Vineyard Church of Delaware County

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About Us
Our Mission
Rocking Chairs...?
Danny & Penny's Story

Dennis & Evie's Story

Our Mission

The Vineyard Church of Delaware County exists to be a church family that develops disciples who:

CONNECT with GOD
CONNECT with our CALLING
CONNECT with the CHURCH
CONNECT with the WORLD

All, so that God would be glorified.
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Rocking chairs...?

Trust us - you're not the first person to ask. Or maybe you've thought, "Did they model this church after Cracker Barrel restaurants?" Well, the answer to both questions is the same.

As we survey the world today it is glaringly obvious that our fast-paced culture has left little time for genuine relationships, rest and simplicity. It is our desire to be a church that is counter-cultural in many ways, and specifically that we hold relationships in high regard.

As a church family, we don't want to mimic the hectic pace of life or echo the "drive-thru" environment experienced most everywhere else in life. We want people who visit and attend this church to slow down and connect with Jesus, their friends and neighbors.

The rocking chairs, fireplace, café and general decor of the building should evoke the feeling you get when you gather in your family or living room - warmth. Vineyard Church of Delaware County is a place to gather, sit with a warm cup of coffee and connect with Jesus and those you love.
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Danny and Penny Meyer

Danny was raised in a Jewish home on Long Island, New York. Even though his family observed Jewish tradition and ceremony, he often wondered if there really was a God. By the time he reached college age, he had become an agnostic. Attending Ashland College in Ohio, he enjoyed spending time debating Christians over the existence of God.

In October of 1971, Danny met a young man named Meredith who was known as the campus "Jesus Freak." Meredith was trying to convince Danny that Jesus was the way to truly know God. Danny found himself mocking Meredith and challenging his every word. Meredith continued talking of a personal relationship with Jesus which struck something deep in Danny's heart. Danny said he would like to believe in God and even in Jesus, but he could not just switch his thinking because it sounded nice.

By this time, the crowd had gathered listening to Danny and Meredith's conversation. Meredith suggested that they leave the group behind and go outside the dormitory where "he could introduce Danny to Jesus." Oddly, Danny found himself accepting that invitation. When outside, Meredith said, "I am going to pray a certain prayer inviting Jesus to reveal himself to you. If this is what you want, why don't you repeat after me?"

When Danny prayed that prayer, it was as though a light switch was turned on inside. In that moment, he had a profound encounter with Jesus that changed his life from that day forward.

Almost immediately he desired to serve Jesus and learn all he could about the Jewish Messiah that he had denied all of his life. Danny would hitchhike to a place outside of Mansfield, Ohio called Grace Haven Farm (a Christian Commune) where daily Bible Studies were being taught to young people like Danny.

Meanwhile, Danny began to have a growing sense that God was calling him into the ministry. He left Ashland and moved to Southern California to attend an intensive Bible Training Program. While attending the school, he met a girl from Texas named Penny. She was also attending the school to prepare for full-time ministry on the mission field. Penny grew up in a strong Christian home. At age 6, she asked Jesus to come into her life. Her mother and father provided a model of faithful service in the church as well as bringing a valuable Christian faith into the day-to-day life of the family. In high school, Penny's faith deepened, and there was a growing conviction that God had a call on her life. Even at that age, Penny was teaching Bible Studies and discipling other young Christians. After graduation, Penny also felt the need for more formal Bible training and found herself at the same school in Southern California.

After over a year of dating, they were married in August of 1974 and moved to Columbus, Ohio to become a part of a home church movement that was sweeping the country.

Meeting the Vineyard

In 1985, Christ Community Church crossed paths with the Vineyard movement led by a man named John Wimber. In 1987, Christ Community Church adopted into the Association of Vineyard Churches and became Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Columbus. Rich Nathan, who was serving as one of the elders, became Senior Pastor and Danny Meyer took on the role of Associate Pastor. Between 1987 and 2002, Vineyard Columbus grew to more than 6,000 members.

The Birth of Vineyard Church of Delaware County

In the spring of 2001, God began stirring Danny and Penny's hearts about the need for a Vineyard Church in the Delaware County area. Several attempts to plant a Vineyard church had been made without success. God continued speaking to Danny and Penny and confirmed their growing conviction with various dreams and prophetic words through a number of individuals. One significant confirmation was the desire of Dennis and Evie Stranges to be a part of this plant. After receiving the "amen" from Vineyard Columbus, on Palm Sunday, March 21st of 2002, the Vineyard Church of Delaware County held its first service with approximately 250 members.
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Dennis and Evie Stranges

In 1985, while in the middle of Kent State’s Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology, Dennis came to know Jesus as his Savior. Dennis & Evie had just begun dating when Dennis experienced his profound conversion to Christ. Coming to know Jesus disrupted Dennis & Evie’s dating relationship (Evie was convinced that Dennis had, indeed, gone off the deep end), but 7 months later Evie jumped off the deep end as well, accepting Christ as her Savior and Lord.

God called Dennis out of Kent State, into marriage with Evie, and into the field of Christian counseling, a career lasting 14 years. In 1998 Dennis was called into full- time ministry as the first Marriage & Family Pastor of Vineyard Columbus. The same month Dennis was called to pastor at Vineyard Columbus (September 1998), Dennis and Evie experienced God’s leading to move out of Westerville to Sunbury. God only knew that He would one day call the Stranges family to help plant a Vineyard in Sunbury!

After the Lord had confirmed Dennis and Evie’s calling to the church plant, Dennis completed his commitment to stay on an extra year at Vineyard Columbus (to stand in the large pastoral gap left behind by Danny & Penny planting VCDC). In June of 2003 Dennis joined the VCDC pastoral staff as Senior Associate Pastor. Key values in Dennis and Evie’s spiritual journey that influence VCDC are the value of relationships in God’s Kingdom, the place of mercy in God’s economy, and the supernatural work of God’s Spirit in the church.

Dennis and Evie have two extraordinary daughters, emerging young adults Emily and Anna, and one overactive Golden Retriever, Molly. The Stranges family is having the time of their lives, eternally grateful to Jesus for the privilege of serving at Vineyard Church of Delaware County.

About the Vineyard

The Vineyard Church of Delaware County is part of the Association of Vineyard Churches. The Vineyard is not a denomination but rather a community of churches that share essential elements of Christian doctrine and practice (which can be further explored at the Vineyard USA website). Each local Vineyard Church is autonomous and governed locally, but for the purpose of accountability the Vineyard is divided into eight regions. Each region has clusters of churches grouped together by relationship and location facilitated by an Area Pastoral Care Leader who, together with the Regional Overseer, provides leadership and encouragement to the local Vineyard Churches.

In our local congregation, Danny Meyer (Senior Pastor), Dennis Stranges (Sr. Associate Pastor), Penny Meyer (Associate Pastor) and Robb Morgan (Associate Pastor) comprise the Senior Pastoral Team. It is their responsibility to seek and follow God’s leading and, in so doing, to set direction for the church. In addition to their leadership, an Advisory Council made up of members of the congregation meets regularly with the Senior Pastoral Team to provide advice, counsel, input and accountability on all matters within the church.

At Vineyard Church of Delaware County, the primary connection to the life, communication, vision and values of the church occurs in the relationships developed through Small Groups. We believe that connecting in Christian community is basic to what it means to be a Christian. The Bible teaches that once we accept Christ, we are not only reconciled to God, but we are also relationally united with other Christians in what is called the Body of Christ. Our Small Group leaders are the first line of pastoral care within the church and are charged with caring for and equipping the church for ministry. To ensure that the vision and values are being advanced in our Small Groups, the Senior Pastoral Team meets regularly with all of our group leaders. These meetings provide an opportunity for feedback from the groups, as well as vision casting from the pastors.

Because we hold relationships in high regard, the Pastoral Team wants to provide ample opportunities for communication with the church as a whole. Each autumn, the Pastoral Team visits each Small Group in the church for a “Fireside Chat.” These evenings provide an opportunity for the church to both ask questions and to hear more about what God has done and the future direction of the church, all done in an atmosphere conducive for intimacy and relationship. There are also regularly scheduled chats for those not yet involved in a small group, as well as our quarterly Newcomers Class and Visitor’s Luncheon, where specific questions about the Vineyard movement, our local church, or our vision and values can be addressed.