How Rolling Hills Community Church Is Growing Through Invitation
“It’s the Spirit of God moving.”
Founding and Senior Pastor Jeff Simmons attributes Rolling Hills Community Church’s growth to the Lord and to the number of people accepting Jesus as their Savior.
“Seeing people come to Christ is contagious,” he states. “The word gets out as people invite their friends. So many days, I feel like I’m just hanging on for the ride.”
He explains that his people “have a sphere of influence I will never have,” emphasizing in his sermons that every person is a minister of the gospel. This sentiment encapsulates the ethos of Rolling Hills Community, located in Franklin, Tennessee. Church members—called “partners”—are creating a buzz as they invite friends, family and neighbors to come to church.
When Connia Nelson and her husband Darrell moved to the area, they visited a variety of churches, but none caught their hearts until her boss suggested Rolling Hills.
“I’ve moved around a lot, been a lot of places, been part of a number of churches,” she says. “I’ve never been in any church so accepting, so inviting, so welcoming, so personal as what we experienced at Rolling Hills.”
Everything in the church, which was seeded as a small group in 2003, is designed around their vision statement: “A People of God Reaching Out, Growing Up and Giving All.” With the help of staff and volunteers, whom they call the Core Team, Rolling Hills Community offer a kids ministry comprised of both worship and small group experiences that happen simultaneously with the adult worship services.
Jennifer Akers, who is creative arts and worship pastor, came to the church 22 years ago as a college freshman. She joined the staff in 2012 and has been in her current role for two years.
“I just love, love, love what God is doing at Rolling Hills,” she testifies. “The joy of the Lord and his peace are very evident. You can feel it when you walk onto any of our campuses. I sensed it as a college student, as a young adult, and now as a mom.”
She explains it’s in the church’s DNA to make big church feel small. To this end, Rolling Hills’ Community Groups are an important feature. Some groups meet at church campuses, but most are held in homes around middle Tennessee.
The focus of each group varies, with some discussing the weekly sermon while others dive into specific books of the Bible or explore relevant topics. At the group her husband enjoys most, Nelson adds, “They talk about the Bible and then play golf.”
The Versus Men’s Ministry hosts an annual event that is a big draw in the area. Created to equip men to become better husbands and fathers, foster community and develop the practices of a wise, godly man, the conference has attracted as many as 1,000 attendees. One of the highlights is a panel discussion of the issues men face. Akers, who has helped behind the scenes, points to the impact authenticity can have when men share openly and genuinely.
Missions is also a big deal at Rolling Hills. The church partners with Justice & Mercy International (JMI), a nonprofit established in 2008 to facilitate missions in countries antagonistic to the gospel. Through JMI, the church already has local organizations established and fully staffed in Moldova and Brazil.
Local outreaches, under the ministry umbrella of “Do Good,” include dealing with food insecurity, investing in area schools, and caring for homeless people.
By all accounts, the joy felt throughout the church comes from the top down as exampled by the lead pastor. As Nelson explains, “The people are so well cared for by the pastor.”
She adds that Simmons is always visible and on top of what’s happening in people’s lives. “I honestly don’t know how he does it.”
The clear reality is that she and others at Rolling Hills Community are willing ambassadors of that joy out into their spheres of influence.
ROLLING HILLS COMMUNITY CHURCH
Franklin, Tennessee
Pastor: Jeff Simmons
Website: RollingHills.church
Denomination: Southern Baptist
Founded: 2003
Fastest-Growing: 53
