Peoples Church

When Chris Beard became the lead pastor of Peoples Church, he was rocked by an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer titled, “A City Divided by Race,” and convinced by the Holy Spirit that God’s will is for churches to look like heaven on earth, Chris and the church staff began to pray that God would help them reach this vision.

The church grew from a 98% white commuter church into a church that is approximately 25% African American and 25% International. The staff, board and leadership teams are racially diverse and are continuing to learn what it means to be a reconciling church. In 2012, the church voted to change the name of the church to Peoples Church. A name that reflects the thirty plus nationalities worshipping and working together in God’s mosaic. Everything we do, and all that we are, is moving us toward a greater understanding of God’s purpose; to be one reconciled church, a church that worships and prays together, a church which is racially and generationally rich, a church who loves God and all peoples wholeheartedly, and passionately contributes to growing God’s kingdom.

Peoples Church works to plant, or directly assist, at least one church start-up annually, and has done so since its earliest years. My heart since my youth has also pulsed with purpose for multiplying kingdom leaders and reproducing gospel-centered churches.