In 2017, a vision started with four couples meeting together in the Verizon Building. Services were downloaded and viewed the following day, local worship leaders led music, and the foundation for a church community began to take shape.

As God continued to bring people together, Children's Church was launched, creating a place for the next generation to learn about Jesus in a fun and engaging environment. By Easter of that year, the church had outgrown its original space and moved to River City Eatery, where attendance continued to grow and children's ministry expanded.

The Gathering soon established regular Sunday morning services at 9:00 a.m., and Pastor Kent Houppert joined the team as a part-time pastor. As the church community grew, leadership began exploring options for a permanent home that would allow the ministry to continue serving families and reaching the surrounding communities.

By Christmas of 2017, continued growth created the need for even more space. The Gathering Church moved to the BARC Center, holding services in the Auditorium while Children's Ministry found a home in the Library.

In November 2017, a significant opportunity emerged when PJ's II Bar and Grill was purchased.
Renovations began with a vision to transform the space into a permanent home where people could gather, worship, and experience life-changing faith.
In June 2018, the first service was held in the newly renovated building. A temporary stage was set up for live worship, messages were livestreamed,
and Children's Ministry moved into dedicated spaces designed specifically for kids and families.  The church continued to grow rapidly.
Before long, both the worship space and children's ministry areas were filled beyond capacity. Plans began for a larger auditorium and expanded children's ministry spaces
to meet the needs of a growing congregation.

Around the same time, Eagle Brook Church announced a significant investment in sound, video, and online broadcasting technology,
creating new opportunities to deliver high-quality worship experiences and practical, relevant teaching.
In November 2018, the new auditorium officially opened, creating room for continued growth and expanded ministry opportunities.
Shortly after, The Gathering Church welcomed its first full-time staff members, including a Campus Pastor, Campus Coordinator, and Children's Ministry Coordinator.

What began as a small gathering of families had become a thriving church community united by a shared mission: helping people know God, grow in faith, and experience life change through Jesus Christ.
Today, The Gathering Church continues to be a place where people can find hope, build authentic relationships, strengthen their families, and discover the life God has created them for.

At The Gathering Church, we're passionate about creating a place where people can meet God, grow in their faith, and discover the purpose He has for their lives.
We believe faith is a journey, not a destination.
That's why our goal isn't simply to fill seats on Sunday mornings—it's to walk alongside people as they take meaningful next steps toward Jesus.
Everything we do is centered around helping people experience God's love in practical, life-changing ways.
Through relevant messages, engaging worship, authentic community, and intentional opportunities for growth, we want people to encounter a faith that transforms everyday life.

How We Help People Grow

We focus on three key areas that create opportunities for connection, growth, and transformation:
Practical, Relevant Messages
Biblical teaching that speaks to real-life challenges, questions, and opportunities.
Meaningful Worship
Music that helps people connect with God, reflect on His goodness, and find hope for the week ahead.
Investing in the Next Generation
Creating safe, engaging environments where children and students can build a lasting foundation of faith.

What We Hope For
As people grow in their relationship with Jesus, we encourage them to take simple next steps that deepen their faith and strengthen their connection to the church community.

For some, that may look like:

Continuing to attend and build relationships
Serving on a ministry team
Joining a small group
Participating in communion
Giving generously
Making a decision to follow Jesus
Taking the step of baptism
Learning more about the mission and vision of The Gathering Church

Our prayer is that every person who walks through our doors would move from simply attending church to experiencing a growing, personal faith that impacts every area of life.

Because when people encounter Jesus, lives are transformed, and that's what we're all about.

Join us every Sunday as we gather to worship together AT 9:00 AM