Third Interest Video

Mike and I (Isaac) sat down for a part 2 discussion on some of the Core Elements of the church plant, which we hope will help you understand what it is exactly that we are going to plant. If our vision is to be a gospel-saturated family of missionaries making disciples of Jesus for the glory of our God, we have to know how we’re going to organize and exist as a local church family to live out this vision. Here are the rest of the Core Elements of what it will look like:

1. Elder-led

2. Developing Leaders

3. Multiplying & Sending

4. Living Generously

These are Core Elements because we believe they are essential for a local church body to exist in obedience to the Scriptures. We know there are questions about music style and kids’ ministry and a host of other things. In time, we’ll talk about these things. But building from the ground up means starting with the foundation, and we hope these conversations about our vision, foundational principles, and core elements have helped you understand the kind of church we are going to plant.

Please continue to pray for this new work. Pray that the Lord would guide our steps as we make plans. Pray that the Lord would call the right people to join this plant so the church that goes and the church that sends is exactly what he needs to advance his kingdom in this area. Pray that the upcoming Church Plant Interest Meeting would be a good time together as church family talking about the future.

Speaking of which…mark your calendars for May 3rd at 4:30, where we will be hosting an in person Interest Meeting at the new location at 218 Blackjack Oak Lane!

New Property!

From December of last year leading into January, Mike and I (Isaac) had been driving around different neighborhoods in Lexington to simply pray and ask the Lord where He might have us plant. One of those stops was a property on Blackjack Oak Lane, and at the time, it seemed like a far off dream. Some might have even referred to it as “the smallest sprinkling of a nugget of a possibility.” In other words, something unlikely to happen.

We went, walked the land, and prayed. Then we moved on. We kept praying for that property in our own daily prayers, but we also kept praying in other neighborhoods.

A few weeks later, we got a call. That same property was being offered to us. There was no strategic planning or scheming on our part—it was simply prayer, desire, and trust. And the Lord answered.

So, we now have the opportunity to go to 218 Blackjack Oak Lane and plant! The Lord has said, “go”, and we’re going.

Second Interest Video

We know there are 1,000 different questions that cross people’s minds when they hear about us planting a church, especially about “what is this going to look like?”. While we can’t answer them all (at least, not in one video), Mike and I (Isaac) sat down for a part 1 discussion on some of the Core Elements of the church plant, which we hope will help you understand what it is exactly that we are going to plant. If our vision is to be a gospel-saturated family of missionaries making disciples of Jesus for the glory of our God, we have to know how we’re going to organize and exist as a local church family to live out this vision. Here are the first four Core Elements of what it will look like:

1. Expositional Preaching & Teaching

2. Gathering in Groups

3. Gathering for Worship

4. Family Membership

We’re calling these Core Elements because we believe they are essential for a local church body to exist in obedience to the Scriptures. You won’t find in these core conversations things about music style or kids’ ministry, because we don’t see the New Testament prescribing these things. In time, we’ll get to talk about these things. They’re just not foundational, and we’ve got to build from the ground up.

Thank you for spending time reading and/or watching this content about this church plant. It truly does support this work. The more we are all aware of what planting this church in Lexington looks like, the better we will be at going and sending. So, we would ask that you continue to labor in prayer over this. Pray that the Lord would give you clarity on whether you should go or send. Pray for the people in Lexington that need to heart the gospel of Jesus. Pray that the Lord would establish this church on the foundation of the Word, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, and that in time, it would mature into a healthy, vibrant local body of Christ.

If you want to learn more, be on the lookout for more videos in the coming weeks. Also, mark your calendars for May 3rd at 4:30, where we will be hosting an in person Interest Meeting at the new location at Blackjack Oak Lane!

First Interest Video

If you’re on this page, it most likely means you want to learn more about our church plant. While Mike and I (Isaac) could talk for hours about this church plant (and over time we intend to), we wanted to use this video to share with you two things:

1. Our vision: As we go out, we want to plant a church that is a gospel-saturated family of missionaries making disciples of Jesus for the glory of our God. This probably sounds familiar…and it is. Being two men who have served and grown much with Mill City, we can’t really say that our heart is any different (just maybe some word choice). We aren’t going because of any disagreement or division, but simply because we believe the Lord is leading us to do over in Lexington what we’ve already been doing in Cayce.

2. Two Fundamental Principles: Before we talk about any plans on how we’re going to organize ourselves (like how we’re going to run a kid’s ministry with a 1:50 volunteer to kids ratio), there are two distinct foundational principles that have guided us up to this point, and we intend to have guide us the whole way. In all that we do, we want to be Word-Centered and Prayer Dependent. It is not lost on us that the church we are going to plant is the Lord’s church. All of us are merely stewards. This truth must never be forgotten as we make and execute plans. So, we must bring everything back to His Word, ensuring we are not out of line with what He has called us to do, and because we are dependent on Him, we must pray.

Whether or not you intend to come with the team to plant this new church, you can partner with us primarily through praying. Pray for us. Pray for our families. Pray for those who have already committed to go. Pray for those in Lexington who need to hear the gospel. Pray for Mill City as we prepare to send. Pray that the Lord would be working in and through it all to accomplish His work for His glory.

If you want to learn more, be on the lookout for more videos in the coming weeks. Also, mark your calendars for May 3rd at 4:30, where we will be hosting an in person Interest Meeting at the new location at Blackjack Oak Lane!

We’re Planting a Church in Lexington

This past Sunday at our family meeting, we shared some exciting news: Mill City Church is planting a new church in Lexington.

This is something we’ve been praying about and preparing for over a long period of time. Church planting has always been part of who we are. From the beginning, our desire has not simply been to gather people into one place, but to see the gospel take root in new places, among new people, through new local churches.

The new church will be located near Exit 51 on I-20, on Blackjack Oak Road. This is an area that continues to grow rapidly, with thousands of people moving there. More importantly, it’s a place where people live, work, raise families, and need the hope of the gospel. Our goal is simple: to plant a faithful local church that proclaims Christ, shepherds believers, and reaches those who don’t yet know Him.

Isaac Hill and Mike Goble will be leading this new church. Both of them have faithfully served Mill City for years and have sensed the Lord’s call to shepherd a new congregation. They will be sent out with the full support, love, and partnership of Mill City.

It’s important to understand that this will be a new, autonomous church—not a campus or extension of Mill City. They will develop their own leadership, their own rhythms, and their own identity as a local church family. At the same time, they will always be deeply connected to us relationally. Church planting is not about division; it’s about multiplication. It’s about sending out leaders and members to carry the mission forward in new places.

Over the coming months, there will be opportunities for people to learn more, ask questions, and prayerfully consider whether they may be called to go and help form this new church. Some will go. Many will stay. Both roles are essential. Sending and staying are both part of how God builds His church.

We are incredibly grateful for the way the Lord has provided in this process already, including the opportunity to use land in Lexington that will serve as the future home of the church. We are trusting Him to continue guiding every step.

Church planting always involves faith. It stretches us. It requires sacrifice. But it also creates opportunities for more people to hear the gospel, for more leaders to grow, and for more communities to be reached.

This is not the end of a story—it’s the beginning of a new one.

We recorded a video Q&A to answer many of the questions that were submitted after the announcement. In it, Isaac, Mike, and Chet share more about the heart behind the plant, the timeline, leadership, finances, and what comes next.

If you have questions, we encourage you to reach out, attend upcoming interest meetings, and most importantly, pray. Pray for Isaac and Mike. Pray for the people who will go. Pray for the people who will stay. And pray for the people in Lexington who will one day call this new church their home.

We are thankful to be part of what God is doing, and we’re eager to see how He continues to work in the days ahead.