Ridgedale Baptist Church with Pastor Doug Plumlee

October 20, 2021

Although he grew up at Ridgedale Baptist Church, Doug Plumlee spent thirty years away from this Chattanooga, TN congregation before returning eight years ago as Senior Pastor. In this episode of A Beautiful Church, Doug tells Adam about his background, his church’s emphasis on community and outreach, and his vision for Ridgedale. That vision is centered around discipling believers to equip them to go into their communities as missionaries for Christ.

During this conversation, Adam and Doug discuss how Southern Baptist churches spring into action in times of crisis, the growing emphasis on prayer at Ridgedale, and what God is doing in Chattanooga and at Ridgedale specifically.

Note: this podcast was recorded earlier in 2021.

Jump Through the Conversation

• [1:13] General information for Ridgedale Baptist Church and Doug’s background

  • Church location, service times, connection information

  • How Doug grew up at Ridgedale and how he ended up as Senior Pastor

• [4:29] Doug’s call to ministry while earning an electrical engineering degree

• [9:07] Ridgedale’s focus on making disciples

• [12:46] How expository preaching and community groups foster discipleship

• [17:12] Challenges to Doug’s vision of discipleship

• [20:41] Adam asks Doug what would have helped during his first years as pastor

• [24:53] How Ridgedale and Southern Baptist churches in general excel at crisis response

• [28:20] Ridgedale’s small groups

• [31:09] Adam’s experience listening to the Bible in lieu of other media

• [32:50] How Doug is trying to grow the prayer culture at Ridgedale

• [37:23] How God is using Ridgedale in this season

• [39:41] Doug’s observations on how God is using ChattHOP and the teamwork of various churches in Chattanooga

• [46:27] Doug’s encouragement for believers to identify their callings and then go out as missionaries for Christ

Links and Resources

• Adam’s contact info

• A Beautiful Church website

• Chattanooga House of Prayer website

• Give today

• Ridgedale Baptist Church website