Why We're Starting a Church in Newark, Ohio
A gospel outpost in one of Ohio’s hardest places
There’s a certain ache that comes with loving a place.
It’s the ache of driving familiar roads and realizing they’re still not home. The ache of wanting the people around you to know Jesus — not just culturally, not just theologically, but intimately. The ache of believing the gospel really can change everything, even when the evidence seems stacked against it.
That ache is why we’re starting a church in Newark, Ohio.
The Ache and the Calling
It was December 2022 when I felt it most. My wife, Jen, drove me 24.8 miles from our home in Pataskala to the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus for what would become a life-saving operation. I remember the silence in the car. The gravity. The helplessness. But mostly, I remember the unwavering look in her eyes — the kind that said, I would drive you anywhere to save your life.
That same resolve, that same burden, has followed us ever since. Not in the form of another diagnosis, but in the form of a calling. A calling to go — not 24.8 miles west, but less than 20 miles east. To a place that, in many ways, has everything… except gospel hope.
Newark: More Than a Map Dot
Newark isn’t a mission trip destination. It’s not a church planter’s playground. It’s a real place, with real people, and a real need.
With nearly 50,000 residents, Newark is the 16th largest city in Ohio. It has historic roots, a revitalized downtown, and sits at the edge of one of the state’s fastest-growing regions. But for all its growth, Newark carries a deep spiritual weight. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, nearly two-thirds of Newark residents aren’t connected to any local church.
That means tens of thousands of men, women, and children are living without the hope, joy, and beauty that comes from knowing Jesus Christ through His Word and His people.
And that means we can’t stay where we are.
A Hard Place — and Holy Ground
More than one pastor has pulled me aside and said it straight:
“Newark is a church planting graveyard.”
It’s one of the hardest places in Central Ohio to reach with the gospel. If you drive around town, you might see why. There are buildings that used to house churches — now quiet, lifeless, or repurposed. You can almost hear the echoes of what used to be. Ministry here isn’t glamorous. It’s slow. It’s gritty. And often, it feels like sowing seed in dry ground.
But we aren’t going because it’s going to be easy.
We’re going because God is good, Jesus is risen, and the Spirit of God has been at work in Newark long before Newark Grace ever crossed my mind.
This is missionary ground.
And the gospel is still God’s power to save — even in places where hope feels buried.
Not a Strategy—A Story
We’re not planting a church in Newark because it’s strategic.
We’re planting a church because Jesus came for us.
Church planting isn’t a modern innovation; it’s an ancient act of obedience. The gospel spreads through people and churches — not content or charisma. And every church that has ever existed exists because someone, somewhere, believed Jesus was worth following and people were worth reaching.
Acts 1:8 still rings out:
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In our case, “Judea and Samaria” isn’t just a theological category. It’s 20 minutes down Route 16.
The Tension of the In-Between
Starting a church in Newark is part of the long obedience of living between here and home.
We’re not going to fix Newark. We’re not bringing Jesus to a place He hasn’t already been pursuing. We’re going to join Him there. To be a faithful outpost. A little lighthouse pointing people to the truer light.
We want to preach the gospel clearly.
We want to make disciples who love God and love people.
We want to raise up new leaders, start new groups, build new rhythms.
But mostly—we want to be present. Fully here. Fully His.
The kingdom of God is coming, but it’s also here. And if Newark is part of God’s creation, then it’s part of His redemptive plan. That means it’s not just worth loving—it’s worth laying down our lives for.
How You Can Join Us
We don’t have all the answers. We don’t know how big it’ll be, how fast it will grow, or what it will cost. But we do know this: Christ is worth it.
If you want to be a part of this work, here’s how:
Pray. For the soil. For the people. For our family. Church planting is spiritual war—and we need covering.
Consider Going. Maybe God is nudging you to step into something new. Maybe Newark is closer to your calling than you think.
Give. Starting something from the ground up takes sacrificial generosity. Every gift to our church plant fund will go directly toward creating a gospel-centered community from day one.
Spread the Word. Share this. Tell someone. Connect us to others. You never know who might be ready to say “yes.”
The Real Question
The question isn’t “Why Newark?”
The real question is:
If Jesus is alive, and the gospel is true—how could we not?