DOUG SHOTSKY (DS) and TONY WEBB (TW) are working to plant a church in Mount Sterling, Ohio, which is 16 miles south of Grove City.  This is a condensed account of our interview with these men. (Photo above)

How did this church get started?

DS:  I was a waiter at the diner when Tony and Kathy came in.  We began to talk about planting a church in Mount Sterling.  They left after we exchanged phone numbers.  Tony called a few days later, and we met often to talk and pray about planting a church.

I got married, and after a year and a half, Tony and I started meeting on February 1, 2007.  We have had many prayer walks since then.

How far has the development gone?

DS: We started meeting at my house on Thursdays.  We now meet at the brand new Community Center at no cost.  Some people have come in and later decided to leave.

One man received Christ early in our experience here, and he later led his daughter’s boyfriend to Christ.  His changed life led the young man to ask how to become a believer.

TW: We have 5 or 6 families meeting with us now.  We are trying to meet people – we have handed out 9-volt batteries and literature.  We want people to know that we are here in Mount Sterling.  We do not have a launch team yet.

Who is leading the church?

TW: Doug is a “gatherer.”  He is gifted at meeting people.  Tony is the “shepherd,” and he does the preaching.  Our goal is to get 25 families and then call a full-time pastor.  (The Samaritan woman is an example of a gatherer.)  Doug will concentrate on gathering.

What encourages you to go ahead?

DS:  The challenge of the whole endeavor encourages me.  Out target group is the blue collar people.

TW:  The salvation and changed life of that man in the early days encourages me.  He had a period of backing off.  His daughter’s boyfriend was attracted by his changed life, and this young man sought him out to ask about accepting Christ.

What do you believe God wants to accomplish through you?

DS:  Our goal is an established church, perhaps several of this model, where relationships lead to salvation.  There are almost 2,000 people in Mount Sterling.

TW: We want to have a reproducible model of a church.

How can we best pray for you?

DS:  I am in Bible College, and while there I read “The Master Plan of Evangelism.”  It encouraged me to focus on a few people.  I will have some extra time soon.  Pray that I will use this time well, focusing on a few disciplers.

TW:  We want people to know that we are here for them.  The Mission Board has given us $1,000 in matching funds.  We want to have a flyer every

4-6 weeks to distribute in this area.  We want to continue our relationships with people and our outreach to them.

Do you have a parting word?

DS:  Pray about our relationship to the other churches.  Pray that we will be patient with them.

We need a musician – pray for that.  Pray that we will work and pray hard.

E-mail addresses:

DOUG:Send an email to Doug

TONY:Send an email to Tony