Husband, Father, Teacher, & Servant

Gene Wolfenbarger, Founder and Lead Pastor of The Gathering, has spent over 20 years preaching the Gospel in east Tennessee after a decade as an itinerant evangelist and earning a B.A. in Biblical Studies.

Commitment to the Future

My Story

Pastor Gene Wolfenbarger

Gene Wolfenbarger is the Founder and Lead Pastor of The Gathering. He spent his youth roaming the hills and hollers of the Great Smoky Mountains before leaving Tennessee to attend Criswell Bible College in Dallas, TX. After receiving his B.A. in Biblical Studies in 1990, Gene was on the road for a decade as an itinerant evangelist.

On November 18, 1999, Gene returned to his boyhood home in east Tennessee with a new assignment. He was to start a new church, which God named The Gathering. Working in Sevierville and Knoxville now for over 20 years, Gene continues to preach and teach the Gospel.

Ending Hunger One Meal at a Time

The LORD’s Child, the mission arm of THE GATHERING CHURCH, was founded by Gene Wolfenbarger and is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to help end hunger wherever we are in the name of Jesus. Headquartered in the mountains of southern Appalachia, The LORD’s Child was born out of a great concern for the traditional and social orphans around us. Since that time, our work has taken on a global scale with children and communities in Uganda, South Africa, India, China, Haiti, Israel, where we have provided financial support or supported mission trips to those countries.

Teaching & Gathering

Gene’s passion is learning and teaching the Word of God. In Gene’s early days of ministry, he traveled across America as an evangelist. He was privileged to see hundreds of people come to Christ as a result of the preaching of God’s Word. In 2000, God re-directed his life and called him to start a church in Sevierville, TN. As a Pastor, he has witnessed the power of God and His Word change the lives of people on a daily basis.

The Gathering Church is a community of believers centered around the presence of Jesus. We believe in a God who is full of endless love, mercy, and grace that is available to everyone. The mandate on our church is not to figure you out or fix you – it is to figure out how we can best return the Love that we have so freely received from God through Christ Jesus.

Visit The Gathering

Church Address:
8729 CHAPMAN HIGHWAY KNOXVILLE, TN 37920
Teaching Service:
10:30 AM SUNDAY

Smoky mtn labs

Lab Breeders in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

Humbled, is the word that we are often reminded of! Our love for dogs has allowed us to meet some of the most wonderful people in the world. Being raised in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, our love for helping the less fortunate in the Appalachian Mountains truly is where our hearts lie.

Dedication & Hardwork

The Wolfenbarger Family

Gene and Karen Wolfenbarger, their two sons and daughter-in-law reside in Seymour, Tennessee. Gene is the founder and lead pastor of The Gathering Church. He is also the founder of The LORD’S Child Ministry, a non-profit organization feeding hungry families in their community and around the world.

Outside of his time spent at the church, Gene has recently re-discovered his passion for golf! Competitive by nature, he loves to golf with his friends and family, whether he wins or loses. Of course winning is the goal! He also enjoys reading, hunting, and breeding, showing, and spending time with his English Labradors.

Husband, Father, Teacher, & Servant

Pastor Gene Wolfenbarger

Ending Hunger One Meal at a Time

Teaching & Gathering

Visit The Gathering

Lab Breeders in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

The Wolfenbarger Family

“…My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” -Isaiah 56:7

The Gathering

The Lord's Prayer

Smoky Mtn Labs