Trussville, Alabama—What started as a Super Bowl Sunday gathering in a living room has now become Cahaba City Church, a new church plant in the heart of Trussville, AL, a growing suburb of Birmingham. Led by church planters Ryan and Hannah Wade, Cahaba City Church officially launched on February 16, 2025, with 107 people in attendance and two baptisms.
A Vision for the Unchurched
Ryan and Hannah Wade were approved as BBFI Church Planters during the 2024 BBFI National Fellowship Meeting in Rapid City, SD. Their vision for Cahaba City Church was born out of a deep burden for their hometown. Ryan, a former staff member at Cornerstone Church in Gadsden, AL, first sensed this calling when he learned that three out of five people in Trussville were not connected to a local church. That statistic became a driving force behind the church’s mission: to help people experience real life in Jesus.
Daniel Woodcock, pastor of Cornerstone Church and Ryan’s sending pastor, expressed his excitement about the launch:
“Ryan served on staff with me for a couple of years before the Lord began to burden his heart for his hometown. We began to plan, pray, and pursue what it would look like for Ryan to plant a church in the Trussville area. Ryan is also the first church planter that Cornerstone has sent out, and I’m praying that he is the first of many others to come. It was incredible to show up to his launch Sunday and see over 100 people in attendance and then watch as two people got baptized outside in the freezing cold in a pool with no heater. God has His hands on Ryan, and I’m thankful we get to play a small part in planting new churches here in Alabama.”
From a Living Room to a Bar to a Dance Studio
Cahaba City Church’s journey began in February 2024 with a handful of people gathered for a Bible study in Ryan’s living room. Without a building or a formal launch team, the focus was simple: prayer, community, and Scripture. As the group grew, they held bi-weekly Bible studies, served their community, and gathered for worship nights—one of which, on Good Friday of 2024, packed 32 people into a small living room.
By September 2024, Cahaba City Church found an unexpected meeting space—a bar in the Downtown Trussville Entertainment District. What seemed like an unconventional choice quickly became a unique opportunity for outreach. On the very first night, 89 people showed up, including some who had simply walked in expecting live music but stayed to hear the gospel. These gatherings led to meaningful spiritual conversations, prayer at the bar, and skeptics engaging with the message of Christ.
As the congregation continued to grow, the need for a dedicated space—especially for children’s ministry—became evident. By December 2024, God provided a new home: a dance studio in the same entertainment district, allowing for greater discipleship and ministry opportunities.
A Powerful Launch Sunday
On February 16, 2025, Cahaba City Church held its official launch service, drawing 107 people and culminating in two baptisms. One of the baptized individuals was a member of the unchurched population Ryan had initially set out to reach—marking a powerful fulfillment of the church’s mission.
“That’s why we do this,” Ryan shared. “That’s why we show up. Because real life in Jesus isn’t just a slogan. It’s something people experience when the gospel takes root in their hearts.”
The Future of Cahaba City Church
With the foundation laid, Cahaba City Church is moving forward with a clear mission: to create people who create life wherever they go. Their goal is not just to build a church but to cultivate a movement of disciple-makers who carry the gospel into every corner of their community.
“Church isn’t about a building. It’s not about a Sunday service. It’s about people,” Ryan said. “From a living room to a bar to a dance studio, we’ve learned one thing: God shows up wherever His people are willing to go and be on mission.”
As Cahaba City Church embarks on this next season, they ask for continued prayers, partnerships, and support from the BBFI family. Their journey is a testimony that God is still in the business of planting churches—and changing lives.