Garden Park Christian Church, 8605 Salisbury Road in Monclova, will celebrate 60 years of ministry this September. Approximately 225 people from throughout the greater Toledo area routinely gather just west of the Quarry subdivision and across the road from the Lexington Glen subdivision in Monclova. Garden Park is part of a movement of non-denominational churches known as “The Restoration Movement”. Individual members call themselves “Christians” only, but they do not think of themselves as the “only Christians.” The movement continues to include all people who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Garden Park Christian Church is not part of a denomination and has no governing headquarters, but chooses to base their faith and practice on the teachings of the Bible alone. Recognized as a conservative evangelical church, Garden Park began in 1955 with a meeting space in the old Fall-Meyer Elementary School building. In 1957, the congregation moved into a newly constructed building on Holland-Sylvania Road, and eventually built an addition to that structure. Forty-eight more years of steady growth led to the decision to look for a new location. A giving campaign, specifically designated for relocation and construction, launched in 2000. Members of the church gave gifts in addition to their regular offering. Groundbreaking took place in July 2002, and on May 25, 2003, Garden Park celebrated the first worship service in its newly built facility on Salisbury Road.
The current church building goes above and beyond meeting current needs. With an auditorium/full size gym that seats 600, custom designed rooms in the children’s department, and a full service kitchen, the church is well equipped for ongoing ministry well into the future. There is also plenty of acreage for future expansion. Garden Park holds two services each Sunday: “Classic” worship at 9:30 a.m.; and a contemporary service at 10:50 a.m.. The content is the same with the exception of the style of worship music. The “Kidz4Jesus” Preschool Department provides secure, loving child care for infants and children through age 5. Sunday School classes are offered for students K-12, and adults. Garden Park has a long and rich history of involvement with missions around the world, presently supporting nine different ministries. On a family mission trip in June this year, twenty-nine members of the church traveled to Indianapolis. They served with IDES – International Disaster Emergency Services, and with Englewood Christian Church. During the school year, a once-weekly morning preschool program for 3-, 4-, and 5-year old children serves area families. Small group Bible studies, called “Lifelines” meet in area homes for study and fellowship. An active Deaf Ministry provides interpreters in the second service. The present minister is Pastor John Thybault, who has been serving at Garden Park since the fall of 2009.
An Open House in honor of the 60th anniversary will be held Saturday, September 12th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A single, combined worship service will be held on Sunday, September 13th from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.. The guest preacher will be James Platner, who served the church as senior minister from 1983-1996. Everyone is invited! Learn more at the church website: www.gardenpark.org
