There appears to be a great need for a life-giving church in Gahanna, Ohio especially one that will appeal to young families. There are some older, more established churches in the city that appeal to an older demographic, but there are 120,000 people within 5 miles of downtown that don’t have a church home. Movement Church (Hilliard, OH) and Encounter Church (Dublin, OH) have partnered to send Joel, Morgan and Three Creeks Church to Gahanna.
NOW – AUGUST 2017
Prep phase: gather the team
SEPTEMBER 10, 2017
Launch team meetings begin
FEBRUARY 4 AND 11, 2018
Preview worship experiences
FEBRUARY 18, 2018
First Sunday morning worship experience
Joel & Morgan Trainer
Joel has 9 years of ministry experience in camp ministry and he is currently two-thirds of the way through a Residency with Movement Church and Encounter Church. Joel has his MBA in Christian Leadership through John Brown University. He has been assessed by Ron Boehm (FGBC Pastor and Assessor) and received a very positive report. Joel recently was licensed as a Grace Brethren Pastor and is pursuing ordination.
God provided a home in Gahanna for the Trainers in December 2016. There were 12 offers on this home on the FIRST DAY it was listed, and there was one offer for $10,000 MORE than the Trainers’ offer. When the family heard a church planting couple was interested in buying the home, they chose the Trainers as the buyers.
About the project
Movement Church and Encounter Church have embedded church planting in their DNA. It is no secret that these churches want to plant churches. When people join their Launch Team, the churches celebrate! They have defined “multiplication” as their goal and because of this, church planting is already knit into the fabric of Three Creeks Church. All three churches have already begun collaborating and praying about the next church plant.
Movement Church and Encounter Church will give oversight to Three Creeks Church for two years beyond the Launch in early 2018. Not only will both churches be contributing financially, but they will be coaching and overseeing Joel through this first few years of this new church. As of May 2017, the Launch Team has grown to 65 people. Three Creeks has a great team and so much momentum. They are supported by leaders, prayer warriors and kingdom-minded people.
Three Creeks Church Leaders
Cody McManaway, Business Director (far left); Morgan Trainer, Small Groups Director (center, green scarf); Erica Jones, Three Creeks Kids Director (second from right)
More positions are currently being filled.
Financial needs
Launch fund (for trailer, sound equipment, children’s ministry equipment, marketing, signage):
$20,000
Support:
- 2017: $20,000
- 2018: $15,000
- 2019: $10,000