A Church on State Road 135 in Greenwood
Center Grove Church sits along South State Road 135 in Greenwood, Indiana, just south of Indianapolis. Members come from across Johnson County, including Bargersville, Mooresville, Franklin, Whiteland, and White River Township. The building itself is easy to miss from the road; the front door is actually on the back of the building, where the main parking lot is located. Newcomers are gently warned about that little quirk before they arrive.
The congregation describes itself with three short words that shape everything they do: Belong, Believe, Become. Strangers become friends, friends become disciples, and disciples change the world. That rhythm - relationship, growth, and outward mission - shows up in the way the church organizes its ministries and its budget.
What the Church Believes
Center Grove Church holds to a straightforward statement of faith centered on the glory of God. Members affirm the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - as three distinct persons who share perfect unity in love. Salvation, in their understanding, is a free gift received by grace through faith: anyone who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes in the heart will be saved. The Bible is treated as the authoritative Word of God, sufficient for salvation and for hearing God speak through the Holy Spirit.
Sunday Mornings at 10 a.m.
Worship is offered in person and online every Sunday at 10 a.m., with the live stream carried on Facebook. The service follows a familiar arc: passing of the peace, sung praise, prayer (silent and spoken), reading of Scripture, biblically based preaching, tithes and offerings, and a monthly celebration of communion.
The musical style changes by the week. On the first Sunday of the month, the service leans traditional, with congregational readings, hymns, and occasional choral music. On the other Sundays, a worship band leads a contemporary service. Together, the rotation gives the church both rootedness and reach.
Walking Through the Front Door
Members of the welcome team meet visitors at the door and point them to the sanctuary, restrooms, the children's check-in, and the coffee. The church is clear that they will not deploy a "full court press" - guests are invited to look around at their own pace and ask questions as they come.
Families with young children start at the Children Check-in Kiosk in the lobby. A staff member or trained volunteer greets each family, signs children in, and prints matching security tags. Infants and toddlers go to the nursery; children ages four through fourth grade remain with their families for the beginning of worship and are dismissed to Kid's Worship just before the sermon. Fifth through twelfth graders stay in the service with their parents and gather again for Sunday evening youth group.
Children, Students, and Families
Family Ministries partners with parents to teach children and students about the saving love of Jesus Christ. The desire is that every child knows they belong here, believes they are deeply loved by God, and is becoming a disciple who will change the world.
Sunday mornings offer an Infant Room for the youngest, a Toddler/Preschool Room with engaging early programming, and Kid's Worship for older children. On Sunday evenings, Kid's Club welcomes kindergarten through fourth grade for high-energy games, crafts, and Bible lessons.
Middle school students gather for IMPACT, named after 1 Timothy 4:12. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings, students start with games and then dig into relevant Bible discussions. High school students belong to Regeneration (Titus 3:5), meeting for Sunday school after the morning service and again on Sunday evenings for youth group. Regeneration also has its own Instagram presence to keep students connected during the week.
Two scouting-style programs round out the family ministry lineup. Trail Life is open to boys in kindergarten through twelfth grade and meets Monday evenings; it teaches life skills, builds community, and uses a faith-based curriculum. American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered character and leadership program for girls ages 5 to 18, dedicated to building women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country.
Special events punctuate the year, including Jump for JOY, Vacation Bible School, Operation Christmas Child, the Bethlehem Experience, and student retreats.
Growing as Adults
Sunday School is offered before and after the worship service in the classroom across from the Community Room by the main entrance. A 9 a.m. class works through "Romans 8-16 For You" by Tim Keller, led by Lyle and Laura Helvie. An 11 a.m. class studies "The Case For A Creator" by Lee Strobel, led by Joe and Joanne Dotzlaf.
Small groups are central to adult life at the church. L3 Groups - short for Loving, Learning, and Leading - meet regularly for friendship, study, and service. Each gathering opens with connecting and prayer, moves into a discussion of the current sermon series using questions prepared by the pastor, and closes by planning how to live out the lesson in practical ways. The church also partners with Family Hope, a Central Indiana non-profit that supports families in crisis.
Men meet every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. for prayer, study, and conversation about men's issues. Women's groups run in the morning and evening to accommodate different schedules.
From Greenwood to the World
Mission work is built into the church's identity, not added on. Every dollar given to Center Grove Church that is not designated for a specific use is split evenly between the ministry fund and the missions fund. About a quarter of all giving supports mission efforts in total.
Locally, the church supports the CGC Deacon ministry, Wheeler Mission Ministries in Indianapolis, Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County, the CGC Community Meals program in Greenwood, Community Caring and Sharing on the southwest side of Indianapolis, Felege Hiywot in Indianapolis, Swaddling Clothes, Johnson County CASA, The Refuge in Greenwood, Family Hope in Central Indiana, and Young Life in Indianapolis through Satchel Burton.
Internationally, CGC walks alongside long-term missionaries in Mongolia (Stephens/OMF, Tory McKinney/ELIC), the Philippines (McDowell/OMF), Ecuador (Extreme Response, Pan de Vida), Nigeria (Riepe/Wycliffe), and a closed country (Parlato/Act Beyond, Duong). The church also supports Friesen with Barnabas International and partners through Prayers for the Persecuted and Haspels for work among the Suri and Baale people.
The missions ministry operates through prayer, giving, sending, and going - including short-term mission trips for members.
Weddings and the Building
Center Grove Church hosts weddings and offers a robust premarital program. Lead Pastor Art DeBruyn and his wife Christy, married more than thirty-five years and parents of three adult daughters, lead the coaching. Couples begin with a 165-question Prepare & Enrich online assessment and then meet with Art and Christy for typically five to eight ninety-minute sessions. The assessment costs $35; coaching is free.
Weddings at the church begin at $1,500, which includes a wedding hostess, a sound technician, and custodial services before and after the event. A $200 refundable deposit secures the date. The sanctuary seats up to 300 when the balcony is used. Non-members are welcome to be married there, provided the ceremony is a Christian religious service, and pastors from other Christian churches may officiate. Microphones, music from Spotify or USB, and basic setup are included; special lighting and video on the front screens are available for an extra fee.
A community room can be rented for $400 to seat 100 at round tables (or 60 with a dance floor), and the building is available for use between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Several classroom spaces serve as bridal and groom suites, with a full-length mirror and two nearby bathrooms.
The Pastoral Team
Art DeBruyn has served as Lead Pastor since 2015 and recently completed a daily devotional series through the book of Romans, now available as The Redeeming Road. Jordan Helvie joined as Associate Pastor in 2019. Frank Jones has led worship since 2018. Laurie Hummel has directed Family Ministries since 2022. Behind the scenes, Camellia Frye has served as Office Administrator since 2025 and Sue Likens as Office Assistant since 2023.
Staying Connected
Giving is available online through a secure portal, and donations to the missions fund can be made directly. The church maintains a public calendar of events, a Facebook page for livestreams, a YouTube channel, a podcast on Spotify, a TikTok presence, and an Instagram account for the high school ministry. A weekly Friday Update keeps the congregation informed about what is coming up. Prayer requests can be sent to prayer@centergrovechurch.org, and pastoral care needs can be directed to care@centergrovechurch.org.