Lancaster Church of Christ has been meeting on Granville Pike in Lancaster, Ohio since September 1971, but the congregation's roots in Fairfield County reach back to August 1943, when a small group first gathered at 300 South Broad Street. Today the church describes itself as an assembly of Christians seeking to be the kind of church found in the New Testament, marked by heartfelt worship, Bible-based teaching, love for one another, continual prayer, and compassionate care for those in need.
Eighty-Three Years in Lancaster
The first evangelist of the Lancaster Church of Christ was Halley Smith, who began the work in the wartime summer of 1943. Within two years the group had moved to a new meeting place at 860 East Mulberry Street, dedicated under the direction of evangelist Fred E. Dennis, with Kenneth Franklin as the local minister. The East Mulberry Street location served as home for a quarter century and was served over those decades by a long succession of ministers, including Kenneth Engle, Hunter Miller, Dwayne Derrick, Wayne Porter, David Lavender, Amos Orrison, Bill Curry, and Jack Gladwell. Garnet Baker, who preached from 1967 to 1975, bridged the move to the present location.
In November 1970 the East Mulberry Street building was sold and construction began on a new site at 1779 Granville Pike. For nearly a year, while the building rose, the church met in the auditorium of Thomas Ewing Junior High School. The first service in the new Granville Pike building was held on September 19, 1971, with Garnet Baker still preaching. An open house followed on April 23, 1972, with Lewis Hussell as guest speaker.
Since the early 1970s the pulpit at Granville Pike has been filled by Steven Goad, Jerry Starling, Bruce Wagner, Patrick Mead (1985-1993), Todd Truax (1994-2006), Jason C. Thompson (2006-2018), and Mark Mason, who has served as preaching evangelist since 2018. Alongside the pulpit ministers, a succession of youth ministers has shaped ministry to the young people of the congregation, including Jason Blackwell and Greg Camarata, with Luke Skelton currently serving in that role.
Sunday Mornings and Wednesday Evenings
The weekly rhythm at Lancaster Church of Christ centers on two Bible study periods and a main Sunday worship gathering. Sunday morning Bible classes begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by the worship service at 10:00 a.m. On Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. the church gathers for a Bible study that is also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel. Recorded worship services and Bible studies are posted to the same channel for those who cannot attend in person. Masks at the Wednesday study are noted as optional.
The congregation's purpose is summarized in five commitments: honoring God through lives and worship, offering hope to those without Christ, pressing on toward spiritual maturity, encouraging others through fellowship, and serving. The motto, drawn from Hebrews 10:24, calls members to consider how to stir one another up to love and good works. A second verse, Revelation 21:5 - "Behold, I am making all things new" - frames the church's mission under the banner of becoming a new people in King Jesus.
Shepherds, Deacons, and Staff
The church is led by a group of shepherds, also called elders or overseers in the New Testament pattern. The current shepherds are Don Ash, Carl Hawes, Steve Starner, Steve Smith, and Mark Mason, who also serves as the preaching evangelist. A group of deacons leads specific ministry areas: Landon Davis (technology), Kendall Stephens (building and grounds), Tom Lavender (missions), Scott Snoke (safety and security), David Clouse (worship planning), Dan Carbaugh (finance), Bryan Barker (involvement and outreach), Shawn Williamson (finance), and James Heidell (education). Amy Carbaugh serves as office administrator, and Luke Skelton leads the youth and family ministry.
The leadership page is built around John 10:11 and Acts 20:28, where Jesus is called the Good Shepherd and the church is described as a flock whose overseers are appointed by the Holy Spirit. Members of the congregation are referred to throughout the church's own materials as the flock.
Preschool, Kidager, and Teens
Children's education at Lancaster Church of Christ begins with the Tuesday and Thursday School, a preschool program that meets two mornings a week and has its own online registration. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade are welcomed into Kidager, the elementary youth group, while students in seventh through twelfth grades gather as the teen ministry. Luke Skelton oversees these ministries as youth and family minister.
Vacation Bible School is a major summer event on the church calendar, with sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and online registration available in advance.
Sisters in Service
The women's ministry, called Sisters in Service, organizes an extensive list of outreach efforts. Ongoing projects include monthly busy bags for children, visitor bags with fresh cookies delivered to newcomers, welcome baskets for new neighbors, and cards of encouragement. Larger seasonal events include a Trunk-or-Treat in October, Breakfast with Santa in December, a ladies retreat in September, and the August Give-Away Day. The ministry also partners with local causes, including the Medill Brownbag lunch program, the Medill Bookbag outreach, and PDHC, the community's life-affirming pregnancy center, supporting its Walk for Life and Golf-for-Life fundraisers. The annual Sack-the-Pulpit effort gathers supplies for the Midwestern Children's Home, and a Secret Sisters encouragement program runs alongside these service projects.
CROSSScribe and the Teaching Ministry
CROSSScribe is a written archive of articles, sermon handouts, and lessons from Mark Mason's teaching ministry. The collection includes devotional pieces such as "Of Books and Turtles" and "Ten Rules for a Good Day," Bible study outlines like "An Outline of the Gospel Story" and "The Psalm of the Cross," topical studies including "A Definition of Manhood," "Attitudes Matter," and "He Knows My Name," and longer lecture notes such as "The Luke-Acts Connection" from the 2009 Ohio Valley University lectureship and a fact sheet on the book of Numbers. New entries are added as they are produced.
Walking for Water and Local Outreach
Each summer the church organizes Walk 4 Water, a community walk that begins with a potluck lunch after Sunday morning worship and proceeds through Rising Park. The event supports international clean-water efforts and gathers members, friends, and neighbors for an afternoon of fellowship. Beyond Walk 4 Water, the church maintains active involvement in missions work through Deacon Tom Lavender's portfolio and through partnerships such as PDHC and the Midwestern Children's Home.
Becoming Part of the Family
Lancaster Church of Christ outlines the path to joining the congregation in four steps rooted in the New Testament. A person first believes in Jesus as the Son of God and submits to Him as Lord and Savior. They are then baptized into Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit. Next they make their desire to be part of this local body of Christ known to the church's leaders. Finally they continue faithfully in love for the Lord and for others, walking as Jesus walked and sharing the good news with those around them.
The church's member directory is maintained through Instant Church Directory, weekly bulletins are stored in an online folder, and contributions can be given online through Fairfield Federal Savings and Loan. Visitors who wish to stay informed about services and events can sign up for text-message notifications from the church.
Sunday morning worship is the centerpiece of life at Lancaster Church of Christ. Visitors will find a congregation that has been rooted in the same Fairfield County neighborhood for more than fifty years, shaped by a clear conviction that the church belongs to Jesus and is cared for as a flock by shepherds He has appointed.