A Growing Church Family on the West Virginia-Ohio Border
North Parkersburg Baptist Church sits at 3109 Emerson Avenue in Parkersburg, West Virginia, just across the river from Ohio and within walking distance of the Wood County Library. From the street the building looks large, but step inside and the scale quickly turns personal: a single campus houses the worship center, church offices, classrooms for North Christian School, the Food Pantry, and the Clothing Closet, all under one roof. Members of every age, background, and political view describe themselves as family here, and the congregation's stated mission is simple and clear: To Make More and Better Disciples.
That mission shapes everything else. Rather than positioning itself as a denominational outpost, North frames itself as an independent body of believers who gather to know, love, and live for Jesus Christ and to bring that same life to their neighbors across the Mid-Ohio Valley. The motto that runs across the welcome materials says it directly: Experience life change through Jesus Christ.
Sundays at North: Two Services, One Family
Worship gathers twice on Sunday morning, at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., in the Worship Center. Both services are identical in format and are held in person and online through the church's livestream, the North app, Apple TV, Roku, Facebook, and YouTube. Each runs about an hour and follows the same arc the church has used for years: a team of singers and musicians leads contemporary, uplifting worship, followed by Bible-centered teaching with practical applications for everyday life. Hosts monitor the online chat during the broadcast, ready to pray with anyone who reaches out.
Guests are not asked to stand, raise a hand, or be introduced from the platform. From the moment visitors pull into the parking lot, volunteers wearing "Ask Me" lanyards are stationed at the entrances to point them toward the Worship Center, the kids' floors, or the Welcome Center. There is no dress code; the building is described as a come-as-you-are environment, and the church cares more about what people get out of the community than what they wear. A free coffee bar in the lobby invites early arrivals to grab a cup and meet a few friendly faces before service starts.
Parking, the Prayer Garden, and the Building
Parking is available on both sides of the church. The 32nd Street side leads visitors through the Prayer Garden and offers handicap parking plus an elevator to the upper floors, including the kids' classrooms. The Emerson Avenue side is also open. The campus is large but intentionally navigable; every public area is staffed by people who can answer questions and help families find their way.
North Kids: Infant Through Fifth Grade
Children are not an afterthought at North. On Sunday mornings at both services, age-specific programming runs on the second and third floors of the Training Center:
- North Kids Jr. serves infants through PreK4 on the second floor. Children learn that God made them, God loves them, and Jesus wants to be their friend forever, with worship songs, scripture memorization, Bible stories, games, and sensory-rich hands-on activities.
- North Kids, for kindergarten through fifth grade, meets on the third floor. Kids worship, memorize Scripture, study the Bible, and join small groups designed for their grade. They learn to serve others and apply the lesson in practical ways to their everyday lives.
Check-in is straightforward and uses a security tag system that requires a matching ticket to pick up each child. All volunteers serving with children are background-checked.
Beyond Sunday mornings, Kids CONNECT meets on the first Wednesday of each month from September through April, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on the third floor. The ninety-minute format includes food, games, crafts, worship, and faith-building lessons. Each month takes on a theme tied to a passage of Scripture; past themes have included Backwards Night (Matthew 20:16), Western Round-Up (Luke 15:1-7), and Pajamas (1 Samuel 3). Registration is not required. Erin Perez leads the ministry as North Kids Director, with Beth Smith serving as Team Lead for North Kids Junior.
Child Dedication is offered periodically throughout the year as a partnership commitment between parents and the church for the spiritual development of the child. North does not practice infant baptism; children are encouraged to wait until they can personally articulate their faith in Christ. VBS, Fall Rally, Spring Rally, and a summer Kids Camp at Camp Cowen round out the annual kids' calendar.
North Students: Sixth Through Twelfth Grade
Student Ministry meets in three places each week:
- Sundays at 9:00 a.m. for grade-based small groups on Floor 1.
- Sundays at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Section of the Worship Center for full worship with the rest of the church.
- Sundays at 5:00 p.m. for the Sunday evening Student Service on Floor 1, with worship, teaching, games, and fellowship.
Wednesday nights add Influencer, a smaller leadership-development gathering. The student ministry is led by Andy Peeples, Pastor of Student Ministry. Annual highlights include Snow Camp at Parchment Valley Conference Center in Ripley, West Virginia, and a week-long Summer Camp.
Young Adults (Ages 18 to 29)
The Young Adult ministry gathers around a Sunday morning meeting during the second service in Room 3, where coffee and donuts are available and conversation focuses on what God is doing in their lives. A second rhythm runs through the week: the YA Connect Group, an eight-week study that meets Mondays at 6:00 p.m. on Floor 1, walking through topics like common Christian words, practices, and beliefs that often go unexplained. The ministry is pastored by Jamie Roten, and the stated heart is simple: to help young adults know they belong, realize they are needed, and awaken to their integral place in the life of the church.
CONNECT Groups: Discipleship in Relationship
CONNECT is the church's small-group network and the second pillar of its disciple-making strategy. Groups meet on-site, in homes, and online, with open enrollment each fall and winter for men, women, couples, and young adults. The annual Fall Focus is designed to be experienced inside a CONNECT Group, and the church reports that 340 people attended a group during the most recent ministry year. Group sign-ups are managed through the church's online Connect system.
Outreach Across the Mid-Ohio Valley
Four ongoing ministries reach beyond the church walls, all operated by volunteers and staff and open to anyone in need. Together they form the third pillar of the church's strategy: pursuing surrendered living through generous service.
The Friendship Kitchen is the oldest of the four. Marking more than two decades of continuous service, the Kitchen serves a free meal Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in curbside to-go format on Emerson Avenue, between the Wood County Library and Exxon. Volunteers pray with guests and share prayer requests. Donations of clothing, shoes, household items, small appliances, hygiene products, fresh fruit, vegetables, and baked goods are distributed alongside meals. Home delivery is available within a limited area by calling 304-865-6644 before 9:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
The North Food Pantry is a choice-style pantry that allows guests to "shop" for items their families will use. It operates by appointment only and requires a valid ID with the recipient's address. The pantry is located inside the church office at the 32nd Street entrance. Drop-offs are accepted Monday through Thursday at the church office or in the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings.
The Clothing Closet serves families with young children by appointment, allowing guests to select up to ten clothing items per visit with the goal of providing five outfits for a week. Diapers, wipes, and occasional infant items are available. The Closet follows the Wood County Schools calendar and is closed on holidays and during summer break.
North Place Maternity House is a residential ministry for unmarried expectant mothers, where residents are supported through a Christ-centered house parent, mentors, and volunteers who help them prepare for parenting and independence. In more than a decade of operation, North Place has welcomed dozens of mothers and their babies; alumni of the program have returned as staff. An annual Great Expectations Benefit Luncheon gathers area supporters each spring.
North Christian School: PreK Through Seventh (and Growing)
Housed inside the same building at 3109 Emerson Avenue is North Christian School, a PreK2 through seventh-grade academy (adding eighth grade for the 2026-2027 school year). NCS offers small class sizes, music, Bible, and physical education, along with athletics and fine arts, and is fully accredited by COGNIA and a member of ACSI, the Association of Christian Schools International. The school's stated mission is to develop strong Christ-like character alongside academic excellence in a safe Christian environment. Enrollment has grown steadily in recent years, prompting the addition of new classrooms, children's bathrooms, and play areas in Boggess Hall. Courtney Davis serves as principal.
Stephen Ministry: One-on-One Care for Hard Seasons
When people in the church or community face loss, illness, divorce, job loss, loneliness, hospitalization, spiritual crisis, aging, miscarriage, incarceration, or any number of life's harder moments, Stephen Ministry offers confidential, one-on-one Christian care. Trained lay caregivers meet regularly with those they serve, walking alongside them with prayer, listening, and presence. The team is led by Greg Ingram, Lora Sams, and Beth Warner. Anyone who would like to talk to someone can request a connection through the church, and graduates are commissioned each year.
BLESS: A Strategy for Everyday Mission
Beyond programs and events, North has invested heavily in teaching its people a five-step rhythm for reaching their neighbors with the love of Christ. The strategy, called BLESS, is taken from the letters Begin with Prayer, Listen, Eat together, Serve, and Share your Story. Members are encouraged to identify the eight people in closest proximity to them, then intentionally pray, listen, share meals, serve, and ultimately share their own story of what Jesus has done. The church provides downloadable tools, including a Neighbor's Chart, a Meal Calendar, and a three-part story guide. Each year, multiple BLESS Interactive sessions teach the framework across all ages, with a recent ministry year drawing 218 participants.
Spiritual Practices: P.R.A.Y., SOAP, and The First 15
The church offers three simple rhythms for personal spiritual growth. P.R.A.Y. is a four-part prayer framework: Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield, designed to focus a daily prayer time. S.O.A.P. is a Bible-study method that encourages readers to write out a Scripture, Observe what stands out, Apply it personally, and Pray it back to God. The First 15 is a daily guided prayer series that walks through topics and attributes of God week by week, with transcripts and a downloadable prayer guide available for personal or group use. All three are paired with free Right Now Media accounts offered to members and regular attenders.
Salvation, Baptism, and Membership
For anyone exploring faith, the church lays out a clear path. Salvation is presented through a simple prayer of confession, belief in Jesus' death and resurrection, and commitment to follow Him. Baptism is by immersion under water, practiced as a public celebration of an inward decision and as obedience to Jesus' command. Parents of younger children are directed to Child Dedication rather than infant baptism. Those who want to formally join the church are invited to a two-part Pursuing Membership Class, typically offered after the Sunday services. The next steps after salvation are intentionally ordered: attend Sunday service, attend Meet the Pastor (held on the second Sunday of each month in the Family Room), join a CONNECT Group, and be baptized.
What We Believe
The church holds to twelve core beliefs summarized on its beliefs page. North teaches that God exists eternally in three co-equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who created and sustain the universe. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only way of salvation; He lived a sinless life, died on the cross, rose again, ascended to Heaven, and will return as King of Kings. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation, gives spiritual gifts, and guides daily living. The Bible is the church's sole authority for faith and practice. The local church is self-governing and independent from denominational control, with Christ alone as its head. Every believer is a priest with direct access to God through prayer and Scripture. Tithing of 10 percent, baptism by immersion, daily dependence on the Holy Spirit, the image of God in male and female, marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman, and the call to treat every person with compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity round out the doctrinal statement.
Meet the Pastors
Mike Towner has served as Senior Pastor since 1998 and is married to Jessie; together they have two children, Elliza and Levi. His passion is helping people know, love, and live for Jesus Christ. John Wright joined as Executive Pastor in 2020 and works alongside the ministry staff to implement the vision and mission of North; he came to Parkersburg from Seattle with his wife Marcia and daughter Anya. Tim Cinnamon serves as Pastor of CONNECT Ministry, overseeing the small-group network. Worship is led by Worship Director Jared Bryant.
Giving, Stewardship, and Accountability
Tithing is taught as the biblical standard for giving. Members and attenders can give online through Planning Center Giving, by text-to-give, or through the North app, and can set up recurring gifts and view giving history through their account. North Parkersburg Baptist Church is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a third-party certification of financial integrity, transparency, and accountability. Annual reports are published each year, with the most recent covering July 2025 through June 2026. The most recent annual report recorded total tithes and offerings of $1,579,857 and total income of $1,606,321, supporting facility upgrades, the food pantry, the clothing closet, the Friendship Kitchen, and North Place Maternity House. Andrea Raines serves as Accounting Manager.
Office, Location, and Accessibility
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is closed on Fridays. The office entrance is located on 32nd Street. Parking is available on both sides of the building, with handicap parking and an elevator on the 32nd Street side. The mailing address is 3109 Emerson Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26104, and the office phone is (304) 428-3293. Online messages are routed to staff who follow up personally.
The Church Calendar in Rhythm
The ministry year at North follows a steady rhythm. Fall Focus kicks off in early September with an eight- or twelve-week teaching series tied to CONNECT Groups, including studies like Embers and Greater Than Gold. Winter CONNECT begins in February, and Snow Camp fills mid-January at Parchment Valley. Spring brings Child Dedication Sundays, Easter services, and the North Kids Spring Rally. Summer features Vacation Bible School, Student Summer Camp, and the Kids Summer Camp at Camp Cowen. The Miracle Volunteer Luncheon each fall and the Great Expectations Benefit Luncheon each May for North Place close the year with church-wide celebrations of generosity.
Mid-Ohio Valley Ministry in One Place
Few congregations in the region bring this many ministries under a single address. On any given week, the building at 3109 Emerson Avenue hosts worship for several hundred people, weekday preschool and K-7 classrooms for North Christian School, after-school programs for kids and students, Stephen Ministry care receivers and caregivers, a food pantry serving hundreds of families a year, a clothing closet supplying newborn through size 14/16 wardrobes, and a Friendship Kitchen handing out hundreds of meals a week. Across the parking lot, North Place Maternity House provides a Christ-centered home for young mothers preparing for parenthood. Together, the campus functions as a self-contained ministry hub for the Mid-Ohio Valley, with the congregation of North Parkersburg Baptist Church committed to the work of making more and better disciples one neighbor, one meal, one conversation at a time.