A cappella worship on Flanders Road
Flanders Road Church of Christ sits on Flanders Road between Laskey and Alexis Roads in Toledo, Ohio, in the same stretch of northwest Lucas County where the congregation has gathered for more than a century. Members describe it as a church that has been a staple of the Toledo community for over 100 years, and its identity is rooted in two habits that have defined Churches of Christ since the Restoration movement: a cappella singing and the centrality of the Bible. Worship at Flanders Road is traditional in the Church of Christ sense, with no instruments, no choral arrangements, and no band - just the voices of the congregation lifting songs of praise together.
Visitors who arrive on a Sunday morning will find a community that is warm without being overwhelming. The church's motto, "Your best life is just down the Road," sets the tone: teaching that connects the Bible to everyday struggles, and a community that walks with people through them. Long-time members like Rick and Cyndy Rogers, who have been part of the church since 1980 and raised their children there, describe it as a place where the Bible never changes even as the world does, and where lifelong friendships are made along the way.
The Sunday and Wednesday rhythm
The week at Flanders Road centers on a steady rhythm of Bible study and worship.
- Sunday at 9:30 AM - Bible classes for all ages. Children, teens, and adults break into separate classes for an hour of study.
- Sunday at 10:30 AM - Morning worship service. The order includes a cappella singing, prayers, scripture readings, the Lord's Supper, and a sermon from the minister.
- Sunday at 6:00 PM - Evening worship service, a smaller and more intimate gathering around the same pattern of singing, scripture, and teaching.
- Wednesday at 7:00 PM - Bible studies for all ages, held midweek so families can dig deeper into what was taught on Sunday.
On the fourth Sunday of each month, the morning service is followed at noon by a Monthly Potluck coordinated by Cindy Grochowski. Anyone is welcome, and the church reassures visitors that there is always enough food to share even if they did not bring a dish.
Worship with voices only
The worship service at Flanders Road looks and sounds different from many evangelical churches. The congregation sings a cappella, without piano, guitar, or organ. The church explains the practice this way: the New Testament does not have many verses about music in worship, but Ephesians 5:18-19 and Colossians 3:15-17 describe music filled with gratitude that comes from the mouth and heart. Just as the early Christians worshiped for more than a thousand years, Flanders Road sings with voices only.
The service moves through several familiar elements: singing, praying, reading, giving, preaching, and partaking of communion. Communion is observed every Sunday as a memorial celebration of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, an act the church considers central rather than occasional. Dress ranges from suits and dresses to jeans and T-shirts - the church welcomes people exactly as they are.
What to expect when you arrive
First-time visitors are greeted in the parking lot and walked to where they need to go. If a guest arrives for Bible class, someone will lead them to the right room; if for worship, they will be shown into the auditorium and helped to a seat. The church encourages everyone to arrive about 15 minutes before the service to meet new friends, get comfortable, and find a seat.
For those who cannot attend in person, Flanders Road streams both its 9:30 AM Bible class and 10:30 AM worship service on its YouTube channel, and also hosts the same services on Zoom (Meeting ID 878 6452 3378, Passcode 024539). The Wednesday night Bible study is offered on a separate Zoom line (Meeting ID 509 936 660, Passcode 014451).
Children at Flanders Road
Flanders Road holds a high view of family worship. Children of all ages are welcome in the worship service, and parents are encouraged to bring them in rather than leaving them in another room. The church teaches that Scripture calls families to worship the Lord together.
Two age-specific rooms are also available:
- Nursery for ages two and under.
- Kids worship for ages two (must be potty-trained) through kindergarten.
Outside of Sunday mornings, the children's ministry also runs Junior Worship services and Vacation Bible School during the year. The goal, according to the church, is to engage the youngest members of the congregation in learning about God and serving both the church and the wider community.
Luke Ashby and the leadership team
The church is led by Luke Ashby, the preacher. Luke and his wife Laura have three children. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Freed-Hardeman University and a Master of Arts from Heritage Christian University. His background in psychology, counseling, and ministry has shaped more than 20 years of work as a counselor, teacher, and director of Camp Indogan Christian youth camp. He preaches at both Sunday services, teaches in the midweek Bible study, and oversees much of the pastoral work of the congregation.
Three elders share the spiritual oversight of the church:
- Jeff Blake, an elder who is active in teaching Bible classes and personal evangelism. He and his wife Vicki have three grown children and several grandchildren; he is retired from Jeep and enjoys woodworking.
- Terry Keefe, an elder who is deeply involved in personal evangelism and member care. He and his wife Teresa have two grown children; he is a retired air traffic controller who enjoys pickleball, fishing, and swimming.
- Brian Stickley, an elder who leads outreach to youth and young adults. He and his wife Michelle have two grown children; he works as a financial advisor.
Three deacons handle specific areas of service:
- Rick Rogers, Deacon of Administration and Outside Maintenance, oversees church finances and property care.
- Tom Angel, Deacon of Benevolence, oversees the food pantry and other mercy ministries.
- Charles Shaw, Deacon of Safety, oversees the safety programs at Flanders Road.
What Flanders Road believes
Flanders Road's statement of faith begins with the Bible. The congregation holds that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and that God's will for everyone is found in the teachings of Jesus and his disciples.
God, the church teaches, is all-powerful, all-knowing, and unlimited by time or space. Though there is one God, his nature is seen in the roles of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to earth, died on a cross for human sin, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, with the promise of returning so that Christians can be with him for eternity. Salvation is the gift of God, received by grace through faith. Saving faith, the church teaches, includes repenting of sin, confessing Christ as Lord, being baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and remaining dependent on the blood of Jesus. Good works follow salvation as a grateful response, not as a means of earning it.
In worship, the congregation glorifies God through singing, praying, reading, giving, preaching, and partaking of communion each Sunday. The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Music is a cappella, following the practice of the early church.
Helping hands in the neighborhood
Service to neighbors is woven into the life of Flanders Road. The ministries page opens with a simple claim: the church is always looking for ways to strengthen the community around it.
- Food Pantry. The food pantry, overseen by Deacon Tom Angel, serves members of the community with food and personal hygiene items.
- Hats and Gloves Drive. Each fall the church collects hats and gloves so children in nearby schools can keep warm through the winter.
- Local Family Ministries. Flanders Road hosts free family events throughout the year, including a Back to School Bash, an Easter Egg Hunt, a Fall Festival, and Marriage and Family Seminars.
- Widows and Widowers Support Group. A faith-based group that gives widows and widowers a safe place to talk through grief, share experiences, and build closer relationships.
- Shults-Lewis Child and Family Services. The church supports this residential treatment program for struggling teens and their families through financial giving.
Far from home: the African Textbook Ministry
Flanders Road's mission reach extends to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in southern Africa, where Thayer and Chery Salisbury are writing textbooks that are used to educate and build strong Christian leaders within African churches. The Salisbury team's work is supported financially and prayerfully by the congregation, and the church considers it a key partnership in fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.
Camp Indogan Youth Camp
Each summer, members of Flanders Road volunteer a week of their time at Camp Indogan, a Christian youth camp for ages 8 through 18. Through faith-centered activities, campers get the chance to understand and experience Christian values in real-life settings, fostering personal spiritual growth. The camp is closely tied to preacher Luke Ashby, who served as its director for over 20 years.
Pickleball, basketball, and volleyball in the gym
The church opens its gymnasium to neighbors and friends for fun, fellowship, and a little friendly competition. Two regular pickleball gatherings anchor the week:
- Co-ed Pickleball on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, coordinated by Terry Keefe. All skill levels are welcome.
- Ladies Pickleball on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, coordinated by Teresa Keefe. Beginners are taught the game and encouraged to bring a friend.
Basketball and volleyball also happen regularly, and the full calendar is posted on the church's events page.
Seniors at the monthly luncheon
Senior citizens of the congregation and surrounding community are invited on the fourth Friday of every month for a Senior Luncheon, held from noon to 1:00 PM with a specially prepared meal. The luncheon is one of the church's most consistent gathering points for older members, pairing food and fellowship on a regular schedule.
Giving and staying connected
Flanders Road frames giving as an expression of thankfulness to God rather than an obligation. Contributions can be made in several ways:
- Online through the church's giving portal.
- By text by sending "Give" to 419-500-4765.
- By mail to 5130 Flanders Road, Toledo, OH 43623.
- In person by dropping a contribution into one of the labeled boxes at the back of the auditorium.
Members and regular attenders can also access an online member area through the church's app, available for iOS and Android, which provides sermons, devotionals, and a member directory.
A second century on Flanders Road
For more than a hundred years, Flanders Road Church of Christ has gathered on the same stretch of road between Laskey and Alexis. The faces change, the generations turn over, and the neighborhood around it has shifted in every way a Northwest Ohio community can shift. What has stayed the same is the simple pattern the church keeps returning to: read the Bible, sing without instruments, take communion each Sunday, teach the children, care for the widows, feed the hungry, and walk with one another through whatever the week brings. That steadiness, more than anything, is what members like Gina Jackson, the Rogerses, and the Greens keep pointing to when they talk about why Flanders Road has remained home.