In 2015, Greg Grimwood left his job as a pastor, tired and burned out. He and his wife, Cara, moved their family to Wooster, Ohio, Greg’s hometown. There, he began seeking God, and he discovered the abiding life that Jesus described in John 15. He describes his new understanding as “learning to minister out of the overflow of Jesus’ abundance” instead of his own energy and effort. In time, Greg’s passion for ministry reignited, and his vision for the people around him began to shift from a place for rest to a place for ministry.

During this time of rest, Greg had been pursuing his master of divinity degree. In one of his classes, he connected with a fellow student and shared his vision for a new ministry in Wooster. That classmate connected him to Jesse Kahler, an FEC pastor in Archbold, Ohio. Jesse introduced Greg to the other pastors who make up the Tri-State Co-op, a Midwest church-multiplication center. The seven churches that comprise the Co-op became a part of Greg’s exploration for a new church in Wooster.

Then, last year, God opened another door when the church leaders in the Co-op connected Greg with Jay Nickless, Church Planting Field Coordinator. Jay invited Greg and Cara to the Church Planter’s Assessment last March to explore their call to church planting. During the assessment, the Grimwoods began working through the five phases of church planting outlined by FEC. Now, Nickless and pastors in the Tri-State Co-op are mentoring Greg and providing the resources he needs to move forward. Of his experience with FEC, Greg remarks, “There’s so much value in planting with a larger network of churches.”

The Grimwood’s love for their new community has grown into a call from God to give the people around them something greater to live for, someone greater to live for. Their passion to communicate that Jesus is alive and that He is king has translated into discipling relationships. As those discipling communities grow, Greg reflects, “Jesus is building His church. He will provide all of the resources we need. He will draw people. He’s the hero. He has invited us into this work.”

Greg sums up the last three years by saying, “I just took the next step in front of me.” So far, God has opened the doors for a new ministry, and one day soon, Greg and Cara Grimwood hope to open a new church and welcome the people of Wooster inside.