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 Auditorium. 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.
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