From Pastor Jonathan Herron’s blog at Catalyst Church, Kent, Ohio. To read more, click here.

Wooster, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church (Robert Fetterhoff, pastor) is coming alongside Catalyst Church (Kent, OH) in a significant, Kingdom-expanding way. Through Wooster’s Outreach/Global Missions Department, the church is generously awarding Catalyst a $12,000 missions stipend toward bringing on a Lead Worshiper at the church plant.

Pastor Daron Butler of the Wooster church (pictured left) presented the monetary gift to Pastor Herron (pictured right) at Catalyst’s recently renovated 125 South Water Street offices in downtown Kent.

Daron Butler, Pastor of Cross-Cultural Missions at Wooster Grace, explained, “Wooster Grace values reaching out not only in our community but also in our district. The Northeast Ohio District of Grace Brethren Churches has a new church plant emerging in Kent, OH. The church plant pastor is Jonathan Herron. The name of the Grace Brethren Church is Catalyst.

“On July 31, 2008, Catalyst was officially recognized at National Conference as a Grace Brethren Church. Catalyst’s was born from people sensing the need for a church that reached people far from God. Discovering that Portage County is the least-churched county in all of Ohio, its largest city – Kent – was quickly chosen as ground zero for this new movement. Catalyst is a start-from-stratch church plant. Wooster Grace is partnering with Catalyst through our NEO District to advance God’s reach to those in the least-churched county in Ohio.”

Herron explained further, “As we seek to reach single 20-somethings and young families on Sundays, having a solid band and worship experience is key to gaining credibility with newcomers who haven’t darkened a church door in years. Until someone is environmentally-secure in The Kent Stage, they will not become theologically-aware.

“Wooster’s gift will enable us to bring a strong Lead Worshiper to our team and help us advance our mission of reaching people far from God.”

Catalyst wishes to publicly thank Wooster Grace for their courageous leadership, great generosity, and continued encouragement. Prayer for wisdom is coveted as Catalyst continues interviewing potential candidates for this strategic area of ministry.