2 weeks Ago By STAFF REPORT [email protected]
KINGSPORT — With the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in East Tennessee, the Kingsport Tennessee Stake — created in 1980 — was split during a recent conference in Kingsport to create the Johnson City Tennessee Stake. The Rogersville congregation remained assigned to the Kingsport Tennessee Stake. The directive to form a new stake came from the Church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Similar to a diocese in the Catholic faith, a stake of the Church of Jesus Christ is a group of congregations, called wards and branches, in a geographic area. The formation of the new stake resulted in leadership changes. The Kingsport Tennessee Stake presidency — Jeffrey Bauserman, Brent Young, and David Carter — was released.
The new Kingsport Stake presidency is Jason Pickup (president), with counselors David Durfey and Michael Peterson. The newly formed Johnson City Tennessee Stake presidency consists of James Boone (president) with counselors Ryan Hackett and Ryan Youngblood. “As our church continues to grow in this area, we see firsthand how Jesus Christ’s teachings of love, service and compassion are strengthening our communities,” added Pickup.
“This expansion is not just about numbers — it’s about creating more opportunities for worship, fellowship and outreach, blessing both our members and our neighbors.” In addition to the Rogersville Branch, the Kingsport Tennessee Stake, serving about 3,000 Latter-day Saints, has five other Tennessee-based congregations: the Greenville, Kingsport, Rotherwood and Lakeway (Morristown) wards, and the Newport Branch — as well as the Powell Valley Ward in Virginia. “The growth of our church in this area brings new opportunities to serve Christ, strengthen our congregations, and build deeper connections with our faith-filled neighbors,” said Boone, who will lead the seventh Latter-day Saint stake in the eastern Tennessee area.
“We look forward to continue worshiping and working alongside our neighbors to bless our communities.” The Johnson City Tennessee Stake will be comprised of seven congregations: the Abingdon Ward and Marion Branch in Virginia; and the Bristol, Gray, Johnson City, and Watauga wards — as well as the Kingsport Young Single Adult Branch — in Tennessee. It will serve about 2,500 members.
Rogersville Branch worship services are 10 a.m. Sunday, 140 Highway 70 North, Rogersville.
Tennessee is home to more than 59,000 Latter-day Saints in 117 congregations. The Church, headquartered in Salt Lake City, was founded in 1830 in Fayette, New York. For more information: comeuntochrist.
org.
