Where we Started and Where we're Going
Posted by Matt McAlvey on
This article was originally written for the Parkside Church, Chagrin Falls website and published through their blog and weekly enewsletter.
Parkside Church Westside Church Plant
This cold and gray Ohio winter may not seem like the best time for planting, but for Pastor Matt McAlvey and his wife, Beth, it’s just right for church planting. This Sunday, February 8, 2015, will mark Parkside Church Westside’s first Core Team Gathering and Parkside Church Bainbridge’s third church planting project. The Westside’s predecessors include Parkside Church Green and Parkside Church Lake County and will be based in Lakewood, Ohio, for the foreseeable future.
For Matt, who has been with Parkside Church Bainbridge since 2001 and has served as its pastor of communications for the past 8 years, this move to Cleveland’s Westside is exciting, challenging, and humbling. “I’ve been so thankful for a place to come, learn, and develop,” says Matt, referring to his time at Parkside Bainbridge. “Taking this step of faith is in response to much prayer and a sensing of God’s call to preach and lead.” Matt adds jokingly, “But I’ve also had to explain to my mom that we’re not being thrown out or asked to leave!”
Indeed, Parkside Westside will partner with Parkside Bainbridge, but the new Westside group will be its own non-denominational, bible-teaching church. Parkside Bainbridge Elder Jeff Port, and his wife, Karen, will join long-time Parkside missionaries, Mike and Cindy Yurkovich, in supporting the Westside effort.
Why Lakewood?
In considering what area to base a new church, Matt and the Parkside pastoral team considered the Heights areas, greater Kent, as well as the Westside. “It just seemed like the more we investigated, the more we sensed that the Westside was a giant area under-served by the gospel that God seemed to be pushing us toward,” explains Matt. “There are good, bible-oriented churches sprinkled around the area, but there is room and need for many more.”
Lakewood, which is 6 miles from downtown Cleveland, is home to 51,000 people living in less than 7 square miles of land. Matt points out that, by comparison, the Solon/Aurora/Twinsburg area hosts 55,000 people in 55 square miles land. Lakewood is also located in close proximity to Rocky River which has a population of another 20,000, and the neighborhoods of Tremont and Ohio City lie between Lakewood and downtown Cleveland. Both of these trendy areas are benefitting from revitalization efforts that are attracting many young people. While those might be Lakewood’s immediate neighbors, Parkside Church Westside will reach out farther into the greater Westside regions including Westlake, North Olmsted, Fairview Park, Linndale, Brooklyn, Parma, Brookpark, Berea, Middleburg Heights, Seven Hills, and Independence.
What’s Next?
Parkside Westside will begin meeting on a regular basis starting this Sunday, February 8th from 5pm to 7pm at the University of Akron’s Lakewood Campus for Core Team Gatherings. “Core Team Gatherings are for interested or committed people who will meet together for the next 9 months to pray, look at Scripture, and begin to think through planning, responsibilities, etc., of our church plant,” notes Matt. “There needs to be time to lay the groundwork so that we understand the vision which is that this church will be reaching non-believers for God’s glory on the Westside.”
Each meeting will look a little different, and will be an ideal and informal place to introduce people to learn more and meet others who are joining in on this new endeavor.
Matt points out that “it's important to note that the CTGs are not church services. The meetings will be held twice a month on Sundays at 5pm. We will not meet on the first Sunday of each month. This will ensure those attending have the opportunity to continue to fellowship at Parkside Church Bainbridge and participate in the communion service.”
You’re Invited!
Our prayerful goal is to have 100 individuals committed to the plant by the launch of our first service in September 2015. If you’d like to find out more about Parkside Church Westside, please join us for our first Core Team Meeting on Sunday, February 8 at 5:00pm at the University of Akron Lakewood Campus at 1415 Warren Road, Lakewood, OH 44107. There is a parking garage immediately behind their facilities that is free on Sundays and there is more parking available on the other side of Detroit.
Childcare will be provided for children (birth through the 5th grade) during the CTGs. We strongly urge parents to notify us in advance if their children are coming so we can meet the needs of those attending. Please send Rachel an email, .
You’re Needed!
If you are not in a position to join our Core Team there is still an important part for you to play. We need and value your prayers with us and for us going forward. We’ve posted online a prayer partner guide that you can use to pray for us every day of the week.
We also are looking for regular attenders or members in Bainbridge to help us with childcare for the Core Team Gatherings. We would welcome your help just once or on multiple occasions. If you are available please send Rachel an email, .
Contact Us
Visit our website at www.parksidechurchwestside.com
Keep up with us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo
Via email at
By phone at (440) 543-1212 (ask for Parkside Church Westside)