Wayne County rally unites local churches

A different kind of wind was blowing Jan. 31 in an upper room on the edge of Smithville.

One of the facilitators for the two-hour gathering described it this way: “There was a warm wind from God in that upper room as believers in Jesus Christ from more than a dozen church congregations, with varying worship styles, celebrated together corporately.”

“The focus at the rally was on what God is orchestrating to revive and grow his community of believers in 2026 across Wayne County and beyond," a facilitator said. "We were challenged by Scott Price, John Graham, Judah Weinhardt, Grant Galloway, Chris Clark, Ron Amstutz, Mike Calavitta and others — all from different local churches — to be one church dedicated to serving in ways that invite deep, personal connection and life with Jesus."

The rally was hosted by Upward Bound Youth at its headquarters located on the campus of The Barn Restaurant in Smithville. It was organized by Revive Wayne County, a core group that is carrying last year’s countywide revival activity into the new year. Wayne was the 20th county in which Revive Ohio coached local church congregations to join ongoing, cooperative efforts to grow and deepen the local corporate body of believers in Jesus Christ.

It was announced the next countywide event is planned for Saturday, March 7. Although that day will begin and end at the host church — Fairlawn Mennonite, 8520 Emerson Road, on the edge of Apple Creek — the middle part of the day will find participants sharing the Gospel message in diverse ways as they go about their normal midday Saturday activities.

For more information or to connect, email revivewayneoh@gmail.com or visit Revive Ohio Wayne on Facebook or its website at www.sites.google.com/view/revivewayneoh/.