Sevierville, TN—Parkway Church of God, one of the denomination’s more historic congregations, finalized the purchase of a new church campus located on Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville, Tennessee on Tuesday, December 30, 2014. The property is located adjacent to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Airport and the Tennessee Museum of Aviation.
Parkway Church of God was officially organized in 1962 as the Park Road Church of God with 107 members on the campus of the Church of God Home for Children, forerunner of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home in Sevierville. The first pastor was Dr. Robert Humbertson. The new congregation soon built a church facility on the Children’s Home campus with the address of 440 Parkway, which is how the congregation came to be known as Parkway Church of God. It has long been regarded as the “home” church for staff and residents of the Children’s Home.
[1]Parkway Church of God’s new campus on Dolly Parton Parkway in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Through the years, widening of the parkway encroached on the church’s property, greatly reducing the site and limiting expansion. By 2008, according to current lead pastor Phillip C. Morris Jr., the original site had become confined and the church had developed major structural problems, so the congregation purchased a church and property less than a mile away at 661 Parkway. The church worshiped there until Parkway relocated to 1103 Dolly Parton Parkway on February 23, 2014.
The new location includes a total of 6.23 acres. The main structure includes a multi-purpose auditorium, youth auditorium with game room and café, indoor children’s playground, classrooms, office space, and a kitchen area with cafeteria. There is also an outdoor children’s playground adjacent to the main structure.
On May 1, 2014, Parkway Church of God received a child care license from the Tennessee State Department of Human Services and proceeded to hire all the child care employees who had been working at the child care center located on-site. Parkway Child Care Center is now approved to care for up to 250 children from six weeks to 12 years old. The license approves Parkway for before and after school programs. Summer programs are also available.
Pastor Morris stated, “We realize that this opportunity would not be possible without the generosity of (previous property owners) Ron and Betty Ogle. I am so thankful for all those who have prayed, worked, and given to make this possibility a reality. To God be the glory!”