North Christian Church sits along State Street in Markleville, Indiana, where its nondenominational congregation gathers each week under the wording of Psalms 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want." The verse is featured across the church's online presence and sets the tone for first-time visitors. The church's stated mission is straightforward: to see people come to know Jesus Christ and grow in their Christian faith here in Markleville and beyond. The congregation describes itself as a place "for all sizes, stripes and colors," with a strong children's wing, a full slate of midweek studies, and a monthly food pantry that has become a fixture for the wider community.
A Nondenominational Church with Methodist-Trained Leadership
North Christian openly identifies as "a nondenominational church in Markleville, Indiana," and that self-description is deliberate. At the same time, much of its pastoral DNA is rooted in Methodist traditions. The senior pastor, John Hackney, is ordained in both the Free Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church. He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a B.A. from Taylor University, and previously served NCC from 1990 to 1995 as its youth and children's pastor. After years pastoring in the United Methodist Church, he returned to NCC as senior pastor in June 2019. He and his wife Sharon live in Pendleton and have two married children and five grandchildren.
Supporting Pastor John is a tight-knit staff. Kristi Grabowski serves as Youth Director and brings fifteen years of homeschooling experience along with prior service as a Children's Director. Christine Mallott leads both the Children's Department and Sonshine Preschool. Mary Cox serves as Music Director, having previously served as Music Director at a United Methodist church, and lives in Anderson with her husband Greg.
Sunday Morning at NCC
A first visit to NCC begins before entering the building. Parking is in the rear of the church, with the main doors under the carport and visitor spots set closer to the entrance for those unfamiliar with the layout. Greeters are stationed at the sanctuary doors and will help newcomers find the nursery, NCC Kids classrooms, restrooms, sanctuary, and the coffee service.
The Sunday rhythm opens at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday school classes for every age group, followed by the 10:00 a.m. worship service. The service is grounded in the Bible and is expressed through congregational singing, prayer, and the pastor's preaching. Most Sundays, children begin in the sanctuary with the adults and then step out to age-appropriate classrooms just before the sermon. NCC Kids starts at the front row of the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. After the service, the pastor and members make a point of greeting newcomers and hearing their stories. The evening continues with a 6:30 p.m. Adult Bible Study, led by one of the church's elders, that examines a chapter of Scripture at a time.
Children and Youth at Every Stage
The NCC Children's Department is built around safety. All volunteers pass a background check, and the church maintains its own security team for the children's wing. Classrooms vary in layout to accommodate different lessons and learning styles, and a gymnasium expands the space for larger activities.
Nursery care is offered for infants through three-year-olds, with toys cleaned and sanitized and loving adult volunteers leading simple songs and play. NCC Kids serves potty-trained four-year-olds through sixth graders in a high-energy program that combines worship with games, music, drama, video clips, crafts, experiments, and communion. Vacation Bible School is held each summer; recent years have featured a "Make Waves" themed program running three evenings from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., with online registration through VBS Pro.
For preschoolers, Sonshine Preschool Ministry offers weekday classes Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for ages three through five. The preschool's stated goal is for every child to master three foundational truths before moving on: God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever.
Echo Student Ministries serves grades seven through twelve and has its own space in the building, complete with a ping pong table, gymnasium, outdoor shelter, and softball field. Teen programming includes Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., a Tuesday evening youth group from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and a Wednesday night Bible Study from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. that focuses on applying Scripture to real-life situations. Periodic trips include ski outings, church camp, and Christian concerts. Kids Club also meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and runs on the South Madison school calendar.
Worship and Arts Ministries
NCC's musical worship is intentionally blended, with a Praise Band and a Sanctuary Choir both serving the Sunday service. The Praise Band rehearses Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., then leads worship each Sunday. The Sanctuary Choir is open to anyone in seventh grade and up, rehearses Wednesday evenings at 5:45 p.m., runs from September through early June, and performs roughly twice a month plus special services. The stated mission of the worship ministries is to lead others into the presence of God while building a deep spiritual relationship with the Heavenly Father.
Behind the scenes, the Sound and Media team manages the soundboard and the projection station, with training offered for those who would rather serve in the background. Volunteers are used both during Sunday morning services and for special events throughout the year.
Small Groups and Bible Studies for Adults
NCC treats small groups as a primary vehicle for fellowship and formation, with the understanding that Sunday worship alone can leave believers hungry for deeper conversation and accountability. Adult Bible studies meet in three regular slots: Sunday school at 9:00 a.m., Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. led by one of the church's elders, and Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. led by the senior pastor. A Ladies Bible Study gathers Mondays at 1:00 p.m., and a Ladies Ministry meets every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
Two men's groups round out the adult ministry. The Men's Breakfast "God Squad" meets on the first Sunday of each month at 7:30 a.m. for devotions in the sanctuary, followed by breakfast in the Family Life Center. "Bibles, Breakfast, Bullets" meets at Perkins on the second Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m., taking its inspiration from Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so should one person sharpen another." A euchre group also bearing the God Squad name combines cards and devotion, meeting October through May every Tuesday and during the summer on the first Tuesday of each month.
For personal study, NCC curates a library of Bible reading plans through YouVersion and its own resources. Plans range from a New Testament Plan and One Year Bible to a 90-Day Bible plan, a 180-Day Tour of the Bible, and a 30 Days in Psalms plan, along with specialty tracks such as 30 Stories You Have Never Heard.
Reaching Out: Food Pantry, Preschool, and Beyond
North Christian's most visible community ministry is its monthly food pantry. Distribution falls on the fourth Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m., with a Friday evening set-up at 6:00 p.m. the night before. The church also actively partners with local organizations, providing both financial support and volunteers. In recent years, NCC gave more than $3,000 to the local school to support tutoring for children with financial and academic need, dedicated a public playground worth over $70,000 to encourage and support families in the community, and raised more than $2,400 for Life Centers to support families during a crisis pregnancy. International and national missions are also part of the outreach, with the church helping to establish or assist churches in other regions.
UPWARD Sports is another community-facing program run out of the church, pairing athletics with faith formation for local families.
Staying Connected
Online giving is handled through Tithe.ly, with options to give by card or directly from a bank account, including scheduled weekly or monthly deposits. The church shares news and updates through its Facebook page and maintains a Vimeo showcase that features a "Story and Worship" video for newcomers along with recorded services. The sermon archive offers video and downloadable PDF notes for past messages. The office is reachable at (765) 533-4463 or nccoffice32@gmail.com, and Pastor John can be reached at pastorjhackney@yahoo.com.