Each year, Momentum Ministry Partners names a Church of the Year to recognize a local church that is faithfully serving its people, its community, and the broader mission of the Gospel. It is an honor given carefully, not casually. Marysville Grace Church in Marysville, Ohio, who was the recipient in the summer of 2025, reflects that kind of steady, faithful health.
According to Momentum, many churches could have been recognized this year. What set Marysville Grace apart was not just what they are doing, but what has been formed over time.
“There are a lot of churches each year that could receive this award,” said Eric Miller of Momentum Ministry Partners. “But Marysville Grace stood out because of the culture they’ve built. They are consistently raising up leaders from within, passing the baton to the next generation, and becoming a church that is multiplying, not just growing.”
That culture of leadership is not accidental. Roughly 70 percent of the church’s staff has been raised up from within, with many now serving as second-generation ministry leaders. It reflects years of intentional discipleship, where leadership is not simply recruited, but developed.
For Lead Pastor Jeremy Bury, receiving this recognition is not something the church takes lightly.
“It’s humbling to think about because so many people have planted and watered over the years,” Jeremy said. “We know in the midst of that it is only God who makes things grow. We are in a season where we are seeing the harvest of all that planting and watering. It is a special privilege that I am thankful to be part of.”
That perspective shapes how the church understands both its present moment and its ongoing work. The recognition is not seen as a finish line, but as a reminder of God’s faithfulness over time.
When asked to point to a moment that captures the heart of the church, Jeremy did not point to a platform or a program, but to a group of people serving behind the scenes.
“We had 11 adults, not attached to our students, take a week off to serve at the Momentum Youth Conference last summer,” he said. “They treated it like a missions trip and served tirelessly doing a lot of the jobs no one really wants to do, because they believe in serving the kingdom in this way. This year we have 16 going back to do the same thing.”
What stood out most was not just the sacrifice, but the initiative. It was not something organized or driven from leadership. It was simply a reflection of a church where people are eager to serve.
That kind of culture is not built in a moment. It is formed over time through steady faithfulness, clear teaching, and a shared commitment to follow Jesus in both visible and unseen ways. For Marysville Grace, this award serves as encouragement to continue in that direction.
“The word encourage means to fill with courage,” Jeremy said. “Lives of serving and sacrifice will always require perseverance and courage. This is a reminder to keep going.”
He pointed to Galatians 6:9 as a guiding truth for the church: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
That same clarity shapes the church’s partnership with Momentum. “Momentum shares a love for the Gospel and a burden for raising up leaders,” Jeremy said. “We love that. Having partners allows us to share resources, sharpen each other, and grow the kingdom.”
Marysville Grace’s recognition as Church of the Year is not about a single moment or achievement. It reflects a pattern of steady obedience, a culture shaped over time, and a church committed to serving with humility and purpose. It is an honor that points beyond the church itself to the God who has been at work through it all.
Written by Josh Rollins