The Table of Kingsport: A Fresh Expressions Snapshot

“We’re building this airplane as we fly it.”
– Rev. Melissa Malcolm

In Kingsport, Tennessee, a legacy church building has found new life through The Table of Kingsport—a Fresh Expression of church that feeds both body and soul. Every Monday night, over 100 people—many facing housing insecurity, isolation, or deep spiritual hunger—gather around cozy tables for a hot meal and a Jesus story. Within weeks of launching in July 2024, this community-driven ministry reached full capacity and began expanding into weekday ministry, prayer rooms, and warming centers.

Led by Rev. Melissa Malcolm and Margaret Lester and supported by a network of local churches, The Table embodies the heart of the Fresh Expressions movement: contextual, incarnational, and community-rooted.

A Legacy Reimagined

After the closure of Community United Methodist Church, leaders from nearby St. Matthew and Emory UMCs began dreaming about what could emerge in its place. With a full year of praying, listening, and discerning the community’s needs, they didn’t just fill a void—they created a new kind of spiritual home.

“We baptized two children the first week we talked about baptism,” said Malcolm. “Yesterday, we opened as a prayer room after a very public suicide attempt in this neighborhood.”

In partnership with the Holston Conference’s Appalachian District and supported by individuals, churches, and local businesses, The Table was born—not as a traditional church reboot, but as a Fresh Expression rooted in relationship, presence, and radical hospitality.

Meeting Real Needs in Real Time

While most participants are housed, many live in substandard or unsafe conditions. “There are slumlords in these neighborhoods who won’t fix broken heaters or windows,” Malcolm shared. “One man lives with a hole in the door and a radiator that can’t keep up with freezing temperatures.” In response, The Table opened as a temporary daytime warming center, offering hot meals and a safe space to neighbors—some of whom arrive on bikes or foot, simply seeking warmth and welcome.

Kingsport is no stranger to economic hardship. Nearly 21% of residents live below the poverty line, and over 25% of children in nearby Sullivan County face poverty daily. More than 1 in 10 residents experience severe housing problems, including overcrowding, poor utilities, or high rent burdens. The need for a consistent, caring presence in this community is not only spiritual—it’s deeply practical.

That’s why the impact of The Table is so profound, not just for those served, but for those who serve. “From the first night I volunteered, I knew this was God-driven,” shared a servant-leader. “I have seen folks in the neighborhood changed. The smiles on those faces when they come in is precious! Just as important, it has changed me, in my daily walk with the Lord… My prayer is for this to grow and grow!”

That impact is felt deeply by guests as well. After receiving a Thanksgiving meal, one neighbor named Chad wrote:

“Thank you for all the food you have given to everyone. This is a blessing for everybody. Not everyone has the ability to have a home cooked meal. Happy Thanksgiving & God Bless.”

These words are a powerful reminder: when church is set around a table, grace flows in both directions. Dignity is restored. Hope is rekindled. And lives—on both sides of the serving line—are changed.

“The word has gotten out,” Malcolm said. “They’re coming not just for food, but for connection.”

This is the church as it was in the early days—just as Acts 2 describes: “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts… And the Lord added to their number daily.”

A Movement Rooted in Community

The Table of Kingsport is a living example of what happens when leaders step outside traditional church models and embrace the heart of their neighborhoods. What began as a dream in a closed church building has become a space of safety, warmth, and belonging for families, seniors, children, and neighbors who may never have walked into a Sunday service. From its roots in the legacy ministry of “Terrific Tuesdays” to its current expression as a dinner church and warming center, The Table reflects the Fresh Expressions journey: listening to the needs of the community, loving and serving through simple hospitality, and allowing a new form of church to take shape around shared meals and meaningful connection.

Fresh Expressions reminds us that church can happen anywhere—in coffee shops, tattoo parlors, or dinner tables. At The Table of Kingsport, the gospel is shared through casseroles and conversation, prayers offered over plates, and trust built one week at a time. It’s not polished or perfect, but it’s powerful.

“Our mission is sitting around the table,” said Rev. Melissa Malcolm. “And that table just keeps growing.”

With more than 100 people gathering weekly, it’s clear that people aren’t just coming for food—they’re coming to be known, to belong, and to encounter Jesus in the midst of it all.

This Fresh Expression isn’t just inspiring—it’s doable. You don’t need a big building or a complex strategy to begin. You need a willingness to listen, to show up, and to extend the table. As Romans 12:13 urges, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” That’s what’s happening in Kingsport—and it can happen in your community, too. What if your next Fresh Expression begins with a meal, a story, and the courage to say, Come and eat?