05/15/2026
"Transplant" - To remove an existing entity from one location and resetting it in another, often for better growth and consistency.
In the world of local church ministry, and as followers of Christ abroad all over the world. it is so interesting the verbiage used throughout scripture is bathed in what amounts to references of agriculture, horticulture, and crop care. We often read of "fruit, vines, branches, roots, planting seeds, harvests, the wheat and the weeds"...it goes on. And as you get more and more integrated in the local church ministry and mission, you start to understand just why these are the illustrations chosen and spoken.
Rise Christian Church began just about 25 years ago as Celebration Christian Church, a church plant that sought to establish new roots, seeking new ground for existing plants. Over the last quarter century, God has performed powerful work through the people, ministries, pastors, and families that have occupied the 3 incarnations of the church as it has been known in the community of Marion: Celebration Christian Church, Rise Church, and currently Rise Christian Church. Over the course of the last 5 years, God has been laying groundwork for plans of change, plans of growth, and plans to better serve the city of Marion and its people through the ministry of RCC. Through heavy, intentional prayer and discussion, particularly over the past 12 months, God has paved the pathway for our church to begin to see His plan and will for us: to transplant from where we have been to a new space. The reasons are as follows:
-To better integrate with and serve the city of Marion through establishing and intentionally adhering to the Greatest Commandment.
-To better accommodate the needs of our current congregation, as well as our future congregation.
-To better utilize and maximize the resources of ministry and outreach God has given and continues to give us, and make every effort possible to share those with the community.
-To better, in faithful obedience, invest our time, talent, and treasure to wherever it needs to go at any given time.
-To better support our existing ministry partners through more direct involvement.
-To live with all intents and purposes the 5 foundational pillars or "ships" that the local church body is called to operate in: discipleship, fellowship, stewardship, worship, kinship.
-To allow our ministry to reset and refresh in new, fertile soil. To be rooted and established in our community, allowing those roots to reattach, go deeper, let the fruit produced be fresh and consistent, the vines be strong, the branches solid, and the foundation one that the next generation of the church can trust will be ready for them to continue to build upon when they receive the call. (John 15:1-17)
And it is that call (Matthew 28:19-20) that is being sent out to the local church body more boldly and clearly than ever before. That reason, as much as the others listed, are why we are sharing from our hearts to yours the decision to sell our current space at 2434 Smeltzer Road, and relocate to a new space, and continue on the ministry and calling that was sent out and answered 25 years ago. Only now, it is with a new sense of (re)purpose, excitement, eagerness, and FAITHFULNESS. We are stepping out in faith that this transplanting is exactly what God has called us to do, and will only be a help in focusing on the building of the Kingdom, its movement forward, and seeing the name of Jesus lifted high and praised for all He has done, and continues to do.
Finally, the picture. These new creations growing from something that once stood tall and growing, but simply needed to change, bears a beautiful resemblence to 2 Corinthians 5:17. This is very much a new creation, one that we pray He will continue to bless and protect, and one that we ask each and every one of you to join us in prayer over. We are so excited for these next chapters to be written, and are even more excited to see where He takes us! On that note, Rise Christian Church is very much currently and actively seeking a new space to call our home here in the city of Marion. Please be in prayer for us on that as well, and if you have any information or a pressing upon your heart of a space that you may know of that would best fit a growing church with a passion for ministry and outreach, please email us at [email protected].
Until then, we will continue to meet every Sunday morning at 10am at our current location (2434 Smeltzer Road), and will be keeping everyone updated as best and as often as possible as this journey unfolds. Ultimately, we are praying for His will to be done, His love to be shared and preached, and for the city of Marion to come alive in the name of Jesus! Praise be to God, and know that He is good!! Onward!!
-Pastor Jeremiah, RCC-
Church listing link for all to please share:
https://www.resmarion.com/property-search/detail/111/226016288/2422-smeltzer-rd-marion-oh-43302/?src=2
