Circle Assembly: A Church That Refuses to Retire from the Call of God

At Circle Assembly in rural Knox County, Tennessee, ministry doesn’t slow down with age, it multiplies. What makes Circle Assembly’s story especially remarkable isn’t just the breadth of their ministry, but who is doing the ministry. Many of the staff and volunteers are older adults who could easily settle into a quieter season of life, but instead see this stage not as retirement, but continued assignment.

No one can remember the exact year things shifted, but everyone remembers the spark. In the early 2000s, Christine “Tennie” Lawson, wife of Lead Pastor John Lawson, recalls her husband spending time in prayer reflecting on Matthew 25:40, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (NIV). That simple and familiar passage stirred something new. Outreach moved from being something that the church occasionally organized to being part of its DNA.

“We just have amazing people,” Lawson said. “Volunteers who genuinely love to help others. Once the vision was in front of them, they ran with it.”

What started as an effort to help individuals find jobs, housing, or recovery programs, quickly grew as the congregation embraced the vision. Today, Circle Assembly serves Knoxville and surrounding communities in a variety of ways, but their longest-running and most well-known ministry happens every third Friday, when teams go into local camps where individuals experiencing homelessness gather. They bring food, winter gear, and other necessities. Most importantly, they provide prayer and hope. On a typical visit they minister to at least 200 people, listening to stories, sharing the gospel, and reminding them that God has not forgotten them.

“We just want to help everyone we can,” says Steve Long, who leads the outreach ministry.

The heart of Circle Assembly’s ministry can be felt through stories of those they serve, like Justin, who completed a rehabilitation program and was left on the streets with no way home. The church secured transportation and reunited him with his family. One night a woman escaping an abusive situation was stranded alone at a bus terminal. Volunteers picked her up, took her to a safe house in another town, and connected her with long-term support that gave her stability and work.

Then there is the man who approached their van during a downtown outreach because it displayed the Royal Rangers logo. With tears streaming down his face, he shared that as a child he had given his life to Christ in a Royal Rangers program. That unexpected encounter brought him back to the faith he had walked away from years before. These stories, names, and faces are etched into the hearts of the volunteers.  

While the homeless ministry is often what people think of when they hear about Circle Assembly, their outreach programs stretch far beyond. They run an ongoing food pantry that serves families, as needed, throughout the year. The church provides clothing to people in need and offers a van ministry that transports people to church from two local subdivisions each week. Volunteers regularly visit nursing homes to preach, pray, and encourage residents. They deliver food and Christmas gifts to children's homes and partner with organizations like Samaritan House and Adult & Teen Challenge to help place individuals into recovery and housing. Cirlce Assembly annually organizes a large community food distribution event, providing groceries and clothing to hundreds of families in need. They have a disaster relief team ready to support in times of crisis, not just in Knoxville, but in surrounding areas when floods and other tragedies strike. 

Behind nearly every one of these ministries are older men and women with soft hearts, strong hands, and an unshakable sense of calling.

For Circle Assembly, age is not a limitation but an asset. Older adults carry decades of faith and experience into every ministry, walking along younger members and modeling what it means to live fully in God’s call.

Leadership keeps the vision in front of the congregation through regular updates, testimonies, and invitations to serve. Younger people are invited into church meetings and encouraged to be a part of the process. They are continually reminded that there is work to be done, and that it is never too early, or too late, to live a life committed to Kingdom work.

This church believes that God opens the right doors at the right time, and their role is simply to walk through them.

“Don’t be afraid,” Lawson said. “All it takes is one person catching the vision. When God opens the door, the people will follow.”

Circle Assembly stands as quiet proof that God entrusts the hands of the faithful, regardless of age.