History
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Jesus
John 17:20-21
2000
During Billy Graham’s Nashville “Another Music City Miracle,” pastors and ministers from across Middle Tennessee came together to serve our neighbors. As a century was born, pastors and ministry leaders across racial, ethnic, socio-economic, geographic, and denominational divisions came together, inspired to live out the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, that the Church would be one (John 17:20-21). Celebrating the things we have in common, respecting our unique differences, and seeking to move forward united.
2001
Church Leaders involved in the 2000 Billy Graham “Another Music City Miracle” formalized their commitment to unity and service for our city by founding the Operation Andrew Group.
2002
“The Gathering,” hosted by Operation Andrew Group on the first Sunday in 2002, brought over 8,000 people together by removing cultural barriers among churches to share our city’s resources.
2003
Operation Andrew Group’s diverse Board of Trustees worked to bring unity to the growing Middle Tennessee area. Nashville believers came together in a large “eclectic worship service” at Bridgestone Arena to hear national voices and to worship together.
2003-2010
Operation Andrew Group continues to celebrate and convene pastors and their spouses, hosting the Honor Banquet, as well as facilitating pastors groups.
2011
Knowing that public schools touch every neighborhood, demographic, and community throughout Nashville, Operation Andrew Group launches United4Hope (U4H). For more on how U4H continues to create church partnerships, facilitates volunteers, and supports schools, click here.
2012
Continuing to be inspired by John 17:21, UnitedNPrayer launches. Its mission: to bring churches, pastors, and congregants together in unity to pray for our city, for the Church, and for initiatives that love our neighbors well. UnitedNPrayer ended in 2020 with thousands having gathered across ecumenical boundaries to pray for our city and our neighbors.
2015
Inspired by the power of intentional mentoring, Operation Andrew Group launched the Oak Project. Oak Project continues to facilitate intentional, holistic mentoring relationships for young professionals. More information can be found here.
2016
Continuing to bring pastors together in unity, LINC (Leaders In Nashville Connecting) launches. LINC allows leaders to be in relationship with other faith leaders, network, and collaborate with one another.
2020
In response to the unique needs of the COVID-19 pandemic, Operation Andrew Group launched Live Out Love, a day of service that brought churches from all over Middle TN together to be united in service to our neighbors in tangible ways.
2021
LINC reconvenes as a five-month cohort, bringing pastors together for intentional retreat, relationship, and civic engagement conversations and to learn from leaders all over the city.
2023
February: Operation Andrew Group, in partnership with the Charis Foundation and Barna Group, generated the State of Nashville, a demographically representative study of Nashville residents. This comprehensive study can be found here.
August: United4Hope continues to serve MNPS with over 100 churches partnering with local schools and expands to the Franklin Special School District.
September: United4Pastors launches, bringing our pastor initiatives under one banner. For more information on United4Pastors, click here.
FUTURE
Operation Andrew Group continues to live out Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21, prayerfully considering future initiatives, as we seek to unite the Body of Christ. We invite you to join us as we partner with local churches to love God and our neighbors through United4Hope, United4Pastors, and Oak Project.
Board of Directors
Kevin Hawley
Board Chair
Tammy Brewer
Secretary
Joe Hutts
Treasurer
Linda Leathers
President, ex officio
Mark Barrett
Carlina Bell Rollins
Sandy Bledsoe
Howard Gentry
Tam Gordon
Brenda Haywood
Stan Knott
Davis Mello
Michael Pratt
Wes Turner
Richard Williams
Leadership Team
“I was in the room twenty years ago when the discussions were taking place about the need to establish the Operation Andrew Group to continue the impactful efforts of the Billy Graham crusade in Nashville and the surrounding region. The passion of the founders was birthed out of the proven success that local congregations may come together and accomplish God-sized tasks for the Kingdom.”
Linda Leathers
President, 2020 - Current