The History of Hamilton Community Church
Hamilton Community Church began with the strong desire placed in the heart of founding Pastor, Mark Breese, to create a “safe” church. Inspired while attending a conference at Willow Creek in 1990, the Pastor Mark was encouraged to create a church designed for the un-churched in Chattanooga.
Implementing the vision required a less traditional format that places high value on creativity, contemporary worship and ensuring an environment that always feels safe and welcoming for members and visitors alike.
Hamilton’s foundation was not without hardships, the first proposal being rejected for financial reasons, causing the founding members to meet in a variety of places with no place to call their own. The second proposal was approved and on September 7th, 1991 in the Christ United Methodist Church on East Brainerd Road, the first official worship of Hamilton Community Church took place with 225 in attendance and within 3 months it increased to over 400.
Services continued there until April 1999 when the Hamilton church family moved into their present facilities located on eighteen acres on Shallowford Road.
In March 2000, Alexis Cruz, became Hamilton's first Music Director, and produced our first worship CD in September 2001.
Then in August 2004,
Andy Van Arsdale, became Hamilton's first full-time Youth Pastor.
Our new pastor, Dave Ketelsen, began his ministry at Hamilton in January of 2011.
As of January, 2011 HCC membership was over 600. We look forward to the future as we reflect on how faithfully God has led us in the past.
Today, Hamilton Community Church provides a contemporary place of worship where anyone can attend at anytime, feeling welcomed through the body of Christ.