Meadow Park Church sits along Bethel Road on the west side of Columbus, where a casual dress code, free coffee before service, and a children's check-in line set the tone for two Sunday morning worship gatherings. The church describes itself as "ordinary people on a journey," a community shaped by what it calls "outrageous generosity," honest biblical teaching, and a deep commitment to the neighborhood that surrounds it.
Two Sunday Gatherings and a Casual Welcome
Worship meets at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, with each gathering running about an hour. Visitors are told to come as they are, with no expectation to dress up, and are greeted by hosts wearing bright blue lanyards. Before service, guests can grab a cup of coffee at the on-site café, then are pointed toward the worship center or the Park Kids family check-in. A "New Here" area just inside the worship center holds a free first-time guest gift, and the first Sunday of every month the pastors host a casual come-and-go gathering after the service called Meet the Pastors.
Inside the worship center, ushers welcome newcomers to sit anywhere they like. A prayer station to the side of the room is staffed by prayer team members for anyone who would like prayer. The service includes band-led music, prayer times, occasional videos, an engaging biblical message meant to be relevant to daily life, and the chance to give online or through boxes near the entrances. No matter where someone is on their spiritual journey, the church says, there is a place for them at Meadow Park.
Park Kids and the Children's Center Next Door
Park Kids is the children's program for kids through fifth grade. From energetic large-group music, games, and teaching to age-specific small groups, the goal is to build a foundation of faith through hands-on experiences. Parents must check children in before they enter the program, and the same parent tag is required at pickup. The Park Kids team escorts children to their classrooms on a first visit and is ready to help with registration.
On the same campus, the Meadow Park Children's Center (MPCC) operates as a separate program, offering high-quality childcare and early education for families in the area. Every family is welcomed and every child is loved, and the program is led by its own director as part of the church's overall ministry footprint.
MPC Youth on Sunday Nights
Meadow Park encourages teenagers to attend the main worship gathering with their parents on Sunday mornings, but the youth ministry also runs a separate Sunday night program from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Middle and high school students start and end the evening with games and hangout time in the gym and student lounge, which is equipped with video games, foosball, a gaga pit, pool, and ping-pong. In the middle of the night, there is student worship, biblical teaching on topics relevant to teens, and small groups broken out by gender and grade.
Two scholarship funds, the MPC General Scholarship and the Brandon Johnson Scholarship, support students connected to the church who are pursuing further education.
Life Groups, Emeritans, and Support
For adults, Life Groups are the church's small-group network, meeting in homes and across the community to share life together. Coordinators Dan and Jane Baird help newcomers find a group that fits their schedule and stage of life.
Emeritans is the seniors ministry for those age 60 and over, gathering for monthly potlucks, day trips, banquets, and fundraisers.
A network of support groups is also available for people navigating disease, hurts, hang-ups, or habits, and the church partners with several local organizations in this work, including the Hilliard Food Pantry, NNEMAP, Lower Lights Ministries (Rachel's House), Central Ohio Youth for Christ, The Refuge, and Iglesia Renuevo.
Worship Led by the Worship Ministry
The Worship Ministry exists to use the musical gifts and talents of the congregation to glorify God. A band leads congregational singing each Sunday morning, supported by a wider team of musicians and vocalists. The ministry is coordinated alongside outreach, signaling that both flow out of the same heartbeat for the church and its neighbors.
Local Outreach and Global Missions
Meadow Park is intentional about ministry that extends beyond its own walls. Locally, the church works alongside the Hilliard Food Pantry, NNEMAP, Lower Lights Ministries (Rachel's House), Central Ohio Youth for Christ, The Refuge, and Iglesia Renuevo. Globally, three mission partners carry much of the long-term work:
- Heart to Honduras forms disciples through Christ-centered, holistic, collaborative ministry and community development.
- Heart for Lebanon provides refugee humanitarian aid, education for children, and community development.
- Children of Promise assists in the spiritual, physical, educational, emotional, and social development of children around the globe.
The missions ministry invites people to pray, give, and go, and maintains an interest list for upcoming trips and information sessions.
Discovering Your SHAPE
One of the more distinctive things about Meadow Park is its SHAPE assessment tool, a free online resource that helps members identify how God has uniquely designed them. SHAPE stands for Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. The tool points people toward service opportunities that match their mix of gifts and draws on well-known personality frameworks, including Myers-Briggs, DISC, StrengthsFinder, and the Enneagram.
The underlying conviction, rooted in passages such as 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4, is that every believer has been given at least one spiritual gift and that those gifts are meant to be used to build up the body of Christ. Where spiritual gifts, passions, skills, personality, and life experiences overlap, the church says, members will find their "sweet spot" for serving.
Pastoral Leadership
Mark Krenz serves as Lead Pastor, with Roger McDaniel as Executive Pastor. Tim Heller is the NextGen Pastor overseeing student ministry, and Kyle Younkman serves as Connections Pastor. Noah Burris directs worship and outreach, while Sandy Bailey leads the Meadow Park Children's Center. Together with a broader Ministry Coordinator and Facility Director, this team shapes the day-to-day life of the church.
Four Ways to Give
Generosity is a recurring theme at Meadow Park, and the church offers four ways to give: online as a one-time or recurring gift through the giving platform; by text-to-give by texting any amount to 843-21; in person or by mail using the giving boxes and envelopes at the worship center; and through legacy or non-traditional gifts such as stocks, bonds, vehicles, or jewelry. Questions about giving can be directed to giving@meadowpark.org.
Listening and Watching Beyond Sunday
Sermons are available through the teaching archive on the church's main site, on YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple Podcasts. Services are livestreamed, and the church maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram for updates, prayer requests, and stories of life change. The Parent Cue app is recommended for families as a companion resource for raising kids with intentionality.
A Place for Everyone on Bethel Road
Whether someone is walking in for the first time, returning after a long absence, or looking for a place to put down roots, Meadow Park describes itself with the same words on its welcome page: "Wherever you are on your faith journey, whatever your feelings about church, however bad you've screwed up, you are welcome here." That welcome extends across two Sunday morning services, a children's wing, a youth program, a preschool, small groups for adults, a seniors fellowship, a global mission footprint, and a campus designed to serve west Columbus for the long haul.