Ryan Ritchey is an example of faithfulness, obedience, and serving where the Lord puts you. He was first hired as a worship director at Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church in Western Pennsylvania in 2013. Ryan began volunteering with the youth worship team, building relationships and training students to lead. When the church was without a youth pastor for several years, Ryan offered to step into that role more formally.

This summer Ryan received the Youth Pastor of the Year Award from Momentum Ministry Partners. The award is presented at Momentum Youth Conference with the goal of honoring a youth pastor who is faithfully discipling the next generation and investing in the lives of students. This person is selected by a panel of Momentum staff, based on meeting certain criteria.

Eric Miller, executive director of ministry at Momentum, presented the award. Eric said, “Ryan joined a Momentum PRO Student Ministry Cohort in order to learn as much as he could. We’ve watched him thrive as he’s become a sponge taking in everything he could and even integrating students into his regular rotation within the worship team. He’s raising the bar on both levels and God is blessing what Ryan’s doing. Their student ministry is growing as students are leading, being equipped, and bringing their friends.”

“I started going to Momentum 12 years ago and have built relationships with some great youth pastors,” Ryan said. “My honest thought when they started presenting the award was, ‘I hope one of my buddies gets this!’”

When asked how it felt receiving it, Ryan said, “The reaction from my students was probably the biggest highlight. It was also a really cool moment for Eric Miller to be the one to hand it to me. Eric was our speaker at Camp Mantowagan 15 years ago and we bunked together. I had a cancer diagnosis that summer and was undergoing chemo treatment at the time. He’s been a constant source of encouragement ever since then!”

Ryan described his work at the church as a team effort. “We have an incredible team of about 30 volunteer adults who are hands-on with the students. Also, since I work in a dual-role (youth and worship) our church has allowed me to hire several young adults in part-time roles to make sure things run smoothly. Many of them came up through our youth ministry and it really is a joy to now serve together.”

Not only is Ryan an integral part of ministry at his home church, but he is also active in the Charis Fellowship. Each summer he serves as a program director at Camp Mantowagan in Western Pennsylvania, and several times he has helped lead worship at the East Focus Retreat in Ocean City, Maryland. In both roles, just like at church, Ryan is intentional about bringing people into the leadership process with him and creating space for people to use their gifts.

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Thrive will transition from the umbrella of Charis Women into partnership with Inspire. Megan Johnson will continue leading Thrive, carrying its vision of providing pastors’ wives with refreshment, resources, and relationships. She will also work alongside Inspire’s board to help provide more holistic care and shepherding for couples in ministry. 

“One of the greatest strengths of the Charis Fellowship is our spirit of partnership, and the transition of Thrive to Inspire is a meaningful expression of that strength,” said Jenn Avey, executive director of Charis Women. “By placing this shepherding ministry within Inspire’s broader care for pastors and their families, we can provide focused support for pastors’ wives while Charis Women continues to deepen its mission of equipping women to disciple, lead, mentor, teach, and serve throughout the Fellowship. Together, Charis Women and Inspire are creating greater opportunities to strengthen women, care for pastoral families, and serve our churches for the sake of the Gospel.”

The transition brings Thrive alongside a network whose mission has long been to encourage and equip Charis Fellowship pastors. It also underscores an important conviction: caring well for pastors must include caring well for their wives.

Two Roles, One Calling

For Megan, that conviction is both personal and practical. In addition to directing Thrive, she has served with Assist Church Expansion since March as Coordinator of Shepherding for Ministry Wives. There she cares particularly for the wives of pastors involved in church planting and revitalization — settings that can bring unusual pressures and limited support. 

Thrive and Assist serve women in different contexts, but Megan’s purpose in both roles is the same: to help ministry wives know they are seen, valued, and not alone. She has lived that need herself. Megan and her husband, Adam, served together for a decade in youth and young adult ministry before helping plant JOURNEY Church near Philadelphia. Adam serves as lead pastor, while Megan is director of discipleship. The couple also has four children. 

“The biggest catalyst in seeing the need for this ministry has simply come from being a pastor’s wife for 20 years,” Megan said. “We’ve experienced both deep joy and deep pain in this calling, and I often felt isolated and alone.”

She hopes to offer women some of what she did not have during her early years in ministry: resources that promote spiritual health, opportunities for rest, and relationships that encourage the heart. 

Seen, Known, and Supported

Scripture gives no separate job description for a pastor’s wife, yet churches may have spoken or unspoken ideas about how she should serve, relate, parent, or participate in church life. Those expectations can leave little room for each woman’s gifting, circumstances, and season of life. 

Ministry wives can also feel set apart within their own congregations — surrounded by people but uncertain where it is safe to be fully known. Careers, parenting, marriage, grief, and past wounds continue alongside the needs of a church family. A woman can genuinely love her church and calling while also feeling tired or discouraged. She does not need a pedestal; she needs to be known. 

Painful seasons taught Megan the importance of trustworthy ministry couples and dependence on God’s Word. 

“Times of suffering forced me to mine the deep parts of my heart, apply the Gospel to my own life, and root my identity firmly in Christ,” she said. “I don’t want to shy away from the hard or give pastors’ wives pithy advice, strategies, or anecdotes. I want to feed them God’s Word and remind them of who He is, what He’s accomplished, and who they are in Him.”

Her passion was also shaped by friendship. God brought other pastors’ wives into her life with whom she felt safe, seen and supported — the kind of friends who could hear an honest admission and respond, “You, too?” Together they rested, cried, laughed, prayed, and spoke truth to one another. 

Thrive seeks to make those connections possible across the Charis Fellowship. Its new partnership with Inspire creates an opportunity to strengthen that work while caring more intentionally for pastoral couples and families. 

A Call to the Church

Church members have a role in caring for their pastor’s wife. Meaningful support can mean something like writing a note, providing a meal, offering to watch the children, or praying faithfully for her. It means examining whether expectations placed on her are biblical or merely cultural, respecting her boundaries, and pursuing genuine friendship without an agenda. 

Megan has described pastors’ wives as “corner pillars”: valuable, load-bearing, and sometimes overlooked because they quietly support so much. Through Thrive’s partnership with Inspire, Megan’s complementary work with Assist, and the care of local congregations, the Charis Fellowship aims to ensure that pastors’ wives are seen, strengthened, and reminded that they do not carry the joys and burdens of ministry alone. 

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Tim Hodge (Fellowship Coordinator) shared highlights from the Statistical Report, including the fact that our average attendance in 2025 was the highest in our history, and that the number of baptisms in 2025 was the highest in 25 years. We also celebrated a new Associate Member church: Church at the Well in Towson, Md. Andrew Saunders (Networking Coordinator) reviewed the 2027 budget which is slightly reduced from the previous year and reflects the Fellowship’s healthy financial status. 

Tim Sprankle (Executive Director) explained and read through a Clarification Paper on Eldership that the Fellowship Council has been working on since last year and has recently approved. He also shared the intent of the document in describing viewpoints that are broadly shared by churches within the Charis Fellowship, while also respecting the autonomy of each church. The Clarification Paper is available through a link on the Position Statements document posted on the Charis Fellowship website.

Voting was then conducted throughout the week following Conference through a secure online ballot. 176 registered delegates from Charis Fellowship churches across the US and Canada participated in the 2026 vote, and all items voted on were approved.

In addition to Kip Cone being affirmed as the executive director-elect to begin a three-year term in August 2027, three men were elected to begin serving a full five-year term each on the Fellowship Council: Bart Blair, Timothy Clothier, and Greg Foote.

The 2027 Charis Fellowship budget was approved. The ratification of the Fellowship Council’s annual appointment of Tim Hodge as Secretary and Doug Courter as Treasurer were both approved, and the list of potential nominating committee members was confirmed by delegates in order of preference. 

Thank you to all delegates who participated this year, and to all churches who submitted their statistical report and Fellowship contribution. Also, to the three men who completed their terms serving on the Fellowship Council, thank you for serving the Fellowship well: Nick Cleveland (2021–2026), and Devin Livingston (2021–2026) who both served a five-year term, and Mike Silliman (2024–2026) who stepped in to complete an incomplete term. If you have any questions or need additional information, contact the Fellowship Office here.

The post Charis Fellowship Annual Meeting Report 2026 first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

This week marked their sixth year of camp. Since that first camp, the group has welcomed new churches, expanded its leadership team, and outgrown their initial camp setting. This year more than 300 students and 100 volunteers from 16 churches in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland gathered at Heartland Retreat Center in Central Ohio.

This year’s theme was “Into the Fire” and was based in the book of Daniel. The main evening session speaker was Pastor Dave Nicodemus (Grace Polaris), and the morning sessions were taught by Pastor Blake Cruise (Movement), Ben Campbell (Grace Polaris), Pastor Bryce Cruise (Marysville Grace), and Pastor Nick Mazza (Bellefontaine Grace).

New this year at camp was the program team — a group of high school students from Grace Polaris who served in all capacities from running games to greeting at check in to cleaning up after meals. The team met with programming co-directors Ben and Hannah Campbell throughout the school year for spiritual development and practical training in preparation to serve the week of camp.

The camp emphasizes biblical fun and biblical truth. Activities are designed to foster relationships with other campers and counselors through team building games, meals, group discussions, and free time options. Campers also earn points for their teams by memorizing Bible verses and answering “Spark Questions” such as “Who is the Trinity?” and “How do you define repentance?”

Another ongoing emphasis of the week are their FIRE values: faith, inclusion, respect, encouragement. These values are talked about often, modeled by the staff, and expected of the campers. They set the tone and create the culture that enables everyone to feel like they belong at camp.

More information about Ignite Middle School Camp can be found on their website IgniteMiddleSchoolCamp.com.

Photos provided by Ignite.

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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

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Exceedingly and abundantly more than I asked or imagined.

When receiving the baton as the Director of THRIVE Pastors’ Wives Network a few years ago, one of my biggest dreams was to provide a retreat specifically designed for the pastors’ wives in our fellowship. THRIVE exists to help provide refreshment, resources, and relational connection for these precious women, and I imagined how much better those things could be accomplished if given set-aside time and space together.

Over the weekend of March 20–22, our dream became a reality. Twenty-four women, Boomer to Gen Z from three different states and varying church contexts, gathered in Hocking Hills, Ohio, for our very first THRIVE retreat. The goal was fourfold: to feed them from the Word, to give them freedom in how to rest, to foster flourishing relationships, and to send them home with a better focus on Who their Good Shepherd is and who He says they are in Him.

Together we journeyed through Psalm 23, ate delicious food at tables prepared for us, talked, sang, read, rested, hiked, played, prayed, laughed, and cried. We didn’t talk about ministry methods or instruct on the “how-tos of pastor’s wifing.” The women simply got to rest and to be themselves — to be known and understood by others and to delight in being known and loved by God. Some women came already being connected to a few, but many came without knowing anyone. The most beautiful part of the weekend for me was watching them leave not just as sisters, but as friends.

My ongoing prayer is for these relationships to continue to grow as a source of encouragement — both relationships with one another and each woman’s relationship with the Good Shepherd who cares for her.

Written by Megan Johnson

TESTIMONIALS

“Participating in the Thrive Retreat was one of the most restful and renewing weekends I’ve had. One of the things I valued the most was the opportunity to share and ask questions with fellow pastor’s wives from all ages and stages. To be encouraged, admonished, and prayed for was such a sweet blessing to my tired heart.” (Hannah Pfarr)

I left feeling more connected to the churches and wives in our fellowship and more focused on investing in my husband and my family. I believe that connecting with other ministry couples provides a really special support network for us.” (Annabeth Millice)

“I went into the retreat empty and feeling lonely. I came out full of truth, joy, rest, fire for the Lord and with companions who literally got what I was feeling.” (Lily Hoeppner)

“It was a beautiful weekend of rest and encouragement with pastor’s wives from all different seasons of life. Megan did an amazing job helping us feel seen and valued by personalizing so many details from thoughtful gifts in our room to our favorite snacks and restful activities.” (Sarah Taylor)

“I loved being with all generations of people that are walking a similar path and being able to glean wisdom. Laughing, crying, and laughing some more. I loved digging deep in the Word and having time and space to let it wash over me. The weekend was soul giving and so fun!” (Carrie Clothier)

“We are all unique and in different types of ministries and churches, but yet we have so much common ground and it’s nice to have a chance to connect in a meaningful way with like-minded ladies.  We laughed and cried together, and my heart came away so full.” (Anne Brown)

“The study of Psalm 23 and some of the comments and conversations have stayed with me and helped me feel more confident and focused in this changing season of my life. I left feeling filled up in so many ways!” (Jess Julian)

“As a pastor’s wife, we can wear many hats and this weekend we were able to take off all our hats and just rest with other like-minded women.” (Amanda Beasley)

“This time I was one in the oldest generation – Baby Boomers – and felt so accepted and honored and cared for. The beautiful spaces for meaningful conversations, the chances to pour out some needed encouragement, the moments to share in tears, the many occasions to laugh like crazy, and the treasured time in God’s Word and prayer, all contributed to a wonderful experience with precious sisters.” (Chery Boehm)

The post THRIVE Pastors’ Wives Retreat in Ohio Highlights first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Calvert Grace Church, located in Owings, Md., strives to have a robust missions culture. While they regularly pray for their missionaries and hear testimonies of their work during Sunday services, their outreach conference puts missionaries and congregants together in a different context. Outreach Pastor Trevin Hoekzema explained that exposing people to both local and global missionaries helps create connection and relationships between the church and missionaries. “Those who speak at this conference become household names to our people,” he said. 

Trevin works with the Outreach Team, a group of a dozen volunteer leaders with unique backgrounds, callings, and responsibilities, to plan and carry out the conference. Each year has a different theme and focal point, all based on Acts 1:8, which says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Trevin said this is their guide in how they structure their conference, focusing on missions near them (Jerusalem), missions in their region (Samaria), and missions overseas (to the ends of the earth).  

The overall structure of the conference is not just to hear updates from missionaries, although there is an element of that, but rather to have the missionaries lead trainings that equip others for missional work. Trevin works with the missionaries to plan main sessions and breakout discussions centered on their particular area of work in a way that also provides practical training for those attending.  

The first year of the conference, Encompass workers Tom and MaryAnn Barlow spoke along with Jason and Christy Carmean. The second year Dave Guiles, international coordinator for Charis Alliance, spoke on the concept of a plentiful harvest but few laborers, and he was joined by regional missionaries. The third year Nathan Bryant and Phil Bryant, with Assist Church Expansion, spoke on Ephesians 4 and equipping the saints for the work of ministry, with an emphasis on spiritual gifts and being a healthy church.  

This year focused on discipleship and what it looks like in their church. Discipleship Pastor Phil Shearer spoke on local discipleship and Florent Varak, director of the Church Equipping Network at Encompass World Partners, spoke on discipleship in a global context. They spoke on Acts 19 and how the early church multiplied leaders by sharing the Gospel cross culturally. They also had a local missionary serving with Fellowship of Christian Athletes share as well as a panel of elders discuss how they have been discipled in the past, how they are discipling others now, and where else they see discipleship happening in their church. Trevin said, “Our elders are actively involved in our church, and it’s helpful for people to know them and to see how discipleship happens in all shapes and sizes.” 

The conference concludes by providing people a practical way to respond to something they learned. This year attendees received a 13-week discipleship tool from Navigators and people committed to finding one person to walk through the study with, and the church committed to following up for accountability. “It’s such a joy to watch our global partners share from their ministries and teach from their expertise in ways that inspire our people to do the same here,” Trevin said. “Every year our Outreach Team and our staff have incredible follow up conversations for weeks afterwards.” 

The outreach conference was born out of a desire to both train the church and to give missionaries a voice. By pairing practical training with personal stories, a shared mission is created and a deeper commitment is developed. Trevin is passionate about churches fostering these environments and would love to connect with churches to help them think through ways they can expand their outreach both locally and globally. He can be emailed here.  

The post From Here to the Nations: Outreach Conference at Calvert Grace first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

In announcing this year’s awards, Momentum celebrated Grace Fellowship Pickerington as a church that “continues to embody what it means to be a trusted, mission-driven partner — coming alongside Momentum in meaningful ways that multiply Kingdom impact.” It’s a fitting description of a partnership marked by humility, generosity, and a shared desire to see the Gospel advance — together.

For Jake McCullough, Campus Pastor at Grace Fellowship Pickerington, the award represents far more than recognition — it’s a reflection of a relationship that has consistently strengthened their church.

“We’re incredibly grateful for Momentum and its different ministries,” Jake said. “Urban Centers, Momentum Youth Conference, Momentum PRO, and One Day have all been a huge benefit to our students, adults, and staff. We continue to see stories come out of the environments Momentum creates, and we know we’re a better church because of it.”

That posture of gratitude is deeply connected to Grace Fellowship’s heart for partnership. Jake points out that their church exists where it does today not only because of God’s grace, but because of other leaders and churches who were willing to share what they had learned along the way.

“We’ve benefited so much from leaders and churches who were ahead of us,” he shared. “And we want to do the same whenever we can. Momentum creates space for equipping, development, and real relationships, so leaning into what they’re doing just made sense.”

One clear expression of that partnership came this past year when Grace Fellowship hosted the first-ever Momentum PRO: One Day event. More than 300 ministry leaders from across the Midwest gathered for teaching, encouragement, and connection.

Eric Miller, Executive Director of Ministry with Momentum Ministry Partners, noted how intentionally Grace Fellowship served throughout the event. “They’ve continued to partner with Momentum in so many ways,” he said. “Hosting Momentum PRO: One Day was a great example. The staff covered every detail and went above and beyond to serve the leaders who attended.”

For Jake, one of the most meaningful moments didn’t happen on a stage, but in the hallways and open spaces between sessions.

“I remember walking around during a break and seeing groups of people everywhere — catching up, meeting for the first time, sharing ministry ideas, exchanging contact info,” he said. “Anyone in local church ministry knows the unique challenges that come with it, so seeing that kind of connection and encouragement brought me real joy.”

He was reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage one another and build one another up.”

“That moment felt like a living picture of that command,” Jake added. “And I know relationships formed or rekindled that day have continued to bear fruit for our staff and others since.”

Looking ahead, Grace Fellowship remains eager to keep supporting the work God is doing through Momentum and across the Charis Fellowship.

“God is clearly on the move,” Jake said. “Momentum helps fuel that, and whatever we can do to come alongside that work, we’re open to it.”

That shared openness reflects the heart of the Charis Fellowship itself — a family of churches committed to planting new churches, training and equipping leaders, and doing good in the communities God has placed them. Through partnerships like this one, those commitments move from vision to lived reality, strengthening the local church and advancing the Gospel together.

Written by Josh Rollins

The post Grace Fellowship Receives Momentum Partner of the Year Award first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

This 2026 Regional CDR Training will take place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, April 18 from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at Charis Fellowship’s CAMP CONQUEST (480 Forest Rd, Denver, PA 17517).

This event will provide quality training to help volunteers be ready for future disaster response opportunities. This training opportunity includes these areas of focus:

1. Basic Chainsaw Training (all day) – Learn how to work with others to safely remove fallen trees.
2. Rebuild Training (morning option) – Learn how to best assist families and churches rebuild their homes.
3. Fire and Flood Recovery (afternoon option) – Learn how to best respond to communities impacted by fires and floods.
4. Feeding and Safe Food Handling (morning and afternoon option) – Learn how to help during tragedies by serving hot, nutritious meals.

This Charis Disaster Response Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Training is being presented in conjunction with our partner, ON Mission Network. Cost is $65 and includes training, background check, T-shirt, materials, and lunch. Early arrival (Friday night) and Saturday breakfast add-ons available during registration.

Get more information and register here.

To learn more about Charis Disaster Response and our partnership with On MIssion Network, see these previous Charis Connect articles:

The post Regional Disaster Response Training Event first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

According to Momentum Ministry Partners, Pataskala Grace has demonstrated a sustained passion for the rising generation while laying a strong foundation for discipleship that will shape the church for years to come. The leadership team’s work over the past several years has been especially evident, reshaping the culture of the church and helping families rediscover hope for the future.

Pataskala Grace’s momentum has been years in the making. Following a season of revitalization beginning in 2019, the church has experienced steady growth under Pastor Tim Wilmetti’s leadership. Average attendance grew from 68 to 187 by 2025, and the church welcomed 47 new members and celebrated 42 baptisms during that time. The numbers tell a story of more than growth. They point to renewed spiritual health taking root within the congregation.

That shift has centered on rediscovering the purpose of the Church itself.

“We’ve had to shift our culture back to one focused on making disciples and fulfilling the Great Commission,” Tim shared. “Rather than simply existing as a church, we’ve spent time preaching and teaching on ecclesiology, helping people understand God’s expectations for His Church. When people recognize they have a part to play in God’s purposes, they tend to stick around and help produce fruit.”

As part of that renewed clarity, Pataskala Grace began making intentional staffing and ministry decisions with an eye toward the future. In 2022, the church hired Josh Rollins as Associate Pastor to lead student ministry and help strengthen discipleship across the church, with the clear intention from the beginning that he would one day plant a new congregation.

That long-range vision shaped how the church approached next-generation ministry. Rather than treating students as a siloed program, Pataskala Grace invested in building a robust and integrated pathway for children and students. The church offers weekly Wednesday night programming for kids and students, alongside Sunday morning children’s ministry and a dedicated student Bible study. These environments create multiple touchpoints for formation, community, and service.

“We’ve seen students move from simply attending church to owning their church,” Josh said. “Almost all of our students serve in some capacity on Sunday mornings.”

That emphasis on the next generation has strengthened families and reinforced a culture of participation throughout the congregation. Young people are not viewed as the church of tomorrow, but as an essential part of the church today.

As the church continues to grow, Pataskala Grace is taking clear next steps that reflect a posture of movement rather than maintenance. Beginning Easter Sunday 2026, the church will move to two Sunday services, creating space to continue welcoming new people while maintaining healthy ministry rhythms.

“It’s a big step for our church,” Tim said, “but it feels like a necessary step if we’re going to continue to be faithful to God and accommodate the growth He has given us.”

At the same time, Pataskala Grace is preparing to send. In early 2027, the church will launch Newark Grace Church in Newark, Ohio, the first church plant in Pataskala Grace’s more than 50-year history. Josh will transition off staff later this year to pastor that effort, a move that reflects years of prayerful planning rather than a sudden pivot.

“We’re trying to develop a culture where we’ll do whatever it takes to share the Gospel and make disciples,” Tim said. “Whether it’s launching a second service or planting a new church.”

That posture of planning ahead, preparing leaders, and moving outward reflects the broader mission of the Charis Fellowship: to plant churches, train leaders, and do good in the communities God in which has placed them. Pataskala Grace’s journey is a reminder that healthy growth is rarely accidental. It flows from faithfulness, clarity of mission, and a willingness to take courageous next steps.

What began as revitalization has become renewal. And renewal, by God’s grace, is now giving way to multiplication, making Pataskala Grace a fitting recipient of Momentum’s Church on the Rise award.

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