~ from Valley Grove Baptist Church
Valley Grove Baptist Church in South Knoxville is thrilled to announce the calling of Evan Holbrook as its 30th Senior Pastor. Evan preached his first sermon on January 11, 2026, bringing fresh vision and contagious energy to a congregation with deep roots and a bright future.
Evan grew up in Livingston, TX, before God called him into full-time ministry. Over the past 18 years, he has served in some of the largest and fastest-growing churches in Houston and Tennessee. Most recently, as Lead Student Pastor at First Baptist Cleveland, he oversaw a thriving ministry, building a culture where teenagers loved attending church and living on mission.
Evan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Christianity from Houston Baptist University and a Master of Divinity from Liberty University.
Together with his wife Kristen, herself a Liberty University graduate, and their four children (Carden, Lincoln, Klaiborne, and Carroway), the Holbrooks are excited to put down roots in the Seymour/South Knoxville community.
Evan carries a genuine burden for people far from God and a deep conviction that the church grows strongest when everyone plays their part. He believes the church and its people should be on mission in every aspect of their lives, so the Gospel Message can be spread to every home.
He had this to say about this next season: “My family and I are humbled, thankful, and blessed to be called to Valley Grove Baptist Church. God is in the details, and I believe he has brought us here at such a time as this to share Jesus Christ in every home from Seymour to the ends of the earth.”
His current senior pastor, Jordan Easley, said this about him: “Evan has demonstrated exceptional leadership and has grown tremendously as a preacher and communicator. His ability to connect with students and congregants alike has fostered a vibrant and growing community within our church. His sermons are both insightful and inspiring, reflecting his deep understanding of Scripture and his passion for sharing the gospel.”
Valley Grove Baptist Church is located at 9000 Old Sevierville Pike in Knoxville, Tennessee. Established in 1895, at its current location, gatherings are every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Valley Grove is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Knox County Baptist Association. For more information see our website at valleygrove.org.
