ON A warm summer afternoon, a group of volunteers from The Legacy Church gathered in the parking lot of an apartment complex just a stone’s throw from their new building. Church members unloaded boxes of food and set up tables with colorful flyers for upcoming events. A line of families, many walking or riding bikes, began to form, greeted with smiles and warm welcomes.
Caleb McCall, the church’s pastor, watched as his team engaged with the residents, handing out Thanksgiving meals, offering prayers, and sharing the joy of the season.
“This is what it’s about,” he thought to himself as he saw kids laughing and adults conversing.
Located just across from Lowe’s and a local movie theater in Tullahoma, The Legacy Church continues to expand its outreach ministries to individuals all over Middle Tennessee. Once based in Shelbyville, the church has found a new home in Tullahoma, bringing with it a story of conviction, persistence, and continuous efforts to make this corner of Tennessee a better place.
A VISION BORN IN SHELBYVILLE
McCall and the congregation’s path to Tullahoma was a faith-driven adventure that required diligence and divine timing. The church began its ministry in Shelbyville, where McCall and his team sought to meet the spiritual, mental, and physical needs of the local community.
The church grew rapidly, drawing people in from surrounding areas with its heart-stirring preaching and persistent outreach efforts. However, as 2023 drew to a close, it became evident that their rented space was no longer sustainable. In December 2023, the pastor of the church whose building they were using gave them a six-month deadline to find a new location.
“So, I began this search. I had been searching for property in Shelbyville for about three years because I knew that we needed our own space. So I had been looking this whole time, and I could not find anything. I had made several calls, met with several people, went and looked at different locations, and tried to rent a middle school, but we were denied.”
Then, a fellow pastor and friend, Chad Conn, with Break Free Worship Center, reached out, offering to sell his church building in Tullahoma. McCall was initially unsure. He and his team had toured the building before, back in early 2023, but according to McCall, it didn’t feel like the right decision at the time. After hearing the news in December, he believes he felt God nudging him to reconsider.
He and his team revisited the property and, after praying together, felt peace about moving forward.
“This is where God wants us to be. We were about to buy land in Shelbyville to try to build a building, but with the interest rates and the cost of construction, it wouldn’t have been the right move for us. It was like God was shutting door after door after door, and he left this one open.”
TULLAHOMA: A PERFECT FIT
The decision wasn’t easy for McCall and the team to make. Moving to Tullahoma meant stepping away from Shelbyville, where The Legacy had first started. But as the team prayed and reflected, they realized the move was providential.
While Shelbyville had been a wonderful chapter, Tullahoma offered something unique: accessibility. This central location has made a significant difference, not only for the church’s original members but also for new attendees. Many of The Legacy Church’s members already drove in from surrounding areas like Manchester, Lynchburg, and Bell Buckle. Tullahoma became a convenient meeting point for everyone.
The Legacy Church closed on the property in May 2024, and renovations began in July that year. Church members tackled the remodeling themselves, turning the space into a modern, welcoming sanctuary. By July 7, 2024, the church held its first service in the new building, and the turnout exceeded expectations — 360 people attended, even though the sanctuary could only seat 300. The energy in the room was electric, and it marked a new chapter for the church that they will never forget.
Since then, attendance has steadily increased, and the church now averages between 250 and 300 people each Sunday. To accommodate the growing congregation, two services have been added at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The move to Tullahoma has opened up new opportunities for ministry, and The Legacy Church is reaching people from across the region.
SERVING DOSSET APARTMENTS
The Legacy Church has made serving the residents of Dosset Apartments a top priority. Located near the church’s new building, Dosset Apartments houses many families who rely on walking or biking for transportation. Moving to this location has allowed the church to better connect with these neighbors directly, making it easier for residents to attend services and events.
The Legacy Church has hosted food drives, back-to-school events, and other outreach initiatives to support the Dosset community. In addition to providing tangible help, the church has built genuine relationships with residents, encouraged them, and given them a sense of belonging.
“For Thanksgiving and Christmas, we go in there, hand out meals, and pray with folks. We’ve had several youths from the Dosset Apartments start coming to the church. We’ve had some parents and apartment managers come to the church before, as well.”
McCall also organized an outreach event where gospel rap musicians performed, believing it offered residents the opportunity to experience the gospel through the powerful medium of music ministry.
MOVING FORWARD
McCall and his team are already dreaming big for the future. Outreach initiatives like Be The Bush Ministries and Miriam House are expanding, and plans to break ground on a new building in Normandy are in the works.
As the congregation continues to grow and expand, it’s apparent that faith has been rewarded.
For McCall and the The Legacy Church family, this isn’t just the start of a new chapter. It’s a whole new book. McCall believes the congregation’s heart for worship, community, and service is stronger than ever, and their doors are wide open to anyone searching for hope, belonging, and a deeper connection with God. GN
