A Church Born from Four Families Praying Together
Reynoldsburg Baptist Church sits on the west side of Rosehill Road, roughly halfway between Main Street and Broad Street in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The congregation's story began in September 1957, when four families - the Williams, Bevers, LeMaster, and Wilcoxon families - began meeting and praying about planting a new church in their community. The first public worship service was held on November 17, 1957, in the Wilcoxon home, with David Dorr as speaker. Less than a year later, on June 1, 1958, Reverend T. Edwin Boling became pastor of a group that numbered twelve. By September 7, 1958, the church was formally organized with twenty-five members.
For its first eighteen months, the new congregation met for Sunday School and worship at French Run Elementary School in the Brookside area of Reynoldsburg, while Sunday evening worship was held at Parkview Presbyterian Church. On December 31, 1958, the original three-acre property at 887 Rosehill Road was purchased, and construction of the first building unit began on July 1, 1959. Most of the labor, apart from the masonry, was volunteered by the members themselves. The building was dedicated on March 6, 1960, by which time membership had climbed to ninety-nine and average Sunday School attendance had reached 140.
Building on Rosehill Road
Continued growth led to the construction of a two-story educational unit, dedicated on February 3, 1963, again with much of the work donated by members. In September 1996, structural problems were discovered in the sanctuary, and services moved temporarily to the fellowship hall. After approval of a plan to repair the existing sanctuary and build a new worship center, ground was broken on Sunday, March 1, 1998, for a 600-seat Worship Center. As with earlier buildings, much of the labor was provided by volunteers from both the congregation and the surrounding community. The first worship service in the new sanctuary was held on March 21, 1999, with about 300 in attendance, and the dedication took place on May 23, 1999.
Beyond its own campus, the church has helped start three other congregations over the years: First Baptist Church of Gahanna, Summit Baptist Church, and Brookside Baptist Church, whose first services were held at the French Run School on October 15, 1967.
What to Expect on Sunday Morning
Sunday morning at Reynoldsburg Baptist Church begins at 9:00 am with Bible study for all ages. Adult classes include multiple co-ed options as well as classes specifically for women and for men. At 10:25 am, pre-service music begins in the sanctuary, and the main worship service starts at 10:30 am. Services combine preaching, music, and prayer, with the stated purpose of bringing glory to God and studying His Word. Music includes both traditional and contemporary hymns, led through both instrumental and vocal arrangements.
During the service, an offering is collected to support the church's work and missions locally, statewide, nationally, and around the world. Guests are not expected to contribute. Bibles are available in each pew for anyone who needs one. Dress ranges widely - newcomers fit in whether they dress up or come more casually. The Fellowship Hall serves as a crying room where the service can be viewed, and cookies and coffee are available there before the service.
Children, Youth, and the Annex
Children from first through sixth grade are served by a children's ministry that aims to foster an environment pointing them to Christ and to supplement the spiritual leadership parents provide at home. Classes are available for elementary children of all ages during the Sunday School hour and on Wednesday evenings.
Youth ministry engages students in seventh through twelfth grade. Programming combines sound biblical teaching, ministry opportunities in which students can serve, and other activities. Weekly youth gatherings take place in the Annex - a white house across the driveway from the main building - during Sunday School at 9:00 am and on Wednesday evenings at 7:15 pm.
For preschoolers, classes are offered during the Sunday School hour and Wednesday evening Bible study. Preschool care is also provided for children from birth through age three during the Sunday morning worship service. A preschool leader meets families at the door of the preschool area and directs children to the appropriate classroom, where parents can share any special instructions. A security card and pager are provided, and for safety reasons children are not released to anyone who does not have the security card. One week each summer, Vacation Bible School is offered in the evenings for children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade, free to attend.
Wednesday Evenings in the Fellowship Hall
On Wednesday evenings at 7:15 pm, the church gathers in the Fellowship Hall for an adult Bible study. During that same hour, classes are also available for preschool children through high schoolers, making it a midweek gathering point for the entire congregation.
Statement of Faith and Baptist Identity
Reynoldsburg Baptist Church adopts the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as its statement of faith. Scripture is held as the supreme standard by which all religious beliefs should be evaluated. The statement covers the Bible's inspiration and trustworthiness, the one true God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the nature of humanity, the doctrine of salvation (regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification), God's purpose of grace, the nature of the church as an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Day, the Kingdom of God, last things, evangelism and missions, education, stewardship, cooperation, the Christian and the social order, peace and war, religious liberty, and the family.
The church is voluntarily affiliated with the Metro Columbus Baptist Association, the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Loving Neighbors Through ELI
The English Language Instruction (ELI) ministry is one of the most visible ways Reynoldsburg Baptist Church serves its surrounding community. ELI meets on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, with a one-time fee of $20 (cash only) to cover books and supplies. No childcare is provided. The program reflects the congregation's commitment to tangible, neighbor-focused ministry in the broader Reynoldsburg area.
Ministry Teams and Member Care
RBC's Member Care Ministry Teams organize the church's internal care work. The Hospital, Homebound, and Hospice Visitation team (H3) provides regular personal contact - through calls, cards, and visits - to members and regular attenders in difficult seasons. The Material Membership Matters team (M3) assists with temporal needs like lawn mowing, leaf raking, and minor home repairs, supports families during crises with babysitting or elder care, helps recognize life events with showers, and partners with H3 during times of bereavement. Members can join a team at the start of each year or at any point during the year.
Biblical Counseling
The church provides biblical counseling, defined by leadership as the personal discipleship ministry of God's people to others under the oversight of God's church, dependent upon the authority and sufficiency of God's Word through the work of the Holy Spirit. Counseling ministry draws on the framework offered by the Biblical Counseling movement.
Preaching Through Books of the Bible
Preaching at RBC works steadily through books of the Bible. A recent series, Leviticus: Worship in Holiness, walked through the sacrifices of Leviticus 1 through 10 - from the burnt offering and grain offering through the peace offering, sin offering, guilt offering, and the priestly ordination of Aaron and his sons. Earlier series have included The Value of Values from Titus 2, God's Big Picture, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Gospel Joy, Did God Really Say That?, Speaking God's Truth, and The Songs of Christmas. The congregation also walks through the Baptist Faith and Message article by article in Wednesday Bible studies.
Sermons, the Bible in a Year, and Scripture Memory
Sunday sermons are livestreamed each week and made available through a sermon stream, with audio recordings posted for later listening. The church's Delight in God's Word resources include a one-year Bible reading brochure and bookmarks, along with an annual Scripture memory packet for memorizing God's Word together as a congregation.
Online Giving and the Jeff Daugherty Scholarship
Giving is available online through RBC's Church Center giving account. Each fall, the church participates in the Ray Roberts State Missions offering collected by Ohio Southern Baptist churches, supporting Ohio Disaster Relief and church planting, replanting, and revitalization efforts across the state. The Jeff Daugherty Memorial Scholarship recognizes active RBC members who have completed high school, are pursuing further education (associate, technical, bachelor's, or higher), and have demonstrated outstanding Christian service within school, church, and community. The endowment was established by the Daugherty family in memory of their son Jeff and his love of learning.
Staff and Pastoral Leadership
Pastor Greg Savage has served as lead pastor since November 14, 2021, after joining the pastoral staff as associate pastor in August 2009. He follows a line of pastors that includes T. Edwin Boling (1958-1965), J. Kenneth Allaby (1966-1975), James E. Taulman (1976-1982), Robert E. Gaultney (1982-1989), William H. Sims (1990-1993), and Steven A. Cavanaugh (1995-2021). Nick Kakaris serves as associate pastor. Nanette Crnkovic serves as secretary, Sarah Zingsheim as finance secretary, and Candace Bauer as custodian.
Men's Ministry and Annual Rhythm
Men's ministry includes a periodic men's reading group meeting on Saturday mornings, along with men's Sunday School classes and other gathering opportunities throughout the year. The broader annual rhythm of the congregation includes a congregational lunch after Sunday services, the annual church picnic at Blacklick Woods Metro Park, and seasonal emphases around missions giving and Vacation Bible School.
Finding Reynoldsburg Baptist Church
The church stands at 887 Rosehill Road in Reynoldsburg, on the west side of Rosehill Road about halfway between Main Street and Broad Street. A mailing address of P.O. Box 34, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 is available for correspondence. The phone number is 614-866-6818, and email reaches the office at info@rbctoday.com. Sunday morning worship is at 10:30 am, Sunday School for all ages is at 9:00 am, and Wednesday Bible study is at 7:15 pm.