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"It seemed God was bringing us back to our hometown to do what we had done on the road. It scared us," said Thom. In July, 1994, Thom and Kim, through their TK Ministries, hosted Music City Missions (later to become DTI), which gathered teenagers from North Carolina, Kansas, and Ohio for a week of work with Nashville's inner-city youth. Through Music City Missions, Thom and Kim developed the idea for Cottage Cove. "We have always seen a void in the ministry process of one week mission trips, because there was no follow-up. We wanted to continue to minister to these inner-city kids." Thom and Kim negotiated a three year lease for the Vine Hill Baptist Center, which was owned by a local church. With the new building, Cottage Cove was launched with a vision of teaching biblical principles to the children of the Vine Hill community. Cottage Cove was subsequently able to purchase it's facilities. Through all the years since, the Cove has fulfilled it's mission by offering children a program including Bible studies, worship opportunities, music and art lessons, and free individual tutoring. In addition, Cottage Cove continues to provide educational opportunities for musical training, art, homemaking, child care, and basic health needs. Daily attendance has averaged 50 to 70 children ranging in ages from kindergarten to grade 6. 2002 saw another chapter of change in the ministry of Cottage Cove, with Thom Shumate accepting a call to pastoral ministry in Cleveland Ohio. In Thom's words, "Approximately two years ago the thought that I may not be the person to take Cottage Cove to the next level began to haunt me." Following Thom and Kim's decision to serve the Lord in Cleveland, their "desire for Cottage Cove during this transition was that God would send someone who could not only maintain the status quo, but dream bigger dreams and propel God's ministry in Nashville to new levels. Kim and I believe God has sent the perfect couple for His great cause. We have known Brent and Angie MacDonald for about 10 years. They are people of faith who have learned to live by faith (something that's very necessary for a ministry such as Cottage Cove)."
In July of 2002,
Brent and Angie MacDonald In October of 2004, the US government granted permanent immigration status to Brent and his family (who are originally from Canada), enabling them to remain at Cottage Cove for the long-term. "Seeing how God has worked, provided, and continues to work here at Cottage Cove, we can't think of a better place that God would have us to be."
June of 2005 saw a
long standing dream come about with the start of a Sunday worship
service for the whole family. This was followed by another in
February of 2006, the acquisition of more than an half-acre of empty
land behind our current property. "Praise God! The possibilities
and opportunities before us continue to multiply!" Dream with us, big dreams for God!
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I'm called to be faithful and obedient. As we are called to be
faithful, many things can happen," said Thom Shumate. It took a
leap of faith to land this recording artist, songwriter, and ordained
minister into the perils of urban blight. Although Thom and his wife,
Kim, had spent years on the road spreading God's Word to young people
throughout the United States, God began closing familiar doors and
pointing them toward new ones.
brought
their diverse business and ministry experience – including 10
years with Lion Tracks Ministries – to Cottage Cove. Brent, also
an ordained minister, has a special passion for Bible teaching and
encouraging Bible memorization. In Brent's words, "As the Lord
leads and provides, we look forward to seeing the ministry of Cottage
Cove continue, and grow, to the Glory of God alone!"