Mount Carmel Christian Church sits along Bach Buxton Road in Batavia, Ohio, in the rolling country east of Cincinnati. The congregation draws families from across Clermont County and the surrounding East Side communities, and it carries a tagline that sums up its purpose: Loving God, Loving People. On any given Sunday morning, worshipers step into two contemporary services, fill classrooms for kids from nursery through elementary, and gather in the Student Center for middle and high schoolers. The church's story stretches back to 1968 and a bitterly cold Sunday morning, and the same spirit that launched it then is now driving a major expansion project called Making Room for Ministry.
From a Frozen Sunday Morning to Bach Buxton Road
The congregation traces its beginning to January 1968, when the temperature dropped to minus thirteen degrees Fahrenheit. Six families living on Beechmont Drive and attending the Columbia Church of Christ could not get their cars started that Sunday, so they gathered in one of their homes for worship. From that small meeting grew a vision: they wanted a church closer to home.
By July of that year, sixty people had left Columbia and began a new work. The church met for worship at Glen Este Middle School, and during the summer families hosted Vacation Bible School in their living rooms. Their first name was Clough Heights Church of Christ, after a hoped-for location on Clough Pike that did not work out. In 1970, land became available through the sale of the old Behymer Farm. The church purchased five acres on Mt. Carmel Tobasco Road, met in the farmhouse on the property, and renamed itself Mt. Carmel Church of Christ. The first purpose-built worship facility went up in 1973.
Growth continued to press the building. A larger worship facility was completed in 1988, with further expansions in 1999 and 2003. In 2002, the congregation changed its name to Mount Carmel Christian Church, a transition that marked its identification with the broader Christian Church movement. In 2008, the church purchased 19.2 acres on Bach Buxton Road in anticipation of relocation. Construction began in late spring 2014, and on January 11, 2015, the first worship service was held in the current building.
Senior Minister Didi Bacon, who joined the staff in 1997 and became Senior Minister in 1999, has been a steady presence through that journey. He often describes the church's pattern in terms of the New Testament gift of faith: ordinary people equipped by the Holy Spirit to accomplish extraordinary things. Each expansion, each relocation, has been framed as making room for ministry, and that phrase has now become the title of the church's most ambitious campaign to date.
Making Room for Ministry: A Building Campaign Born of Growth
The Making Room for Ministry campaign began with a problem that looked like success. Between 2023 and 2025, total kids ministry check-ins grew from 7,191 to 8,501, with 2026 on pace to reach 9,700. Elementary check-ins grew 36 percent in two years, and nursery and preschool grew 27 percent. Sixty or more adult groups now meet in the building, accounting for nearly a hundred gatherings a month. During the 11:00 a.m. service, student small groups have been forced to break out in hallways and staff offices because there is no space left for them.
Two specific pain points stand out. Kindergarten through third grade still meets in the same five rooms the church has used for years, even though the number of children has surged. The original four rooms used for nursery and preschool have not grown with the families who fill them. And the lobby is full.
To address this, the elders have set two giving goals. The Dream Goal is $2,500,000. The God Goal is $4,000,000. The campaign frames this as not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice. Members are invited to give in one of three ways: courageously (a single large gift on Commitment Weekend, November 15), consistently (a monthly amount over 25 months in addition to regular giving), or creatively (selling a vehicle, land, stocks, equipment, or another asset to fund a one-time gift).
Three Vision Nights are scheduled so every adult in the church can attend one: Sunday, October 18 (5:30 to 7:00 PM), Wednesday, October 21 (6:00 to 7:30 PM), and Sunday, November 1 (5:30 to 7:00 PM). At each session, the congregation will see the drawings for the expansion, hear where the church is financially and spiritually, walk through the building, pray for what is next, and have time for questions. Commitment Weekend is November 15, with a Celebration Weekend on November 29.
Sunday Services: One Hour, Music, Teaching, and Communion
Mount Carmel holds two Sunday worship services at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Each service runs about an hour. Twenty to twenty-five minutes of contemporary Christian music opens the gathering, followed by twenty-five to thirty-five minutes of biblically based, life-relevant teaching. Communion closes the service.
The music is contemporary and uplifting. Visitors are welcome to sing or simply listen, and standing or sitting during the music is left to each person's comfort. There is no pressure to give during the offering; the church's stated posture is that the service is a gift to guests, and giving is for those who feel led to participate.
Communion is open to all believers. The church treats it as a celebration of remembrance, a moment to reflect on what Christ has done in the lives of those participating.
Services are livestreamed on YouTube and on the church's live page, and the full sermon archive is available afterward. A sermon podcast distributes the weekly message on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
What to Wear, Where to Park, and How to Visit
The church invites visitors to come as you are. A few people dress up, but most wear jeans and a casual shirt. Coffee is hot in the lobby and a seat is saved. A parking lot attendant team is forming to help with traffic flow on Sunday mornings, and a coffee team and greeting team are on hand to help newcomers find their way.
For guests wanting to know more before coming, the office can be reached at (513) 528-0230 or office@mountcarmel.cc. A Meet Mount Carmel class offers a snapshot of each ministry and is offered twice a month, once on campus on a Sunday morning and once online on a Wednesday evening, with breaks during the summer and around Christmas.
What We Believe: Grace, Faith, Baptism, and Good Works
Mount Carmel's statement of faith is built on a four-part structure drawn directly from Scripture. The first part is By Grace. The church teaches that God created humanity in His image to live in relationship with Him, that sin has broken that relationship, and that the penalty of sin is eternal death. Grace, in the church's own words, stands for God's Righteousness At Christ's Expense. Jesus came to take on the sin problem through His sacrifice on the cross, and the way to God is through Him.
The second part is Through Faith. Faith includes both belief with the mind and active trust with the heart. The church teaches that confession and repentance are part of saving faith: confession means agreeing with God about our condition, and repentance means a sincere decision to turn toward God's purposes.
The third part is At Baptism. The church practices baptism by immersion for those old enough to believe and understand its meaning. They cite the New Testament pattern, the meaning of the Greek word baptizo as to immerse, and the practice of the early church. Baptism is described as the occasion where a person is joined with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection and is brought into new life. They typically wait until young people are old enough to make a personal confession of Christ before baptizing them.
The fourth part is For Good Works. Salvation is not earned by good works; it is received by grace through faith. But good works are the fruit of that salvation, the Spirit-empowered life that follows. The church grounds this in Ephesians 2:10: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Mount Carmel has also published position papers on a range of topics, including its elders' position on marriage, abortion, the role of women in ministry, church membership, and a stated resolution process. These documents are made available as PDF resources for those who want to go deeper.
Mount Carmel Kids: A Check-In System Built Around Safety
Children's ministry is one of the fastest-growing areas of the church, and Family Minister Lisa Davis oversees a robust system for kids from birth through fifth grade. The motto of the ministry is simple: You're never too young to know Jesus loves you.
On Sunday mornings, families enter the MC Kids hall and find iPads and printers at the check-in area. Parents type in their last name or cell phone number and check off each family member who will attend Mount Carmel Kids. A name tag goes on the child's front or back; the parent keeps a small numbered tag. If the child needs the parent during service, that number flashes on the screen in the auditorium. Parents of children 0-24 months are invited to walk their child to the classroom. Personal items go in a clear zip-lock bag provided by the nursery team.
Every volunteer in Mount Carmel Kids is background-checked and trained. Each child is checked in by an adult, and pickup requires a matching tag. Preschool and elementary students worship, play games, and take part in an interactive Bible lesson each Sunday. Children are asked to be healthy to attend, and a Mount Carmel Kids Parents Facebook Group is encouraged for at-home discipleship and family event updates.
Two key milestones anchor the kids ministry each year. Baby Blessing is a dedication event for parents and babies 0-24 months, with a celebration lunch afterwards. KidSplash is the church's baptism process for children, typically for those age seven and up. A parent must pick up a set of Forever Treasure books from the MC Kids Welcome Desk and complete preparation with the child before the class.
Mount Carmel Students: Middle School, High School, and the All-In Model
Student Minister David Rimarski leads a ministry that engages students in 6th through 12th grade. The mission is straightforward: connect, grow, and serve with Jesus and others.
On Sunday mornings, middle and high school students meet in the Student Center at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM. The format includes worship through music, games, communion, offering, prayer, and a message. During the 11:00 service, middle school students have their own service in the Student Center while small groups meet in breakout spaces that, due to the growth, now spill into hallways and offices.
Sunday evenings belong to All-In. Students meet from 6:00 to 7:30 PM every Sunday except the fifth Sunday of the month. Following the Acts 2:42 model, the evening includes a shared meal, time together, and small group Bible study. Middle and high school students are split for the evening with their own teaching. Whether a student is new to church or has grown up in one, the ministry says, there is a seat saved.
Throughout the year, students also attend retreats and conferences such as CIY MIX (for middle school) and CIY MOVE (for high school through graduating seniors), both held at Christian colleges in the region.
Young Adults: Thursdays in Spring and Fall, Bonfires in Summer and Winter
The Young Adults ministry gathers 18-to-30-somethings for a Thursday night rhythm that shifts with the seasons. In spring and fall, the group meets weekly for Bible study, working through questions about singleness, dating, early marriage, faith at work, and crossing divides to love people who see the world differently. In summer and winter, the meetings move to bonfires and home hangouts across the East Side. Average attendance hovers around thirty people on a study night. The group welcomes both longtime Christians and those exploring faith for the first time, and the atmosphere is intentionally laid back. Childcare is not currently provided during events, but little ones are always welcome at the summer and winter hangouts. Special events have included camping trips, kayaking, and visits to the Cincinnati Zoo.
Groups: A Wide Web of Small Groups and Discipleship
Small groups are the backbone of life at Mount Carmel, and Groups Minister Rick Lowry oversees the network. Groups typically run six to fifteen people, meet in homes across the area, and are placed by phase of life rather than just geography. Members are invited to try a group, and switching is judgment-free.
The menu of groups is wide. There are men's groups (a hiking group, a board game group, and a six-week study called Stand Firm and Act Like Men) and women's groups (a hiking group, the Recharge Moms group on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, a Monday afternoon Precepts study, and a Wednesday evening group). A 25-40 singles group meets every other Thursday, and several groups meet for young adults, young married couples, and parents of young children.
There are interest groups (a homeschool group that meets every other Tuesday during the school year, and a Faith Bowling League at Cherry Grove Lanes on Friday evenings), and there are support groups. H.O.P.E. meets monthly on the third Wednesday for those with chronic physical health conditions. A Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets monthly on the first Wednesday. A Parents of Children with Special Needs group meets every other Monday evening.
For those wanting a deeper, more structured study, the 1w3 discipleship model gathers a leader and three disciples for a roughly year-long journey through a defined curriculum. Those interested are invited to contact Aaron Adams.
Local Missions: Food, Supplies, and Beds for Kids
Mount Carmel has built a deliberate set of local partnerships designed to extend the congregation's reach into Clermont County and beyond.
Inter Parish Ministries operates a Mobile Food Pantry that distributes food to families in need. Mount Carmel volunteers help with setup, distribution, shopping with patrons, transporting food to vehicles, and cleanup. Impacting Tomorrow distributes groceries and hygiene products, and Mount Carmel volunteers check out guests, help them load cars, and stock shelves. Empower Youth packs meal bags on-site at the church several times during the school year. The Happy Church in Jackson, Kentucky, in one of the poorest counties in the country, receives school supply and clothing drives each June and July. Woodland Lakes Christian Camp is the church's longtime local Christian camp and retreat center.
Two additional partnerships focus on kids in need. Through Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Mount Carmel hosts bedding donation drives and bed builds for children in Clermont County who lack a safe place to sleep. The Giving Tree program collects applications from families needing holiday assistance each fall, with applications typically due in late October.
The church also supports Ignite The Norse, IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service), Design and Intent Ministries, and A Caring Place financially and through volunteer service.
Global Missions: Ten Countries and Counting
International missions are a core part of the church's identity. A portion of every offering is distributed monthly to missionary partners, and the church runs a Missions Support Team that prays for international and local work and plans connection events.
The current partner network spans Central India (Bethlehem Living Water Mission, with church planting, discipleship training, and the tuition-free Bethlehem Bible College), China, North Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines (Christ Reaching Asia Mission Worldwide, or CRAM, with medical clinics, orphanages, and schools for disabled children), Italy and Albania (the Lecce Christian Mission, where Pino and Evelina Neglia church-plant and run the Let's Start Talking English program), Haiti (Living Water Christian Church, founded by Salonique and Jean Adolphe, with a Christian school, seminary, and church planting), and Ukraine (Mulberry International, where Natasha Reimer and team have served orphans and at-risk families since 1997 and now assist refugees displaced by the war).
Two Pakistani Christian Evangelical Services partners, Saleem and Nylah Massey and Simon Massey, are planting churches and training pastors, with a new hospital, the Good Shepherd Christian Hospital in Kasur, scheduled to open in 2026. In Vanuatu, Gregory, Rondy, and Analynn Ohrenberg translate Scripture into local languages, with the Gospel of Matthew in the Sa language targeted for completion in 2026. In Myanmar, Daniel Mawyio runs the country's first Bible college of Christian churches. In Southwest India, John and Moni Mathew lead evangelism and run the Bethany Children's Home, supporting thirty-seven girls through education.
Elders and Staff: Who Leads the Church
Mount Carmel is governed by a plurality of elders who serve as spiritual shepherds of the congregation. The office of elder is grounded in the scriptural qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Elders are responsible to oversee the church, protect it from unbiblical teaching, and model the values of being a member of Mount Carmel.
Didi Bacon shepherds the staff. Harry Snyder shepherds the Worship Ministry. Mark Tucker shepherds the Family Ministry. Shaun Anderson shepherds the Operations Ministry. Larry Elliot (chairman) and Chris Van Huss shepherd the Discipleship Ministry. Mike Merchant (vice chairman) shepherds the Missions Ministry.
The staff team is led by Senior Minister Didi Bacon, who was born and raised in Zimbabwe, came to Christ through American missionaries, and arrived in the United States in 1990 to study at Cincinnati Bible College. He previously served as Youth Minister at Bethel Church of Christ before joining Mount Carmel as Family Life Minister in 1997 and becoming Senior Minister two years later. Aaron Adams, the Discipleship Minister, has served on staff since 2012 and previously spent seven years on full-time staff at Woodland Lakes Christian Camp. Rick Lowry joined the staff in January 2024 as Groups Minister, bringing more than forty years of ministry experience and a focus on developing small groups in large churches. Roger Bishop, the Connections Minister, came on staff after ten years in college and student ministry. David Rimarski, the Student Minister, is a Virginia Beach native and graduate of Mid-Atlantic Christian University. Lisa Davis, the Family Minister, holds a Master's in Ministry Leadership from Cincinnati Christian University. Joe Hubbell, the Worship Minister, is a graduate of Cincinnati Christian University.
Giving: Online, by Mail, by Stock, and by IRA
The congregation is taught that giving is an expression of gratitude for God's grace and a way to resource the ministry of the church. The biblical pattern, drawn from Acts 4:32-35, is the church's stated model: the early believers shared what they had so that there were no needy persons among them.
Members can give online through the church's Pushpay page, set up recurring or one-time gifts from a checking account, debit card, or credit card, or use the church's iOS and Android apps. Bank bill pay is supported, with checks made payable to Mount Carmel Christian Church and mailed to 4110 Bach Buxton Rd, Batavia, OH 45103. Stock donations can be arranged by contacting Business Manager Darletta Martinez in advance so the church can identify the donor. IRA qualified charitable distributions are also accepted for those 70½ and older.
Meals for Moms: A Practical Ministry of Care
The Meals for Moms ministry exists to care for moms and families in the church experiencing major life events: the arrival of a new baby, surgery or medical recovery, extended illness, hospitalization, or grief. When a need arises, the ministry team coordinates a schedule of meals prepared by volunteers. Families can request support online, and volunteers can sign up to prepare and deliver a meal on a date that works for them. Store-bought meals or restaurant gift cards are equally welcome. The ministry's theology is captured in a single line from Galatians 6:2: Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
RightNow Media, Podcasts, and the Church App
The church provides a free RightNow Media account to its members, a streaming library of Bible studies, kids' content, and conference talks. The sermon podcast distributes weekly messages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. The Mount Carmel Christian Church mobile app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, giving members a single place to give, watch sermons, sign up for events, and connect with groups.
A Church That Has Always Been Making Room
From a 1968 home meeting during a January deep freeze to a current building straining at the seams, Mount Carmel Christian Church has lived out the same call: make room. Room for new families. Room for kids classrooms to grow. Room for student small groups to meet without spilling into hallways. Room for elders and missionaries, for homeless neighbors and grieving mothers, for young adults asking hard questions and longtime believers hungry for deeper study. The Making Room for Ministry campaign is the latest expression of that calling, and the drawings, the giving goals, and the Vision Nights are the next step in a story that is still being written from a piece of farmland on Bach Buxton Road.