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

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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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Relational ministry is a long game. There is no timeline, no guaranteed outcome. As the Executive Director of a Youth for Christ chapter, our team sets goals and prays to see more teenagers know Christ. But the darkness our teens are facing is thick. Students we’ve served have watched their friends die in the street due to gun violence. They are adrift, with no safety and security. Some just want someone to listen to them, to care about them, to love them. You never know how that conversation or car ride or dinner invitation will turn out. You never know what the Lord will use to draw someone to Himself.

It sometimes seems intimidating. The media tells us that kids these days don’t want relationships with us. But I have found that to be categorically untrue. The things students have told me by me just focusing my complete attention on them and asking questions is astonishing. Most of my students jump at the chance to grab a coffee, get a ride to church, just hang out at my house doing nothing seemingly important. In those moments, seeds are planted.

A girl in our youth group texted me recently asking if she could be picked up for youth that night. When Audrey got in my car, I asked her if she wanted to get some Chick-fil-A with me first, knowing that she might not have had dinner since she was often alone at her house. As we waited in the drive-thru, I asked about her thoughts of the youth group. “I like that the students are nice. They don’t judge me for dressing differently like my old church.” I looked at her Slipknot t-shirt under her usual black jacket. I next asked her about what it meant to follow Jesus with her life. “It means to not choose a temptation, but to choose what Jesus would do.” This question was a good segue to ask her the question I’d been waiting awhile to ask her. “Have you ever made the decision to follow Jesus?” I grabbed the food from the window and handed it to her. “I don’t think I’m ready yet,” she replied. “That’s okay,” I said. “It’s an incredibly big decision, so you need to make sure before you do it.”

When I was the same age as Callie and Audrey, I was privileged to have caring adults invest in my life. One of those adults, Megan Johnson, recently reminded me how we need to focus on our call and let the Holy Spirit do His job. She sent me “A Liturgy Before Serving Others” by Douglas McKelvey. The last portion really stood out to me.

“I cannot know the end of another person’s story. Our lives so often only briefly intersect. So let me be content to minister regardless of visible outcomes, trusting that the small mercies I extend will be woven in to the larger theme of redemption at work in the lives of others as you woo them to yourself, drawing their hearts by graces offered, and shaping my own heart too in this process of learning to serve well, and by learning to serve well, learning to love well.”

I’m not sure how Audrey’s story will end or what my part will be in it. But I do know that I am being faithful to what God is calling me to do in her life. And that is all I can do. The rest is up to God.

Written by Meredith Russell for the Year in Review 2024–2025. Meredith Russell is the Executive Director of Youth for Christ Highlands County, the wife of Pastor Ben Russell, and mom to two boys. She graduated from Valley Forge Christian College with a degree in Early Childhood Education. For almost nine years she was a teacher in Highlands County, Florida, before accepting her current role. She and her family are part of Neighborhood Church in Sebring, Florida, where she volunteers with the youth group. Meredith enjoys hanging out with her friends and youth students, playing board games, reading, and gardening. 

The post The Ministry of Relationships first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

Sadly, most people in Jesus’ day failed to make these connections. They flunked Prophecy 101. Only with hindsight and help from the Holy Spirit did the biblical authors clearly note these prophetic links.*

We suffer a similar malady when it comes to understanding Jesus’ Second Coming. The rapture, the future of Israel, and Millennial Kingdom are tricky topics. The Great Tribulation, Daniel’s 70 Weeks, and Revelation’s Symphony of Wrath intensify our need for interpretive precision.

If we are not careful, our discussions about end times descend into mere speculation. Thus, many of us default in saying nothing at all about the last days.

According to Pastor Bob Fetterhoff, silence is not an option. “As good students of the Word, it’s our responsibility to understand and teach this stuff. So much of the Bible is prophetic.” Fetterhoff added, “But we need to teach in a way that’s not speculative or weird.”

Bob’s passion sparked an idea. Last Things First is a two-day (February 6–7) regional gathering for Charis churches focused on Jesus’ Second Coming hosted at East Side Grace Brethren Church in Blacklick, Ohio. This event is a learning opportunity designed to inspire and educate pastors, lay leaders, and maturing disciples in collaboration with Grace Theological Seminary.

Friday night’s session includes music, Scripture reading, and inspirational talks from Daniel O’Kane, Randy Smith, and Bob Fetterhoff. Saturday morning offers numerous workshops from Charis Fellowship leaders to build understanding and anticipation for Jesus’s Return.

I am not an end times enthusiast. In fact, I often skirt the topic because I’ve seen the negative effects of speculation. I’ve heard similar confessions from other Charis leaders.

However, when we leave this critical area of theology unaddressed, we miss discipleship opportunities. We ignore questions our people are asking about current events, future rewards, and the fate of Israel. We allow our present sufferings to overshadow Christ’s glorious return. And we lose urgency for global mission.

Consider joining us for the Charis Equip Event on Biblical Prophecy. Sign up today here. Registration includes entrance, digital resources, commemorative communion cup, and breakfast. Moreover, everyone who registers will be entered in a drawing to receive a $4000 travel scholarship to tour the Holy Land with Dr. Randy Smith.**

Maranatha.

*Matthew cites five fulfillments in his first two chapters. In the final chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus surveys the Hebrew Scriptures, marking how they predicted his life, death, and resurrection.

**Scholarship winner must be present to receive scholarship for. It is good for 12 months through Christian Travel Study Programs.

Written by Tim Sprankle, Charis Fellowship Executive Director

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“Our goal is to write music for the church that is both theologically thoughtful and musically creative,” Tristan said. “We desire to develop leaders who will disciple the church into deeper and purer worship of Jesus Christ.”

909 Collective has released two full albums that are available to stream on all major platforms. All of their music is written with corporate worship in mind, and all of their chord charts are available for free for worship teams to use on their website, 909CollectiveWorship.com.

Tristan said there are three ways 909 Collective desires to connect with and support local churches:

1. Serving by leading worship at an event. These are huge wins for all involved — we’ll take care of the music, tech, and leadership to allow your people to encounter God while also creating opportunity for our people to grow as worship leaders. We love getting to partner with ministries in this way.
2. Leadership development. While a lot of our developmental passion gets focused internally on our teams, we love the idea of getting to connect with local church’s worship teams. If your team could use training in leadership, developing team culture, songwriting, character and competency development, or any other area related to worship ministry, let’s connect.
3. Music available for worship services.Give us a shout if any of our songs are able to be useful to your churches!

The post Discipleship Through Worship Leading first appeared on Charis Fellowship.

“That day in 1723 marked both the celebration of the nativity of our Lord and the birth of the first Brethren church in America….The fact that it was winter and snow was on the ground did not deter these earnest believers from fulfilling the desire to obey their Lord in the matter of baptism. Therefore, after a noonday meal and after the six candidates had been examined, the twenty-three souls walked to the Wissahickon Creek, not far from the location of the present-day Germantown church and cemetery. When the party reached the banks of the creek, they knelt and offered fervent prayer. A portion of Luke 14 was read, as it was at the first baptism in Germany. The passage speaks of counting the cost in Christian service. They also sang the baptismal hymn composed by Alexander Mack with the pertinent words, ‘Count the cost, says Jesus Christ, when the foundations thou wouldst lay.’

…Peter Becker first entered the water, through a thin layer of ice, leading Martin Urner, the first to be baptized. Following the trine immersion of Urner, that of his wife Catherina was solemnized, and then the four others.”

302 years later, Charis Fellowship churches still practice believer’s baptism — the outward expression of an inward transformation. The video below celebrates baptisms in Charis Fellowship churches around the country. What a joy it is to see believers proclaim saving faith in the work of Jesus Christ!

Watch the whole baptism celebration video here. 

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There is a lot that can be unpacked from this passage in Exodus 17. We see obedience in Joshua following Moses’ instructions, we see faith in Moses trusting in God for Israel’s victory, and we see deliverance in God providing that victory. And right in the middle we see true companionship between Moses, Aaron, and Hur. Read verse 12 again: “When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”

Companionship is more than friendship, although it often entails that. The word companion, which shares the same Latin root as the word accompany, describes someone who comes alongside another either in everyday life or on a specific mission (think of Samwise not letting Frodo travel alone to Mordor). Aaron had already proved to be a true companion to Moses by going with him to Egypt to free the Israelites and speaking when he could not (Exodus 7:1–7). Here again we see Aaron helping Moses accomplish God’s mission by holding up Moses’ hands when he could not.

People on mission for God need companions like Aaron and Hur to come alongside them — to accompany them — in the task God has put before them. This is especially true for those called to lead churches. Jonny Damon recognized this need, and out of his desire to see churches thrive and its leaders remain “steady until sunset” the ministry Steady Hands was born.

Growing up, Jonny saw his grandparents serve as “missionaries to missionaries.” They had a heart for people who were alone on the mission field, and they came alongside them to help in any way they could. They prayed for their grandkids to one day continue ministering to those in ministry.

The Lord began to stir in Jonny a similar heart for those in ministry. At Charis Fellowship Conference in 2022, Scott Feather gave a message on the concept of “we” and being “for the one” which caused Jonny to begin thinking about what it could look like if we did more together. While on staff at Gateway Church in eastern Pennsylvania, Jonny started helping local churches, especially those with one or two person teams. He and his wife began to pray about a ministry to pastors, similar to his grandparents’ ministry to missionaries. He started showing up at churches and asking, “What do you need and how can we help?”

Oftentimes Steady Hands gets connected with a church or pastor through facility projects, and a personal relationship grows out of that. Jonny works to build relationships so that when a need arises, the leader trusts him enough to call for help.

Steady Hands has a volunteer pool and is financially supported by 50 donors and five churches. They offer all of their services at no cost to the person receiving it, in an effort to always be a blessing and not a burden. Sometimes their work looks like a counseling phone call with a pastor, a stage rebuild in an auditorium, a fresh coat of paint in the kids ministry area, a meal on a busy weeknight, preaching on a Sunday morning, or a vacation to step away and refresh. Their ultimate goal is to limit isolation and keep leaders healthy so they can continue to lead healthy churches which will continue to reach people with the Gospel.

The ministry, which is now a cooperating ministry of the Charis Fellowship, is based in eastern Pennsylvania and primarily works with churches and leaders in Lancaster and Chester counties. Jonny is working on building network connections in other areas as well to be able to connect people with resources and assistance local to them.

More information about Steady Hands can be found on their website here, and Jonny can be contacted through email here.

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“It’s one thing to plant a church. It’s a different level to multiply leaders who can multiply churches.” Clancy Cruise, pastor at Marysville Grace Church in Marysville, Ohio, said this upon receiving the Ed Jackson Church Multiplication Award. Clancy is the second recipient of this award, presented by Assist Church Expansion at their ministry-sponsored meal at Charis Fellowship Conference.

In the early 1960s Ed Jackson was part of the original group who started Grace Polaris Church, the first Charis Fellowship church in Central Ohio. In the 1990s Grace Polaris planted Grace Powell Church, where Ed went on to serve as a missions pastor. In 2002 Grace Powell Church hired Clancy Cruise to plant a church in Marysville, Ohio. Since then Marysville Grace has planted several churches that have gone on to plant churches, including Bellefontaine Grace in 2016 who recently planted Lake Campus in 2024.

Clancy said, “It’s quite an honor to be recognized for two decades of training and church planting. I’m proud to be part of our Fellowship and I know we have a lot of churches that are committed to multiplying.”

This award seeks to honor Ed Jackson’s legacy. While his impact was significant in Central Ohio, it stretches far beyond one region. He pioneered church planting efforts in Alaska, served at churches in Alaska and Florida, and was involved in global missions. The goal of the award is to recognize individuals who, like Ed, show a strong commitment to church expansion in the Charis Fellowship, and to also inspire an ongoing church expansion culture across our movement of churches.

“The award was a recognition not only of the efforts of our church, but the churches and leaders we’ve planted,” Clancy said. “I’m confident going forward that the churches we planted will also plant. I’m very thankful, humbled, and encouraged by the recognition for our churches and our guys.”

Read more about Ed Jackson’s ministry and the Church Multiplication Award, including a short video of Clancy receiving the award, on Assist’s website here.

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Since launching in the fall of 2024, Charis Disaster Response (CDR) has sought ways to serve those impacted by disasters. Over the past year they have responded to a tornado in Ohio and two hurricanes in Florida, and facilitated church teams to deploy independently.

In an effort to be equipped to respond well when the time arises, CDR is organizing a series of regional training events. The events will cover specific areas of training, including chainsaw and tree removal, fire and flood recovery, operation of mobile shower and laundry facilities, and safe food handling and mass feeding.

These trainings are offered in partnership with On Mission Network, a ministry network with decades of experience in training and empowering people and churches to effectively respond when disaster strikes.

The first regional training took place on June 28 in Pataskala, Ohio. On Mission Network facilitated the training, and 35 people from around Central Ohio attended. Impact Disaster Response, the disaster response team of the Baptist General Assembly of Virginia, brought a chainsaw unit and mass feeding unit to provide hands-on training.

Dennis Mahoney, of On Mission Network, taught the entire group about how to “mud/muck out” a house after a flood and how to “ash out” a house after a fire. He covered important safety procedures and reminded people of the importance of engaging with people in the community while serving. After this training, the group split into either chainsaw or feeding for further training.

The chainsaw unit team provided classroom training on safety and process for using chainsaws and skid steers for tree removal. The group then practiced hands on training with equipment. The mass feeding unit, equipped to feed up to 5,000 people, practiced their training by preparing lunch for the group.

Todd Derry, CDR coordinator, had two hopes for this series of trainings. First, he wanted people to see the large scope of ways to serve and to understand not all of serving was physically demanding. Second, for those who desire to deploy when there is a need, they are trained and prepared for the task in which they want to serve.

CDR is planning other regional trainings over the next several months. More information will be provided once it is available. For questions, contact CDR Coordinator Todd Derry at DisasterResponse@CharisFellowship.com.

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I remember where I was the first time I truly heard and paid attention to this verse. I was in a college gymnasium, surrounded by two thousand other teenagers in southern Mississippi. It was an evening session of Momentum Youth Conference in the summer of 2007, and the speaker was explaining how your life would and should look different after Christ.

I thought back to my little six-year-old self at Neighborhood Bible Club asking Jesus into my heart. I believe in that moment I knew Jesus died for me, taking the punishment of my sins, and that by accepting this I would have a relationship with Him and spend eternity in heaven. But I don’t believe in that moment I fully grasped what a life lived for Jesus would look like.

Fast forward through ten years of Sunday school lessons, summer camp experiences, and Wednesday night kids ministry to a teenager trying to fully comprehend what it means to be changed by Jesus. I spent some time wrestling with this question before I truly decided I wanted Jesus to change my life. I wanted — needed — Him to make me a new creation. And because He did indeed make me new, I wanted to spend my life serving Him.

Once your life has been changed by the Gospel of Jesus and you’ve been made new, everything about your life changes — the relationships you pursue, the career path you follow, the location where you live. Once Jesus has truly gotten ahold of your life, you can’t help but live for Him and tell others about Him.

The Gospel is the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. God created us to be with Him, but because of sin we have been separated from God and need a path back to a right relationship and eternity with Him. The message that God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to take the punishment of our sins, that He was buried and rose from the dead three days later, and that He is coming back again is the message of ultimate reconciliation that never changes or gets old. That is the goodness of the Gospel, and it changes everything.

Written by Randi Walle for the Year in Review 2023–2024. Randi serves as the editor and communications manager for the Charis Fellowship. She is a member and life-long attender of Grace Polaris Church in Westerville, Ohio, where she serves as the communications director.

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