A group of people who had a vision to bring a vibrant church with a Pentecostal perspective in Morrow County, Ohio started New Life Church approximately ten years ago.  We are located in the heart of downtown Mount Gilead, which is a small village town in central Ohio and the county seat of Morrow County.  Morrow County is a mostly rural county, which is slowly becoming a bedroom community for the Columbus area.  Ten years ago, there was no Assembly of God church in Morrow County and this group of people believed there needed to be one.  Consequently, New Life Church was born. For a Brief History click here.

We believe that New Life is an appropriate name for our church because this is when a person becomes a Christian they obtain a “new life.”  The Apostle Paul wrote:  “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun” (2 Cor. 5:17, NLT)!  Our purpose is to see people come to faith in Jesus Christ and, therefore, receive New Life.

We also believe that in order to accomplish this goal and achieve our purpose, it will require operating in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Shortly before Jesus left this earth, He told his disciples:  “John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:5, 8, NLT).

Another aspect of our purpose is not only to see people come to faith in Christ, but to see their faith become all that God wants it to be.  We call this discipleship.  We feel strongly that Jesus has commanded us to make disciples because he said, “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matt. 28:19-20a, NLT).  Therefore, we believe that our task does not end when a person becomes a Christian, but that it is only beginning.

Moreover, we believe that we are a family – God’s family, and are more than a collection of individuals; we are a community of believers in Christ.  We cherish our time with one another and truly believe that we are in this together.  We share a common purpose and desire, which is to see New Life.

What about you?  Does this sound like the kind of family you would like to be a part of?  If it does, perhaps New Life is just what you have been looking for.  Come and check us out.

Blessings In Christ

Pastor Mark

Our Purpose

It is the expressed purpose both corporately and individually of New Life Church to:

Worship:  We were created to worship our Lord and Creator in spirit and in truth (John 4:23 -24).

Witness:  We have been commanded to share the truth of the Gospel with every living creature (Mark 16:15).

Walk:  We have been commissioned to make disciples to follow Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20)

Work:  We are committed to minister to one another and our community through humble service (John 13:1-17).

Welcome:  We come together to love, honor, and encourage one another (Acts 2:42).

Brief History New Life Church began as a vision in the hearts of some local believers who met regularly and prayed for God's will to be accomplished in the formation of a new church body.  Eventually, the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God was contacted in order to begin the church planting process and Eric & Kathleen Schroeter were selected to pastor the new work.  The original core members came from Abundant Life Assembly of God in Marion, Ohio, the church that became the "mothering" church of New Life.

In June of 1997, the core group met for the first time in a small conference room in the EDCO office building in front of the local Kroger supermarket.  Later that year, they began to meet in the cafeteria of the Mt. Gilead High School.  The core group grew to about 21 members by the launch date of Palm Sunday 1998.  The launch location was a store front located at 26 South Main Street in Mt. Gilead.  Much renovation followed and never ceased as that site was the primary location for the church (along with as many as three other rental spaces) until January of 2005.  While the 26 South Main Street location was maintained for the church office, youth services, and prayer services, the Sunday morning service was moved to the new Mt. Gilead High School Auditeria.  Average Sunday morning attendance grew to 150 by the beginning of 2006, and the story continues as the congregation is preparing to purchase land for a future facility.

In June of 2007, a new era began at New Life Church.  After 10 years of faithful leadership, Pastor Eric Schroeter decided to enter a new phase of ministry at the Ohio District Council Headquarters, and so New Life Church welcomed new leadership.  Pastor Mark and Tina Schaeufele, along with their two children, made the cross-country trek from Arkansas to assume the mantle of leadership at New Life Church.  As a native Ohioan (he was born and raised just a short drive from Mt. Gilead in Akron, Ohio), Pastor Mark seemed the logical choice to lead New Life into the future.  After serving in churches in Arkansas and Illinois for 10 years, Pastor Mark felt the Lord calling him to his home state, and specifically to New Life Church.  Pastor Mark brings with him a strong emphasis in Biblical preaching and teaching, as well as a passion to reach the Mt. Gilead community.  In addition, Pastor Mark brings with him a new vision for New Life Church to be “The Joshua Generation.”  This new vision entails a renewed sense of outreach to the community and a call to “go and take the land.”  We at New Life Church believe that the future is now.