On the first Sunday in January, 1981, the NEW CHURCH met at Hillsboro High School in the Green Hills area of Nashville. Dr. Lane Adams, former pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, TN preached the sermon that day, and he remarked that he had been told this church started from scratch. Looking out on the 1000 people in attendance, he quipped, “It must have been a tremendous itch!” We discovered that over 85 congregations were represented in worship on that first day. There were several important decisions to make – would we align with a denomination? Would we be a facility-based church? Would we sponsor a Christian school? What were our responsibilities to the urban community?

The first major decision was to align ourselves with the Presbyterian Church in America, voted by the congregation in the spring of 1981. The second decision was to become facility-based. We were a mobile congregation in those days – our deacons and other volunteers would set up and take down “church” every week. We turned the school library into the nursery, had Sunday School in classrooms and labs, met for worship in the un-airconditioned auditorium. People ask why we have our worship service at 9am on Sunday mornings..the answer, because the Hillsboro HS auditorium was not air-conditioned and it was much cooler before 11am!!

Then in 1982, 49 acres of land became available at 2323 Old Hickory Boulevard. There were three tracts of land, owned by five different people. God graciously allowed us to purchase the property and we built what is now our Building B, elementary classroom space, gym, fellowship hall and chapel. We met for worship in the “gymnatorium” for the first time on May 13, 1984, and used that space for worship until our sanctuary was completed in November of 1996.

The other two major decisions have shaped us in growth and impact. Christ Presbyterian Academy opened its doors in September 1985 and Salama Urban Ministry began that same year, ministering in various ways in the Edgehill Community of Nashville.

We are proud to welcome back CPA to our family of camps for 2010.  CPA is the ideal spot to hone your basketball skills and our programs are directed by the CPA Head Coaches Mike Ellson and Drew Maddux.

Directing the Girls Camp will be Head Girls Coach at CPA, Mike Ellson.  Ellson began working with the girls program in 2007 after heading up the boys program from 1988-2000.  During that span, Ellson helped lead the Lions to the District Championship in 1998 and the State Championship in 1992. Ellson has also served as Athletic Director since 1987.

Directing the Boys Camp will be Head Boys Coach at CPA, Drew Maddux.  Maddux enters his 4th season as Head Coach at CPA.  In his first three years, Maddux has a combined 81-21 record and has been ranked in the top ten every year.  Last year, his squad went 23-9 and was the 9AA regular season and tournament champion. In 2007, his team was the 9AA runner-up and in 2008 they made it to the Final 8 of the AA State Tournament while also claiming the 5AA Region Championship.  Before his coaching career began, Maddux was a 4-year starter at Vanderbilt University.