North Point Church finds space to belong, grow, go in Vandalia

Launched in the Community Room of the Vandalia library on Dec. 2, 2018, North Point Community Church has spent three years hoping to return to its roots. Now, however, the path to a home is finally in sight, as the institution received approval from the Vandalia City Council on Jan. 6 to purchase a building to make their place of worship.

Prior to this approval, the church met at a temporary location in Dayton. Though not far from Vandalia, Bob Hussong, senior pastor of North Point Community Church, expressed the importance of being in their chosen community.

“I’ve lived here [Vandalia] for nearly 30 years,” Hussong said. “What better place to serve the community than where you live and know people, business owners, city council, officials [and] first responders?”

Being in the community means more to the pastor than simply owning a building. With the ministry philosophy of belonging, growing, and going together as a community, Hussong hopes to serve Vandalia in a deeper way than church members—and Vandalia residents—have previously experienced.

North Point’s mission is to serve those who feel unwelcome in traditional church environments. By meeting in a storefront-styled building or continuing to serve the city in events such as National Night Out or the Vandalia Division of Police’s Open House, Hussong hopes to bridge the gap those hurt by the greater Church body may have experienced.

“Our desire is… not necessarily for us to say, ‘Hey, we're North Point. Just come inside and see what we're doing,” Hussong said. “[It’s about building] better connection between the people of North Point, working towards the common goal of strengthening community.”

North Point Community Church plans to meet at their new building, located at 304 N. Dixie Dr., following planned renovation work. They may currently be found at 7031 N. Main St., Dayton, and meet at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday for worship.