Light in the Darkness

SINCE2016

Learn It
We believe that, as Christians, we have to know the Gospel, and knowing the Gospel starts with knowing who God is. We need to know who He is and what He has done for us, and what that means in our lives. 


Live It
We believe that being a Christian means living out the Gospel in community with each other – that we must both know others and allow ourselves to be known. It is in our relationships that we begin to apply the principles of the Christian life.


Give It
We believe that the Gospel is meant to be given – that it compels us as Christians to serve each other and to share with the world. To give freely that which has been given to us, and to love each other and our community with the love of Jesus.

WHAT DOES GRACE BELIEVE?

THE BIBLE 
The Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, verbally inspired in all parts, and therefore wholly without error as originally given of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).


THE ONE TRUE GOD
Existing eternally as three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).


THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
His pre-existence and deity (John 1:1-3), incarnation by virgin birth (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18-23), sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), substitutionary death (2 Corinthians 5:21), bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36-43), ascension into heaven and present ministry (Hebrews 4:14-16), and coming again (Acts 1:11).


THE HOLY SPIRIT
His personality (John 16:7-15), and deity (Acts 5:3-4), and His work in each believer: baptism and indwelling at the moment of regeneration (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9), and filling (Ephesians 5:18), to empower for Christian life and service (Ephesians 3:16; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-23).


MAN
His direct creation in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28), his subsequent fall into sin resulting in spiritual death (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12), and the necessity of the new birth for his salvation (John 3:3-5).


SALVATION
A complete and eternal salvation by God’s grace alone, received as the gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).


THE CHURCH
One true church, the body and bride of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-32), composed of all true believers of the present age (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), and the organization of its members in local churches for edification of believers, and for worldwide gospel witness, each local church being autonomous but cooperating in the fellowship and work (Ephesians 4:11-16).


CHRISTIAN LIFE
A life of righteousness, good works, and separation unto God from the evil ways of the world (Romans 12:1-2), manifested by speaking the truth (James 5:12), maintaining the sanctity of the home (Ephesians 5:22-6:4), settling difference between Christians in accordance with the Word of God (1 Corinthians 6:1-8), not engaging in carnal strife but showing a Christ-like attitude toward all men (Romans 12:17-21), exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and maintaining a life of prayer (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6), including the privilege, when sick, of calling for the elders of the church to pray and to anoint with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:13-18).


ORDINANCES
The Christian should observe the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ, which are (1) baptism of believers by triune immersion (Matthew 28:19) and (2) the threefold communion service consisting of the washing of the saints’ feet (John 13:1-17), the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20-22, 33-34; Jude 1:12), and the communion of the bread and the cup (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).


SATAN
His existence and personality as the great adversary of God and His people (Revelation 12:1-10), his judgment (John 12:31), and final doom (Revelation 20:10).


SECOND COMING
The personal, visible, and imminent return of Christ to remove His Church from the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) before the tribulation (1  Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10), and afterward to descend with the Church to establish His millennial kingdom upon the earth (Revelation 19:11-20:6).


FUTURE LIFE
The conscious existence of the dead (Philippians 1:21-23; Luke 16:19-31), the resurrection of the body (John 5:28-29), the judgment and reward of believers (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10), the judgment and condemnation of unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15), the eternal life of the saved (John 3:16), and the eternal punishment of the lost (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).


For more on the Charis Fellowship, click here

For more on what we believe, click here.

Staff

  • Daniel O'Kane  - Pastoral Elder  circlefacebook  circleinstagram

    Founding pastor of Bellefontaine Grace Church.

    Born and raised in Dunedin, New Zealand. 

    Husband of Jessica. 

    Father to Aroha & Ezekiel. 

    Graduate of Bryan College (Exercise Health Science) and Liberty Theology Seminary (Master Pastoral Ministry). 

    Lover of roasting and brewing his own coffee, specifically for his wife in the morning, playing whatever the newest imaginary game is with the kiddos in the backyard, being outside when the crisp 60 degree weather is rolling in and the leaves are changing color, and wearing brand new socks for the first time. 

  • Ethan Bunce - Pastoral Elder  circlefacebook  circleinstagram  

    Born and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana. 

    Husband of Jael. 

    Graduate of Grace College (Biblical Studies) and Grace Theological Seminary (Master of Local Church Ministry).

    Lover of hardy breakfast food, bonfires with close friends, spending all day at Findlay Market in Cincinnati, and his 1999 Buick Lesabre affectionately named "Blue Beauty".  

  • Nick Mazza  - Pastor with focus in Student Ministries circlefacebook  circleinstagram  

    Born and raised in Marysville, Ohio.

    Husband of Erin. 

    Graduate of Bowling Green State University (Math Education) and Grace Theological Seminary (Master of Local Church Ministry).

    Lover of making (and eating) his famous "Mazza Pizza", playing board games with friends and family, cheering on the Columbus Blue Jackets, and watching Ohio State football with his wife. 

  • Kohltin Hoeppner  - Pastor of Lake Campus

    Founding Pastor of Grace Church Lake Campus. 

    Born and raised in Columbia City, Indiana. 

    Husband of Lily.

    Graduate of Grace College (Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages) and Grace Theological Seminary (Master of Local Church Ministry).

    Lover of all kinds of music, driving all the way to Springfield for Tropical Smoothie, playing Spikeball with good friends, and of course THE Ohio State Buckeyes!

  • Khale Rider  - Pastor of Family Ministries

    Born and raised in Columbia City, Indiana. 

    Husband of Suzi.

    Graduate of Grace College (Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages) and Grace Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity).

    Lover of fitness, specifically CrossFit, the best sauce, honey mustard, all things football, and catching more fish than Kohltin, most of the time. 

  • David Watson  - Pastoral Resident  circlefacebook   circleinstagram  

    Born and raised in Middleburg, Ohio. 

    Husband of Taylor. 

    Father of Tatum, Teagan, and Ruth. 

    Enrolled at Grace College & Theological Seminary (Master of Local Church Ministry)

    Lover of brewing his own coffee (which is delicious by the way), being outdoors all the time, especially when the sun is shining and when his family is tagging along, whether they are working on the farm, riding the ATVs, or swimming in the pond. 

  • Taylor Watson  - Operations Coordinator  circlefacebook  circleinstagram  Envelope

    Born and raised in West Liberty, Ohio. 

    Wife of David. 

    Mother of Tatum, Teagon, and Ruth. 

    Lover of the best cookie and milk duo, Oreo's, being in the beautiful outdoors with her family, riding horses or 4-wheelers whenever she gets the chance, and watching Duke basketball. 

  • Angelyn Davis  - Director of Radiate Kids circlefacebook  circleinstagram

    Born and raised in Belle Center, Ohio. 

    Wife of David. 

    Mother of Steven, Gwyndolyn, Juniper, and Magnolia. 

    Lover of eating out with friends and family, beach days in the sun, holidays (especially Spooky Season), and reading fiction books.  

Pastoral Elders

  • Ethan Bunce - Pastoral Elder  circlefacebook  circleinstagram  

    Born and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana. 

    Husband of Jael. 

    Graduate of Grace College (Biblical Studies) and Grace Theological Seminary (Local Church Ministry).

    Lover of hardy breakfast food, bonfires with close friends, spending all day at Findlay Market in Cincinnati, and his 1999 Buick Lesabre affectionately named "Blue Beauty".  

  • Daniel O'Kane  - Pastoral Elder  circlefacebook  circleinstagram 

    Founding pastor of Bellefontaine Grace Church.

    Born and raised in Dunedin, New Zealand. 

    Husband of Jessica. 

    Father to Aroha & Ezekiel. 

    Graduate of Bryan College (Exercise Health Science) and Liberty Theology Seminary (Pastoral Ministry). 

    Lover of roasting and brewing his own coffee, specifically for his wife in the morning, playing whatever the newest imaginary game is with the kiddos in the backyard, being outside when the crisp 60 degree weather is rolling in and the leaves are changing color, and wearing brand new socks for the first time.