Find Your Community, Make an Impact: An Outpost on Compton Road
Northminster Church sits on Compton Road in Finneytown, an unincorporated community just north of Cincinnati. From a single campus at 703 Compton Road, this Presbyterian congregation has built an identity around a single phrase: "An Outpost for Christ, impacting future generations together." That phrase appears on banners, in church communications, and in the language staff and members use to describe what they are doing week after week.
The church runs two distinct Sunday services. A Modern service meets at 9:00 AM and a Traditional service meets at 11:00 AM. Between them sits a 10:00 AM Life Group hour that pulls the congregation together for study, fellowship, and intergenerational connection. Children gather in the Kids Wing during both services. Middle and high schoolers have their own rhythm of worship and small groups. And the wider church gathers around weekly rhythms of formation, mission, and care for neighbors in Finneytown and beyond.
The campus itself has been changing alongside the congregation. A sanctuary screen project reframed the worship space around "Christ at the Center." A new gathering area called The Well replaced the older Commons, and a Modern Space Expansion Announcement, recorded in March 2024, signaled ongoing investment in a contemporary worship venue. The result is a campus that reaches back into a deep Presbyterian heritage while leaning forward into a more casual, contemporary style of church.
The Northminster Way: Build, Develop, Cultivate, Go Out
Everything at Northminster flows from a four-part rhythm the staff calls the Northminster Way. It is a discipleship framework rooted in Scripture and lived out across the whole church.
Build Relationships is the first movement, illustrated by the image of a front porch. A front porch is where conversations begin, where neighbors wave from the sidewalk, and where you linger a little longer than you meant to. The church tries to be that kind of space. Names are known. Stories are honored. The verse the staff places beneath this value is Romans 15:7: "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." This principle shows up in the Guest Experience Team at the doors, in Life Groups meeting across homes and church rooms, and in pastoral care offered to anyone walking through a hard season.
Develop Disciples is the second movement, paired with the image of deep roots. The teaching here comes straight from Matthew 28: "Go therefore and make disciples ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Discipleship at Northminster is not a program to sign up for. It is a way of life shaped by biblical preaching on Sundays, Formation Labs in between, and Life Groups that ask honest questions about how to walk with Jesus at home, at work, and in the neighborhood.
Cultivate Community is the third rhythm. Members are encouraged to "do life together," a phrase the church uses to push back against what staff describe as a radically individualistic culture. Galatians 6:2 sits beneath this commitment: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Life Groups, pastoral counseling, congregational care, and prayer ministry all exist to make this real.
Go Out is the fourth movement, captured in the language of everyday missionaries. Drawing from Acts 1:8, the church teaches that every believer is sent into the spheres where they already live: schools, workplaces, homes, and neighborhoods. You do not have to cross an ocean to live on mission. Sometimes you just have to cross the street.
What Northminster Believes
The church's statement of belief is written in plain, modern language and centers on six convictions.
Northminster teaches that we can know God only because God desires to be known, and that the source of belief is grace, not human intelligence or morality. They describe their language as the language of belief, not certainty.
They hold the Scriptures as inspired by God, written by ordinary believers and useful as a rule and guide for life.
They trust in one Triune God, living and active and sovereign in a secular world, which is one reason the church speaks of itself as an outpost, set apart and distinct.
They believe Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Savior of all who believe, and that through his life and death he made peace with God possible. Colossians 2:13-14 anchors this conviction.
They affirm the Holy Spirit as the Giver of Life, described in the creeds as "the Lord." The Spirit is the gracious source of new life in Christ, and walking into the day alone, without the Spirit and without the community of faith, is what the staff calls a grave error of pride.
Finally, they believe God calls us together into community and sends us out into the world. Every believer has a circle of influence, and that influence is meant to be used for Christ.
Two Sunday Services: Modern at Nine, Traditional at Eleven
Northminster runs two services designed to reach different kinds of worshipers. Both are deliberately described as part of one church, not two congregations sharing a building.
Modern Worship, Sundays at 9:00 AM
Modern Worship is built around authenticity and relevance. The atmosphere is described as "deep yet simple" with a "come as you are" feel. The service reflects the outpost identity, offering a dynamic, engaging experience that tries to equip and inspire rather than simply entertain. Worship here is led by Rachel Steel, the Director of Modern Worship.
Children start out in the main worship room with their families. After the first worship set, kids are dismissed to the Kids Wing for their own programming. Parents are told to look for "the stampede." Children two and under go straight to the nursery at drop-off.
Traditional Worship, Sundays at 11:00 AM
Traditional Worship draws on the deep Presbyterian heritage of the congregation. The service is structured with liturgy, hymnody, the Word, and the sacrament, all centered on lifting the congregation's eyes to God. Two directors, Jason McKee and Carolyn Miller, share leadership of this service, and Karen Balogh serves as organist. Families at the 11:00 service can head back to the Kids Wing right at check-in.
Sunday Morning Life Groups, 10:00 AM
The 10:00 AM hour between the two services is the church's small group and discipleship hour. Most Life Groups meet on campus during this window, with childcare available. Some groups meet on Monday mornings, Monday evenings, and Wednesday evenings, and specialized groups exist for women, men, and co-ed gatherings. The Build Out Journal, written by Formation Director Meshach Kanyion and Phil Roebuck and designed by Production Director Riley Friend, accompanies the current sermon series and gives groups a shared rhythm of reflection and application throughout the week.
Kids Ministry: Love God, Love People, Spread Joy
Northminster Kids Ministry, abbreviated NKM, anchors the church's investment in the next generation. Sara Potts leads the team as Director of Children's Ministry. The motto of the ministry is "Love God. Love People. Spread Joy!"
The goal of the program is straightforward: kids should love coming to church. Lessons are creative and age-appropriate, designed to bring the Bible to life through interactive teaching, music, crafts, and hands-on activities. Children from birth through fifth grade are cared for in a secure Kids Wing staffed by background-checked volunteers. Check-in opens fifteen minutes before each service. Each child receives a name tag with a security code, and parents receive a matching sticker required for pick-up. If a parent is needed during the service, the staff will text them directly.
Beyond Sunday mornings, the Kids Ministry runs a steady calendar of family-friendly events. Vacation Bible School is an annual highlight, alongside the Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn, Movie Night on the Lawn, the Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, the Fine Arts Fair, and the annual Preschool Concert. There is also KNOT Club and other programming that gives kids a regular rhythm beyond Sunday mornings.
Northminster Preschool is a non-profit, half-day program serving children ages two through five, located on the church's campus in Finneytown. The program operates under a clear nondiscrimination policy and is aligned with Ohio's Early Learning and Development standards. Three classes meet on weekdays. A Toddler class serves children who are 24 months old by September 1, with mixed-age Preschool classes for three- to five-year-olds, and a Pre-K class for four-year-olds preparing for kindergarten. All classes are play-based and child-directed.
Student Ministry: Real Faith, Real Friends, Real Impact
Northminster Student Ministry, or NSM, exists for middle and high school students in sixth through twelfth grade. The motto, "Real Faith. Real Friends. Real Impact," reflects the team's goal of shaping students who live boldly for Christ and serve their neighbors well.
Henri Lo joined the team as Director of Student Ministries. On Sunday mornings, students worship with the wider church at the 9:00 Modern service and then head upstairs from 10:00 to 11:00 AM for their own Life Groups. Sunday nights bring Youth Group from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the Youth Room, with games, worship, and time for real conversation.
Throughout the year, NSM runs a packed calendar: lock-ins, laser tag nights, movie nights, and other events designed to make it easy for students to invite friends. High schoolers have a fall retreat and a spring retreat, and the summer includes a weeklong mission trip. All volunteers and staff working with students complete background checks and training, and the ministry follows Northminster's Child Protection Policy for off-campus events and transportation.
Formation Labs: Becoming Like Jesus in Everyday Life
Formation Labs is Northminster's discipleship pathway for adults who want to grow beyond what they hear on Sundays. The program is led by Meshach Kanyion, who serves as Formation Director through a partnership with his non-profit, The Mark 43 Institute.
Each lab is short and focused on a single dimension of life with Jesus: prayer, generosity, Sabbath, vocation, forgiveness, the kingdom of God, and similar topics. Labs are not lectures. They are designed as experiments, spaces where participants examine a practice, try it on, and leave with something tangible to put into practice at home or work. The name "lab" is deliberate: formation is something you practice, not just talk about. Anyone is welcome, from seasoned disciples to the spiritually curious.
The labs run alongside Sunday teaching, Life Groups, and pastoral shepherding, not in competition with them. They give the congregation a shared language for what it looks like to live differently in ordinary life.
Be My Neighbor: Care Bags for Unhoused Neighbors
Be My Neighbor is one of the most visible expressions of Northminster's outward-facing mission. Inspired by Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the initiative equips church members to care for unhoused neighbors through simple, tangible acts of kindness.
Care bags are at the heart of the project. Each one is filled with food, water, hygiene products, first aid supplies, and bus passes. The goal is twofold: to meet immediate physical needs and to communicate that the person receiving the bag is seen, known, and not forgotten. Members can help assemble bags, keep a bag in their car to give away when an opportunity arises, donate financially, or simply start paying closer attention to the people around them.
The project is led by Hannah Jenkins alongside Northminster's Young Families Life Group. Dozens of bags have already been distributed, and the church uses the initiative to push the congregation toward a different posture: moving toward people in need instead of past them.
Connect Day, Local Mission, and Guatemala
Once a year, Northminster pauses its regular rhythm for Connect Day, a church-wide day of service in which hundreds of people step outside the campus and into the surrounding community. Teams serve neighbors, support local organizations, and put hands and feet to the love of Jesus in practical ways. Past projects have included the Finneytown Football Dinners that feed players and families during the football season.
The church also has a long-running partnership with a ministry in Guatemala. Each summer, a team from Northminster travels to Guatemala for a weeklong mission trip, serving communities and seeing faith in action abroad.
Baptism and Membership
Northminster practices both believer baptism and infant baptism, describing baptism as both a sign and a seal of God's grace. The church joyfully baptizes the children of believing parents as well as adults who have come to faith in Christ. Baptisms take place during Sunday services, since baptism is meant to be shared in worship as a sign of belonging to Christ and his church. Members affirm one baptism, even if they have wavered in faith along the way.
Becoming a member starts with Explore Northminster, an informal gathering where newcomers can learn about the church's beliefs, values, and leadership, meet staff and members, ask questions, and consider joining. Members are received by the Session, the church's body of elders, after answering three questions about their faith in Jesus. Membership is not required to participate in worship, groups, or serving, but it opens the door to deeper partnership and leadership in the congregation. Children can become members through age-appropriate steps like confirmation or profession of faith.
Serving on Sundays and Beyond
Northminster frames serving as kingdom work, not just filling a slot. Five main volunteer pathways are available.
Kids Ministry gives volunteers the chance to hold babies, lead preschoolers through storytime, or guide elementary-aged kids in faith-building activities. All volunteers are background-checked before serving.
The Production Team runs cameras, slides, audio, and lighting during worship services, helping create a meaningful and distraction-free experience. Modern Worship production slots run from 8:15 to 10:15 AM, and Traditional Worship production runs from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM. Volunteers can serve once a month, twice a month, or more often.
The Guest Experience Team is the front porch of the church. Greeters, door hosts, ushers, coffee servers, and coordinators welcome everyone from the street to the seat.
Building Operations keeps the campus safe and ready for ministry through carpentry, painting, repairs, gardening, and general upkeep.
Pastoral and congregational care teams provide support during life's hardest moments.
The church is clear that serving is never a lifetime commitment. Members are invited to try a team, jump in when they can, and step back if their season changes, with no pressure or guilt attached.
Giving and the Building Out Campaign
Northminster's giving program centers on the idea that generosity fuels the church's mission. Members can give online, by check, through the Northminster App, or by setting up recurring gifts as a form of first-fruits giving. Memorial gifts are also accepted to honor a loved one's legacy of faith.
The current pledge campaign, "Building Out Together," invites members to make a 2027 pledge. The campaign frames generosity as a way to keep the outpost strong: worship, Life Groups, children's and student ministries, congregational care, and local and global mission work. The staff is explicit that the church is not starting over. It is building out toward the church God is calling Northminster to be in 2030.
Leadership
Greg Kennedy serves as Senior Pastor of Northminster Church. Mike Steel serves as Executive Director, and Sara Potts is the Director of Children's Ministry.
Other ministry leaders include Henri Lo (Director of Student Ministries), Meshach Kanyion (Formation Director), Daniel Meister (Director of Congregational Care), Deonte Streeter (Director of Communication), Jason Colemann (Facilities Director), Riley Friend (Production and Creative Director), Rachel Steel (Director of Modern Worship), Jason McKee and Carolyn Miller (Directors of Traditional Worship), and Karen Balogh (Organist).
Outside the staff team, Mark Kremzar serves as Next Steps Coordinator, Laura McGrath as Life Groups Coordinator, and Laurie Laning as Service and Evangelism Coordinator. Hannah Jenkins leads the Be My Neighbor initiative alongside the Young Families Life Group.
Worship Anytime, Online
Sunday services are livestreamed and archived, so members and friends near and far can worship along with Northminster from anywhere. Sermon series videos, special announcements, and ministry updates are organized in an online video library, with dedicated categories for Sunday services, sermon series, outreach, Outpost Academy, the 2nd Mile Offering, local mission, global mission, facility updates, student ministry, kids ministry, community events, and mission and vision.
Announcements and bulletins are posted each week, and an annual pledge campaign update and a State of the Church address from Pastor Greg and Mike Steel keep the congregation informed about vision, budget, and ministry direction. Giving is available online.
An Outpost with Open Doors
Northminster Presbyterian Church, on Compton Road in Finneytown, sees itself as a strategic base, a refuge, a preparation ground, and a launch point. Whether someone arrives for the casual energy of Modern Worship at 9:00, the liturgy and hymnody of Traditional Worship at 11:00, or the front porch welcome of a Life Group in between, the church's invitation is the same: come as you are, find a community of faith, and discover how God might send you out into the neighborhood that surrounds the building.
The two Sunday services, the preschool, the Kids and Student ministries, the Formation Labs, the Be My Neighbor care bags, and the yearly mission trips all point in one direction. They build an outpost for Christ that impacts future generations together.