continued our partnership with Feeding 100 in 2025. Threefold Cords of Marriage Life Group packed the bags and assisted in distribution on December 18 at the Aviary in Miller Park. One box of food was given to each of the 100 families containing a turkey provided by Timberlake Church, nonperishable side items donated by life groups, and fruits and vegetables supplied by One Community, One Voice.

Our largest project came from the generosity of the congregation’s Miracle Christmas Eve offering that purchased a tiny house at Valor Farm. The home is furnished and ready for its first veteran resident. The dedication ceremony on June 29 was very well attended-there were around 100 people from Timberlake present despite the sweltering heat. Piecemakers members Ann Kostal and Marsha Marple presented a beautiful quilt for the house. The food for the monthly groceries is now being ordered from Sysco and delivered directly to Valor Farm on a quarterly basis. Volunteers served at Saturday workdays at the Farm throughout the year, and Martha New began leading a prayer gathering for Timberlake Veterans in May. In December we gave $1000 to provide Christmas gift cards for the children of Veterans that live at the farm. 

Five 18 was the featured mission for Women in Worship held in March. This organization encourages healthy and restored family relationships (2 Corinthians 5:18). As a follow-up, Kathy Presley began leading a team that has been monitoring a Care Portal. In addition to responding to requests through the CarePortal that are not monetary in nature, we allocated up to $2500 that can be used for financial needs at the discretion of the team. In addition, a $2500 donation was sent to Interfaith Outreach to help meet the needs of qualifying families/individuals that reach out to our church and their organization for financial assistance.

Allie and Matt Blanks organized The Church Has Left the Building weekend May 3-4 this year. Over 200 people of all ages participated in this event. It included visitations to members in homes/facilities, prayers and snacks for local Fire and EMS stations, yard work for church members, work at several organizations (Valor Farm, craveABLEs, Isaiah 117 house), singing at Runk and Pratt at Liberty Ridge, and packing bags of potatoes for distribution at food pantries in our area. It was a wonderful time of service and fellowship for all who volunteered.

Church members were very generous with their donations to the Hope for Appalachia projects. Barbara Horton delivered 40 Hope Boxes in April, 25 Purple Bags in September, and 100 sets of matching gloves and stocking caps in October. What a blessing to these children!

The Piecemakers and Yarn Connection groups donated around 37 quilts and numerous crocheted blankets that Pastor Joe delivered to Timberlake members and friends who have suffered a loss in their family or been ill or in the hospital. Pillows, blankets, stockings, and placemats were given to Valor Farm to be sold at their market (all proceeds go to VF). They also donated 20 quilts to the Salvation Army to be used in their temporary housing facility. Hats, shawls, and afghan blankets were donated to the Agency on Aging and the Hospice House. Crocheted frisbees were given to Bently Commons and local preschools. The Lambswool group sent 206 baby sweaters to Charlotte to be distributed by Samaritan’s Purse. 

Community outreach projects also included a $5000 donation to the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center to assist and encourage women in need, and providing cookies/coffee for the 
the Campbell County new teacher luncheon. The staff appreciated our help serving lunch and distributing the hand-written notes of encouragement. There was a very good response to the prayer cards offered as well.

Christmas Blessings provided gifts for 265 children at six local schools (Brookville Middle and High Schools, and Tomahawk, Leesville Road, New London, and Forest Elementary Schools). Julie and Ryan Hartman had over a dozen volunteers that helped to shop, sort, and deliver presents to the schools. 

An exciting addition to our mission program was the sponsorship of two international missionaries. We committed to giving $1200/quarter to Audrey serving in Central Asia, and Ryan serving in Honduras. In addition, the VBS offering of $3000 was donated for their support. Part of the Christmas Eve offering will support needs for the mission project (a coffee shop) in Asia, and educational training for Ryan to begin a counseling service at this church.

Life groups and individuals filled boxes for Operation Christmas Child in November. They filled 102 boxes that included small gifts, a note from our Treehouse Kids children and crocheted hearts. The boxes were delivered to Calvary Baptist Church to be taken to the Samaritan’s Purse distribution center in Charlotte, NC along with a check for $1000 to help with shipping the boxes to children around the world. 

Disaster Relief team coordinators Terrell Maddox and Bill Farley visited life groups to educate and create a list of interested volunteers to be a source for future disaster relief activities, which resulted in 132 members indicating interest in either the God’s Pit Crew Bucket Build, a home rebuild with Eight Days of Hope, goods donations with God’s Pit Crew, or emergency food preparation with Mercy Chefs/One Voice NOLA. Timberlake’s Blessing Bucket Build in Danville on June 3 was a tremendous success, with 66 volunteers building 1008 buckets! These buckets were sent to Texas within days of the massive flooding. 

Looking Ahead: A word from Pastor Mark

From this 2025 Annual Report, my prayer is that you come away with a clear sense that Timberlake is alive, thriving, and growing. Most importantly, God is at work here, blessing the ministries and the people called Timberlake.

We have much to be thankful for. Take time to thank God for all He is doing.
Looking ahead, 2026 is just as bright and promising. Our Roots to Fruit capital campaign pledges will conclude in the first quarter. From these commitments, we will gain clarity on what God is leading us to build and renovate. God always provides what His people need to accomplish His will. If we remain faithful in prayer, attentive in listening, obedient in faith, and diligent in giving Him glory, He will continue to bless the work here.

You are already seeing the first steps in our facility enhancement efforts. We are beginning with the sanctuary renovations — the most straightforward and cost-effective portion of the plan. This space has not been painted or refurbished since it was built. We are repainting, replacing carpet and upholstery, and making several additional updates. This work can be completed without architects or contractors and requires the least amount of time.

Two questions have been asked: Why the sanctuary, and who is making these decisions?

Why the sanctuary?
We are called to be good stewards of what God has already provided. If we do not care for what we have, we neglect both God’s provision and the generous gifts of His people. The sanctuary is a beautiful space in need of renewal. We want all who enter to see that Timberlake cares for its worship space. Additionally, renovating is far more cost-effective than constructing a new sanctuary, which had been the original concept.

Who is making these decisions?
In 2025, the Elders approved moving forward with Phase One of the Master Facility Plan. A group of members who regularly attend the traditional service were invited to select the sanctuary colors and fabrics, and we are very pleased with the results.
After Easter, the sanctuary will be closed for three weeks (including two Sundays) to complete carpet and upholstery installation. More details will follow.

In 2026, we will also proceed with a revised Phase One plan, shaped by Roots to Fruit pledges. This phase will include working with an architect to produce construction documents and engaging a general contractor. Groundbreaking will likely occur in early 2027.

During the architectural planning process, we will keep you informed and seek congregational input on major decisions.

All of this unfolds alongside our ongoing ministries and services — CDC, Fillin Station, TreeHouse Kids, Student and College Ministries, Seniors, discipleship opportunities, VBS, and weekly worship.

God has brought each of us to Timberlake and equipped us for His purposes. Let 2026 be a year in which we faithfully do what He has called us to do. In this way, we may one day hear His words:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23