Pastors Tom & Kim Tanner serve the local community and people of Athens Christian Center with love and laughter. Ordained through LeSea Ministries in South Bend, Indiana, the Tanners have been pastoring at Athens Christian Center for 15 years. Committed to establishing the arts as a consistent tool for ministry and worship, the Tanners have a vision to see music, drama, and dance used to bring glory to God as was originally intended.
Tom and Kim are the parents of two children, Nechole (Tanner) Culp and Joshua Tanner. They are also the proud grandparents of Arizona and Trinity Culp. Married for 25 years, the Tanners' life today is the result of important choices they made during the early years of their marriage. Faced with a pending divorce when their oldest child was only 1-year-old, Tom relates that he had reached total despair. He was a complete alcoholic, his home was being taken away to be given to his wife and daughter, and his job was already potentially gone. In a fit of anger ready to burn down his house, Tom raged at the Lord, never expecting to hear Him respond, "I have been here all of the time. I am just waiting for you." That night, he accepted Christ as his Savior. Two days later, his foreman made the decision not to fire him, his wife decided he could live in the house until it sold, and he decided to put actions with his faith and stop drinking and smoking. Two weeks later, his wife came home to help build a relationship founded on God's love and forgiveness that has lasted for 25 years. Tom states,
“Whatever you have done or wherever you are, God is waiting to meet you and change you from the life you have now into the life he has for you. And with God, life only gets better!”
The Tanners desire to see right relationships in the Body of Christ. Their ministry involves a focus on equipping believers with the tools to develop healthy interaction and to build bridges between people. Additionally, they help people recognize their personal talents and giftings and encourage Christians to develop these strengths. Kim states:
“My greatest hope for our ministry is not to have a church of people that all look alike, dress alike, talk alike, or like the same music. My hope is never to raise up a church into the image of myself, but into the image of God. His image is as diverse as every wonderfully, individual face upon the earth. If you ever get the chance to visit us, feel free to come as you are. We love you already!”