Starting a dinner church is an exciting new venture. But before we begin, it’s important to have several questions answered ahead of time – logistics, team culture, expectations, prayer, sustainability, etc. Before beginning dinner church spend time asking yourself and your team questions. And consider utilizing these questions with your dinner guests as well. Questions to Ask of Yourself Am I spiritually centered as we begin this initiative? What is the Lord asking of me right now? Who can join me to be committed in prayer for me, the team, and those who will be attending dinner church? Do I have the adequate support from – and with – a team of people who want to serve and lead? How frequently should we host dinner church? Weekly? Bi-monthly? Monthly? How can I best lead and serve our team? How can I best lead and serve our guests? Questions to Ask of Your Team Why do people want to join the dinner church team? What areas/roles do you long for them to play (i.e. shopping, cooking/preparing food, setting tables, greeters, sharing a Jesus story, conversation partners at tables, clean up team, etc.)? What commitment is needed to be a part of the team (i.e. time, prayer, faith, logistics, etc.)? When – and how often? How can we make dinner church sustainable for the long haul? How do we ensure that the details and logistics of dinner don’t override the importance of prioritizing relationships? How will we help get the word out and invite others to join us? What are expectations and responsibilities before? During? After? What do we long for God to do through this dinner church? What does “success” look like a year from now? What 2-3 adjectives do we want to use to describe the feel/ethos of dinner church? How often should the team meet to pray, plan, and discuss further details? Questions to Ask of Those You Meet at Your Table How did you first year about dinner church? It’s not often you hear the word “dinner” and “church” next to each other. What do you think about the idea of dinner church? Do you have any experience with church? With faith? with God? If so, what has that been like? What are some of the most meaningful times you’ve had another a table before? What did you think about the Jesus story? What detail or element of the story stuck out to you? What implications do you think this story might have on your life today? If you could ask Jesus 2-3 questions after this story occurred, what would you ask him – and why? If Jesus were sitting at this table sharing this meal with us this evening, what would you want to ask him? Are there ways I can pray for you? (Would you like me to pray for you right now, or would you like to me to pray for you throughout the week?) Did you like the meal this evening? Can you join us for dinner church next time?

On Monday nights at 6:00 PM in Kingsport, the tables fill quickly. There are fingerprints on the books. Remnants of food on the pages. Signs of life everywhere. As Pastor Melissa Malcolm reflected near their one-year anniversary: “It is hard to see in the picture, but there are fingerprints and remnants of food all over this book. We are one week away from our 1 year anniversary at The Table of Kingsport! We average 110 a week where we strive to provide Community, Food, Jesus, so people can Belong, Believe and Be Hope in this community.” The Table is not polished. It is alive. Beautiful Diversity from the Beginning The very first night told the story of what this community would become. Melissa described it with two simple words: “Beautiful diversity.” There was diversity in age, race, social status, and life experiences. A child beamed with joy after receiving a bouquet of flowers she admired from the table. A young man with special needs returned for a second week and leaned forward with a smile when the Jesus story was shared. Hugs and love were exchanged between a homeless man and someone who was financially secure. A couple living out of their car not only enjoyed a warm meal together but thoughtfully suggested the church keep Narcan on hand to better care for friends battling addiction. Sorrow and heartache were shared openly and received with grace and empathy rather than judgment. Nearly a third of the guests that first evening were under the age of 20, and three young people immediately asked how they could return and serve. During the meal, Melissa observed something profound: “During the meal, there is no us and them. We all sit at the tables mixed together.” What began that night was more than a dinner. It was the creation of an unconditional loving culture in a neighborhood that knows too much pain and suffering. Church Shaped Around a Table Launched in July 2024 in the former Community United Methodist Church building, The Table of Kingsport is a Fresh Expression centered on hospitality. Each Monday includes a free meal served around round tables intentionally arranged for conversation rather than anonymity. Midway through the evening, a simple and accessible story about Jesus is shared. Prayer is woven naturally into the gathering, never forced but always present. There is no rush to close the night. People linger. Conversations continue long after plates are cleared. What began with 20 people saying “yes” to creating this kind of space has grown into a weekly average of 110 neighbors gathering together. Melissa reflects, "Jesus built this place. He is working in us and those who are becoming part of this community in amazing ways.” More Than a Meal The Table functions as more than a Monday gathering. It carries forward the legacy of ministry in that building while stepping into a new future — one rooted not in rows, but in circles. Here, church looks like shared laughter and honest grief. It looks like young people stepping into leadership and neighbors caring for one another’s practical needs. It looks like a community where faith conversations happen naturally because trust has been built over time. In a world increasingly divided, The Table of Kingsport reminds us that when we center community, food, and Jesus, people don’t just attend.  They belong. They believe.