Community Christian Church is part of the Christian Church, one of the very first churches to form on American soil. This unity movement of the early 1800s established a congregation in Galion in 1897 and has continued to be part of Galion’s history ever since. Worshipping at various places until building on Payne Avenue, Community Christian eventually moved to their current location on the corner of Biddle Road and State Route 19 West. Dr. Daniel A. Turner (“Dr. D” to the kids) became pastor in 1994 and has served Community ever since.
Community Christian Church has a motto, “Real Church, Real People, Real Simple.”
“By real church, we want to be a church that connects people to God in a very real way that transforms us into new people—Christ followers. By real people, as Christ followers, we want to be people of integrity, honesty, genuineness, transparency and love. And by real simple, we want to be “Christians only, but not the only Christians.” We simply want to take the principles and values of the New Testament Church and restore them in the 21st Century Church in the hope that we can help end centuries of religious confusion and division.”
Community Christian believes it’s all about serving and encouraging one another. They have small groups for seniors and groups for youth of all ages. They have men’s groups, women’s groups, Bible study groups, support groups and groups organized for ministry.
Community Christian believes that a church should serve their local community as well. They host one of the most successful blood drives in Galion. They support Galion’s food pantries, Weekday Religious Education, and events like the Pickle Run, Summer school lunch program or Come Home to Galion.
Community Christian Church believes strongly in missions. For decades, they have supported a mission in Haiti that provides quality medical care and schooling for Haitian children. They have sent several teams to work in Haiti, and every year they sponsor a Peanut Butter for Haiti drive where they collect hundreds of pounds of peanut butter for Haitian families. Many families in the church sponsor children living in Haiti.
“I’ve been to Haiti, I’ve personally given these jars of peanut butter to the families and seen firsthand the value of this ministry. That’s why we promote it so strongly, because they are meeting spiritual and physical needs with excellence and financial integrity.”
Community also supports Round Lake Christian Camp in Lakeville, Ohio and the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio, in Wooster.
Regarding their worship, “Our dress is casual, and our worship is more contemporary than traditional. While we sing what you might hear on Christian radio, we still love and sing the classic hymns of the faith as well. In my messages I try to show how the Bible is relevant and helpful for families, even in the 21st Century. We really are a Bible believing congregation. ”