Tucked along Lewis Center Road on the eastern edge of Westerville, Genoa Church has built its identity around a simple four-word rhythm: Belong. Grow. Serve. Go. The congregation's stated mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and the weekly schedule is built around that goal, from two Sunday morning services to a full Wednesday night lineup, small groups, a coffee shop, and an indoor playground.
Sunday Mornings at 9 and 11
Genoa meets on Sundays at 9 and 11 AM, with both services livestreamed online for those who cannot attend in person. The services are described as engaging, combining powerful worship with Biblically sound teaching. A worship choir, worship band, praise team, and tech team support the gatherings from behind the scenes. There is no stated dress code; the church simply asks that visitors come as they are.
First-time guests can fill out a welcome form online and pick up a free gift when they arrive. Giving is offered online through Church Center, by mail to the church office, or in person during services with buckets at the back of the Worship Center. A weekly bulletin is posted online each Sunday.
Wednesday Nights: AWANA, Students, and Life Groups
Wednesday evenings are the busiest night of the week at Genoa. Children from age 3 through fifth grade gather at 6:45 PM for AWANA, a program designed to help kids grow spiritually and faithfully follow Jesus Christ. The Genoa Cafe stays open until 6:45 PM with dinner options, specialty drinks, and bakery items, so families can skip the drive-thru and eat before dropping kids off.
Middle and high school students, grades 6 through 12, meet in the Student Chapel (also called the North Chapel) at 6:45 PM on Wednesdays and again on Sunday mornings during both services. The student ministry is led by Pastor Samson States and is at genoastudents.org.
Adults gather throughout the area on Wednesday nights in Life Groups, small communities that meet in homes and at the church for Bible study, fellowship, and prayer. The Wednesday dinner menu is posted online each week, and new Life Groups launch each fall.
Tuesday Mornings for Moms, Second Thursdays for Senior Adults
For moms with children at home, Mom Life meets on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 AM during the school year. The gatherings include childcare for babies through age 5, a potluck breakfast, fellowship, prayer, guest speakers, and creative activities. The ministry exists to encourage and equip mothers as parents, women, and leaders in their relationship with Jesus.
Older adults have their own regular rhythm at Genoa. The Senior Adult Fellowship gathers for a potluck dinner on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM in the New Chapel. Senior Adult Pastor Wayne Booth also oversees the care ministry, which includes nursing home visits, funeral dinners, and partnerships with Hands of Christ, Stowe Mission, and Faith Mission.
The CLASS Growth Track and Bible Institute
Discipleship at Genoa runs through a four-step program called CLASS. Class 101, taught by Senior Pastor Frank Carl, walks newcomers through the history and future of Genoa Church and offers a path to church membership. Class 201 focuses on Bible study, prayer, stewardship, and fellowship, with lunch and childcare provided. Class 301 helps people discover where they fit in ministry, and Class 401 explores each person's life mission. The classes rotate throughout the year.
For those wanting deeper scripture study, Genoa Bible Institute offers more formal courses for adults, with registration handled through Church Center.
Coffee, an Indoor Playground, and Fall Soccer
The Genoa Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and serves coffee, specialty drinks, and bakery items. Adjacent to the cafe is the Indoor Playground, which is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to noon and Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4:00 PM, giving parents a place to let little ones burn off energy while grabbing a coffee.
Genoa Sports, led by Co-Pastor Scott Lewald, offers Christ-centered athletics for the church and community, with fall soccer as one example. The aim is spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health, with everyone encouraged to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
What Genoa Believes About Jesus
Genoa Church teaches that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and is without error. The church believes in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, became flesh to reveal God and to become the Savior of the world. All people were created in God's image but became alienated through sinful disobedience and cannot regain a right relationship with God through their own efforts.
Salvation, the church teaches, comes through faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for sin. Christians are called to live for Christ through obedience to the Word and daily yielding to the Spirit. The church is the body of Christ, called to glorify God by loving him and making him known to the lost world.
Baptism at Genoa is a believer's public proclamation of conversion and commitment to follow Jesus. Anyone interested can fill out a baptism interest form online to begin the conversation.
Pastoral Staff
Senior Pastor Frank Carl leads the church, with Scott Derick serving as Executive Pastor and Scott Lewald as Co-Pastor. Kerry Buck oversees worship. Wayne Booth leads senior adult ministry. Sara Sears directs Genoa Kids, and Samson States leads Genoa Students. Angela Buck handles women's ministry and communications, and Josiah Sidle leads production and video. Craig Bartley serves as Superintendent of Genoa Christian Academy, an affiliated school that shares the Genoa campus.
Resources Beyond the Campus
Sermons are available as both audio and video, with a podcast feed and a Vimeo archive of past messages. Genoa also offers free access to RightNow Media, a streaming library of Bible-study videos for kids, youth, parents, and married couples. A weekly bulletin is posted online, and visitors can connect through Church Center groups and event registrations.