In the Fall of 2002, Kennon Vaughan heard a local Memphis ministry leader named Roy “Soup” Campbell speak. Kennon knew there was something unique about him and wanted to spend time with this godly man. A month later, he found himself on Soup’s front porch step at 5 a.m., eager to study the Word of God with him. Soup agreed to show Kennon how to be a man of God if Kennon promised to be a faithful student. From that day on, Soup taught Kennon the Word of God and modeled how to follow Christ. Kennon’s life was forever changed through this relationship and he became passionate about others having the same discipleship experience as he had experienced with Soup.

Kennon felt God was calling him to train other believers to be disciple-makers and to aid church and parachurch organizations across the country in restoring biblical, multiplicative discipleship as foundational in their ministry context. He met with many pastors around Memphis, and was saddened to learn they had no clear plan or answer to how their churches were making disciples.

He prayerfully began discerning the specific nature of this calling God had put on his heart, and two years later, his vision for his calling was clarified when he moved to Texas to study under renowned pastor, Tom Nelson. During Kennon’s time with Pastor Nelson, he studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and learned how to systematically teach others the Bible over the course of a year. This experience was a providential step in the formation of what would become Downline Ministries.

In 2006, Kennon launched Downline Ministries with the guidance and leadership of a wonderful board including Kem Wilson, Jr., Jack Moore, Roy “Soup” Campbell, Hamp Holcomb, Dr. David Libby, Paul Ellis, and Dr. James Selecman.

Today, Downline Ministries equips men and women in the areas of Old & New Testament, biblical manhood and womanhood, and practical discipleship training, so they have the tools to make disciples in their homes, churches, and communities.