Seventy Years on Sharon Road
Forest Chapel United Methodist Church sits on the west side of Sharon Road in Forest Park, a suburb on the northern edge of Cincinnati. The building has been part of this neighborhood since the 1950s, and the congregation shares its diamond anniversary with the city around it. Both Forest Chapel and Forest Park turn 70 in 2026, and the church marked the occasion with a community-wide celebration of music, food, and fellowship.
The congregation describes its calling simply: "To live in Christ and make disciples of Christ to transform our community for the better." Members include teachers, business owners, medical professionals, retirees, students, and families of every background. The pastor's greeting puts it plainly that every person is welcome, questions are honored, and gifts are nurtured here.
A Pastor Called to Connect
Lead Pastor Rev. Dr. J. Kabamba Kiboko, Ph.D., has served Forest Chapel since 2013. A Musanga from the Basanga people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Kiboko came to the church with a calling to connect people. Her name means "gatherer," and the congregation's outreach reflects that.
Since arriving in Forest Park, Dr. Kiboko has built partnerships with Primary North Elementary School (now The Early Childhood Central Campus), local police and fire departments, Winton Woods School District, and Forest Park City Council. In 2015 she welcomed the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati into Forest Chapel UMC, beginning Nepali language classes for their children. The church went on to help with citizenship test preparation and driver's license acquisition in 2017. A current initiative, the Do-Good Program in partnership with John Wesley UMC, offers ESOL classes to newcomers from Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Kiboko also serves on the Forest Park WeTHRIVE! Team, helping shape health-oriented programs for the community, and works alongside city leaders on the Produce Pop-Up program and the Forest Park Kids Club. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) from Denver University and Iliff School of Theology, an M.Div. from Iliff, an M.Th. from Perkins School of Theology, a B.A. from Drake University, and theological studies from the Institut Supérieur de Théologie in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sundays at Forest Chapel
The church's Sunday rhythm is built around two distinct worship services, with a social hour between them.
10:30 AM: English Worship. The morning service is described as blended, traditional, and contemporary, drawing on a wide range of musical and liturgical styles. Worship includes prayer, Scripture reading, congregational singing, preaching, and a children's message. The service is livestreamed on Facebook each Sunday at 10:30 AM and 12 PM Eastern Time for those joining from home.
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM: Social Time in the Parlor. Between the two services, members and visitors gather in the Parlor for coffee, refreshments, and conversation.
12:00 PM: Nepali Worship. A second Sunday service is held in Nepali, an outgrowth of the church's long partnership with the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati. The congregation considers this service a central part of its identity rather than a peripheral program.
Children are welcomed in worship, and the church offers children's ministry programming during the morning hours. Visitors are invited to come as they are.
Intentional Faith Development
Forest Chapel has made a named practice of growing disciples. The church calls it Intentional Faith Development, an idea drawn from John Wesley's call for believers to keep diving deeper into faith throughout their lives.
The teaching rests on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, a four-legged stool for understanding the Christian life. Scripture is the first authority and the measure for all other truth. Tradition supplies interpretation and doctrine, linking today's Christians to more than 1,700 years of Christian reflection. Reason is the work of conferencing, sorting out what Scripture means today in conversation with other believers. Experience is the testimony of transformed lives, and it is here that Wesley's Class Meetings and Band Meetings (small groups built around sharing and mutual accountability) take their place.
Forest Chapel frames the Christian life as a journey with stages: getting started, going deeper, and centering. A spiritual gifts inventory is offered to anyone who wants to discover where they fit in the congregation's life and ministry.
Core Values: Wellness, Hospitality, Relationship Building
Three values shape the church's decisions and programs.
Wellness covers mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial well-being. Intentional Faith Development is one expression; the Produce Pop-Up and Giving Garden are others. The Parish Health Ministry brings wellness programming into the congregation and the wider neighborhood.
Hospitality at Forest Chapel is described as radical. It is the practice of earnest witness and invitation, demonstrating Christ-like love to those both inside and outside the church walls. Examples include Church Anywhere (the church's online worship presence), The Village, AA meetings, the Tri-County S.O.U.L. Ministry, Forest Park Kids Club, and the Giving Garden and Produce Pop-Up.
Relationship Building is a deliberate response to today's political, social, economic, and cultural divisions. The church wants people to hear, witness, and experience the love of Jesus Christ through being in community. Programs tied to this value include the 9:25 Ministry, the Bethlehem Bhutanese Ministry, Breakthrough Prayer, and Scouting.
Ministries for Every Stage
Forest Chapel organizes its work across ages and interests.
- Children's Ministry supports the youngest members with age-appropriate teaching and activities.
- Youth Ministry engages middle schoolers and teenagers in faith, fellowship, and service.
- Adult Ministry provides study, fellowship, and service opportunities for adults.
- Scouting hosts Scout troops as a community ministry.
- The Village and 9:25 Ministry are smaller-group pathways for connection.
- Breakthrough Prayer gathers people around focused prayer.
- AA meetings are hosted at the church as a service to the broader recovery community.
- Parish Health tends to wellness across the congregation.
Reaching Out to Neighbors and Newcomers
Forest Chapel's community work extends well beyond its walls. Several ongoing programs form the backbone of this ministry.
Produce Pop-Up. On the first Thursday of each month from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, the church parking lot becomes a free distribution point for fresh produce and canned goods. The program is run in partnership with the Freestore Foodbank and Forest Park's WeTHrive! program. Car pickup is preferred, though walk-ups are welcome.
ESOL Classes. Free English language classes for speakers of other languages meet every Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 PM. The classes are open to the public and serve newcomers settling in the greater Cincinnati region.
Bethlehem Bhutanese Ministry. This long-standing partnership supports the Bhutanese Community of Cincinnati, beginning with children's language classes and expanding into citizenship and driver's license help.
Forest Park Kids Club. During the school year, children gather at the church for games, activities, and a free lunch. The club runs on a seasonal schedule, with a summer break each year.
Tri-County S.O.U.L. Ministry. S.O.U.L. extends the church's hospitality work across the wider region.
Circle of Friends. On the first Thursday of each month at 12:00 PM, women gather in the Parlor for a BYO-lunch fellowship, with desserts provided.
A Sanctuary for Weddings
Forest Chapel hosts weddings as part of its ministry. The historic sanctuary seats up to 500 guests and features stained-glass windows and a historic organ. A smaller Chapel accommodates up to 40 guests for smaller ceremonies and vow renewals. The Parlor seats 50 and can be used for post-ceremony receptions. (No alcohol or cigarettes are permitted.) A Celebration Garden on the grounds provides a setting for wedding photography.
The pastor offers pre-marital counseling, unless a couple is already receiving it from another minister of their choice, and works with each couple to craft a personalized ceremony. Couples meet with the pastor and place a deposit before a ceremony date is confirmed.
Rental Spaces
The church's rooms are available for outside events. The sanctuary works well for concerts and small performances, complete with a full sound system and stained-glass backdrop. The Chapel suits presentations and small group discussions. The Parlor and Activity Room each seat up to 50 people, with the Parlor offering a more formal atmosphere and the Activity Room providing a larger kitchen and more space for games and activities. Rentals are handled by the church's administrative assistant.
Giving and Staying Connected
Forest Chapel supports its ministry through the generosity of its congregation and supporters. Gifts can be made online through the church's secure giving portal, by text (text 844-514-0512 to get set up, then text a donation amount, or text "Recurring" for ongoing gifts), or by mail to the church office. Donations are tax-deductible; the church is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
The church office is open during the week for questions about worship, ministries, weddings, or rentals. Visitors and newcomers can request more information by email. Worship is livestreamed on Facebook each Sunday morning, so anyone unable to attend in person can join the service online.
From its place on Sharon Road, Forest Chapel United Methodists continue a 70-year ministry of connecting neighbors, welcoming questions, and serving Forest Park and the wider Cincinnati region.