Columbus, OH
Previous GTCA City 2008
Overview
The church in Columbus was established in 1977 through a migration of saints from a few churches in Ohio. In 1985, the church completed the construction of a meeting hall that can seat around 150 saints (5914 Sinclair Rd, Columbus, OH 43229). The church property also includes a two-story farmhouse and a ranch house which houses a family and some single brothers. Around 140 saints gather on Lord’s Day mornings in two districts: the meeting hall and campus districts. Saints also gather in small groups all over the city during the week in their homes. A campus team was established in Columbus through the GTCA move in August of 2008. Due to migration, marriage, and other life transitions, the team is now down to two brothers. The church is seeking the Lord to add new members to the campus team. The burden in Columbus is to build up a vibrant church life where saints of all ages are vitally linked to one another, mutually shepherding one another and becoming a church that can supply and strengthen all the nearby churches in and around Ohio.
Strategic Location
Columbus is located in the center of Ohio and is only a short driving distance away from many localities in the surrounding states. Columbus is an ideal location to facilitate the blending between the churches in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Driving times to several localities in the region are:
| To the North | To the East | To the West | To the South |
| Mansfield, OH–1:10 hrs | Pittsburgh, PA–2:55 hrs | Fairborn, OH–1:00 hrs | Cincinnati, OH–1:45 hrs |
| Elyria, OH–2:00 hrs | Morgantown, WV–3:10 hrs | Indianapolis, IN–2:40 hrs | Lexington, KY–2:58 hrs |
| Mentor, OH–2:20 hrs | West Lafayette, IN–3:40 hrs | Knoxville, TN–4:55 hrs | |
| Ann Arbor, MI–2:55 hrs | South Bend, IN–4:10 hrs | Farmington, MI–3:15 hrs | |
| Farmington, MI–3:15 hrs | Urbana, IL–4:20 hrs | ||
| Kalamazoo, MI–4:15 hrs | Chicago, IL–5:18 hrs |
Climate
Columbus has four distinct but relatively mild seasons: springs are comfortable, with highs in the 70s and an abundance of blossoming trees; winters are cold, with daytime highs in the 30s and usually two or three weeks of snow per year; summers are humid with highs averaging in the 80s; falls are pleasant and sometimes breezy, with highs averaging in the 60s and a lot of fall colors. Average annual rainfall is about 40 inches, and average snowfall is 22 inches. There are no extreme weather conditions except occasional tornado warnings during the fall or spring months.
Demographics
Columbus proper has 921,605 people, and the metro area has 2.4 million. Columbus is the most populous city in Ohio and the second-largest city in the Midwest next to Chicago. The racial makeup of Columbus is 58.64% White, 28.99% Black, 5.82% Asian, 4.15% mixed, and 2.40% other.
Economy
The economy in Columbus is booming! Columbus’ diversified economy makes it a strong employment performer in the Midwest. The following industries consistently thrive in Columbus, Ohio: automotive, data centers, fashion and apparel, finance and insurance, food and beverage, business centers, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, R&D, Retail and eCommerce, and Technology. Also, Intel Corporation recently announced that it would be investing $20 billion in 2022 to build the world’s largest computer chip manufacturing plant in Columbus, OH.
The following are some of the top companies to work for in Columbus, OH:
| Cardinal Health * | Nationwide Insurance* | American Electric Power * |
Big Lots * | Battelle * |
| Netjets * | Wendy’s * | Accenture | JP Morgan Chase | Bob Evans * |
| Amazon | Wal-mart | OhioHealth * | Huntington Bancshares * |
Worthington Industries * |
| Chemical Abstracts * | Nationwide Children’s Hospital * |
DHL Supply Chain * | Limited Brands * | Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. |
| State of Ohio | The Ohio State University |
Mettler Toledo International |
Safelite * | Central Ohio Transit Authority |
While the job outlook in Columbus is very positive, the cost of living remains very reasonable, as shown in the comparison table below. The income tax rate in Ohio is under 5.39%, and the sales tax is 5.75%.
| Columbus | Los Angeles | Denver | Boston | Atlanta | |
| Median House Price / Rent |
$205,800 / $1,044 | $549,800 / $1,302 | $322,900 / $1,131 | $455,100 / $1,445 | $238,700 / $1,037 |
| Cost of Living Index |
86 | 173 | 129 | 162 | 108 |
Transportation
The John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is the primary airport in Columbus, Ohio. The following airlines fly out of CMH: Southwest, American, Air Canada, Spirit, United, Alaska, Breeze Airways, Delta, and Frontier.
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is a bus system that can take you to many parts of the entire city. Both Uber and Lyft operate in Columbus, and bike share and scooter share services operate in the OSU Campus, Downtown, and surrounding areas of Columbus. The automobile is still the predominant way to get around Columbus. Two major interstate highways intersect in Columbus: I-71 N/S and I-70 E/W. I-270 provides a complete loop around the city.
Points of Interest
Listed below are a variety of special interests served in Columbus and the surrounding area:
Top Family-Friendly Attractions:
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Zoombezi Bay Water Park, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Legoland Discovery Center, Olentangy Caverns, Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Parks and Outdoor Fun:
Gardens: Inniswood Metro Gardens, Park of Roses Local Parks: High Banks (scenic hiking), Glacier Ridge (obstacle course), Battelle Darby (bison roaming), Shale Hollow (creeking), Quarry Trails (waterfall, mountain biking, kayaking), Zip Zone Adventure Park, Trapper John’s Canoe LIvery, Biking trails
Arts and Culture:
Columbus Museum of Art, Otherworld, German Village, The Book Loft, Ohio History Center, Ohio Statehouse, Thurber House, BalletMet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Excellent Libraries:
Columbus, Upper Arlington, Worthington
Sports:
Ohio State Football, Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), Columbus Clippers Baseball, The Memorial Tournament (PGA), Columbus Crew (MLS)
Restaurant and Retail Areas:
Dublin Bridge Park, North Market Downtown, Easton Town Center, Polaris Fashion Place
Ohio Attractions:
State Parks: Hocking Hills State Park, Mohican State Park (scenic hikes and outdoor adventures), National Park: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Winter Sports: Mad River Mountain, Snow Trails, Museums: National Museum of the US Air Force, Amusement Parks: Cedar Point, King’s Island, Tourist Attractions: Amish Country, Lake Erie Shores, and Islands
Columbus Favorites: Jeni’s Splendid ice cream, Stauf’s coffee roasters, Brassica, Bibibop
College Campuses
There are 17 colleges in Columbus and another 39 colleges within 50 miles, enrolling 149,818 students.
The Ohio State University (OSU): OSU is one of the largest universities in the country, with a student population of 61,369 students on the main campus. OSU also has regional campuses in Newark, Marion, Lima, and Mansfield
Other Colleges in Columbus: Franklin University, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus State Community College, Columbus College of Art and Design, Capital University, Devry University, Hondros College, American Institute of Alternative Medicine
Housing
Columbus offers a variety of housing types at a wide range of price points, including homes with acreage in or near the city, brand-new urban condos, garden and high-rise apartments, and typical suburban homes and townhomes. Most of the saints live in the suburban parts of Columbus.
The table below offers suggestions of some neighborhoods where saints now live with some primary data about those neighborhoods, such as the distance from the meeting hall and to the Ohio State University Main campus. Neighborhood links below are to Niche.com, a good resource for exploring neighborhoods all over Columbus.
| Neighborhood | Median Home Price / Rent |
Families Nearby |
Min. To Mtg Hall |
Min. To OSU Campus (Ohio Union) |
Public Schools |
Family Friendly |
| Dublin | $377,500 / $1,379 | 18 | 15-23 | 22-30 | A+ | A+ |
| Upper Arlington | $397,300 / $1,274 | 13 | 15-20 | 10-15 | A+ | A+ |
| Powell | $372,700 / $1,677 | 9 | 15-22 | 22-30 | A+ | A+ |
| Worthington/Lewis Center | $285,300 / $1,030 | 9 | 5-15 | 17-25 | A | A+ |
| Westerville | $237,300 / $1,102 | 3 | 12-17 | 23-27 | A- | A |
| Hilliard | $254,700 / $1,164 | 2 | 20-25 | 20-23 | A- | A |
| Columbus (Campus) | $229,600 / $979 | 9 | 10-15 | 5 | C- | B |
The Church Life in Columbus
The church in Columbus meets in two districts during the school year. The meeting hall district meets at the meeting hall located in the northern part of Columbus. The campus district meets at the student union building on the main campus of the Ohio State University. Many clusters of saints meet in various group meetings during the week in the homes.
Demographics
Total Active Saints: 146
Total Children (under 6th Grade): 50
Total YP (6th-12th Grade): 29
Total College Age: 22
Total Young Adults (25-50 yrs): 102
Children’s Work
The church gathers the children together in both districts for singing, lessons, snacks, and crafts every Lord’s Day morning. The saints in Columbus also coordinate with nearby churches to host a Children’s Summer Bible Camp, a wonderful weekend of fun activities, games, singing, and lessons to introduce the Lord and the Bible to the children and their friends.
YP Work
The church gathers the young people every Saturday night at the meeting hall or in different homes for a weekly YP meeting to enjoy a meal, sing hymns, and get into a short portion of the Word together. The saints in Columbus also coordinate with nearby churches to carry out and host regional events such as the 6th Grade Conference in May, the Summer School of the Truth in June, and other mini outings. The church warmly invites any saints burdened for the children, the neighborhood children’s meetings, and the young people to come and labor with us to raise up the next generation for the Lord’s purpose.
Campus Work
The campus team in Columbus has been laboring at the Ohio State University campus since August 2008. The team coordinates daily and shepherds the students with the gospel, personal appointments, Bible studies, Bible reading times, trips, and other activities and events. The team also coordinates weekly with the campus teams in Fairborn, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, and Lexington for blending, to do the work of the one Body, and to carry out the regional college conferences, the Summer College Training, and the internships with the students.
Contact Information
Rich Steele
rw_sc_steele@yahoo.com
614-371-2551
Jefferson Lao
jeffylao@gmail.com
614-446-9003
Meeting Hall Info:
5914 Sinclair Rd, Columbus, OH 43229
thechurchincolumbus@gmail.com
https://churchincolumbus.org/