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shared conviction — that Gathering Place Baptist and First Baptist Kettering could come together not merely to survive, but to advance the kingdom in a way neither could accomplish alone. That partnership would become The Church at Kettering. All they needed was the right man. God’s Man for the Mission His name was Ralph Green — a young pastor whom Dan Mullins recognized immediately. “I knew he was God’s man for the new ministry.” Called into ministry out of the military, Ralph was young, passionate, and willing to step into the beautiful uncertainty of a church plant. “Church revitalization and church planting can be some of the most challenging yet rewarding work you will ever witness,” Ralph reflects. “The opportunities we’ve expe - rienced in planting The Church at Kettering have been nothing short of phenomenal.” With Ralph’s acceptance of the call, the building was revitalized by volunteers from First Baptist, who poured labor and love into the space. A core team of around 35 believers gathered, prayed, and prepared. “For months we prayed faithfully leading up to that first service, trust - ing the Lord to move in ways only He can.” God Shows Up on Easter Sunday No one fully anticipated what Easter morning would look like. 277 people from the community walked through the doors. The kids’ ministry welcomed 29 children. Span- ish-speaking families engaged through AI translation. A family from the Congo worshiped in the overflow space through live translation provided by a core team member.
And God moved in hearts. Six people responded to the gospel, including a seven-year-old boy who made a pro- fession of faith. Several others came forward expressing a desire for baptism and church membership. “All of this was possible because the Spirit of God was moving that Sunday morning,” Ralph says — and then adds: “but His work began long before that day. He had been moving for months and years prior — calling me into ministry, stirring in Dan Mullins’ heart, and preparing the way for what we are now seeing unfold.” The Heart Behind the Story When Pastor Mullins was asked whether he agreed with all the changes, his answer was direct: “If I didn’t think God wanted change, He would not have led me to re- tire.” He encourages other pastors in similar seasons to “broaden your vision and seek a new vision and solution outside of your walls.” For Ralph Green, the lesson is equally clear. “At the end of the day, it’s not about one church or one pastor — it’s about advancing the kingdom of God and the gospel in The Church at Kettering exists because a seasoned pas- tor was willing to loosen his grip, a younger pastor was willing to pick up what was laid down, and two churches chose partnership over independence. As Ralph Green looks ahead, his confidence is settled: “God has been incredibly good to us and has already blessed The Church at Kettering in remarkable ways. And by his grace, we believe the best days are still ahead.” our community.” What Lies Ahead
On Easter Sunday, 277 people gather to launch The Church at Kettering.
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