Our prayer is that you find Joy in worshiping with us!
Who We Are
Smithville Mennonite Church is a family of faith and a place for you to call home where you will find hope and help. You will find our church has friendly, compassionate people who extend a warm welcome. Although we are not perfect people, our lives and journeys display God’s marvelous grace and goodness.
We understand that visiting any church for the very first time can be a difficult experience. It’s our desire to put you at ease. Your first visit to Smithville Mennonite Church can be refreshing, friendly, and enjoyable for your whole family. We want you to experience inspiring worship, helpful teaching and preaching, friendly people, and a place where you feel welcome and “at home.” Feel free to check out our church brochure.
We would love to have a chance to meet you and worship God together with you very soon! Here are a few answers to your questions and what you might expect on your first visit.
What We Believe
Smithville Mennonite Church is an Evangelical, Anabaptist community of believers that hold to the Mennonite perspective. Smithville Mennonite Church follows The Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, 1995 (a summary can be found on the beliefs tab) and is a full member of the EVANA Network, a movement of pastors and churches from an Evangelical, Anabaptist perspective. If you have any further questions, please check out the resources tab or ask one of our pastors.
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Who Are The Pastors? Smithville Mennonite Church has two pastors on staff. Todd Martin is our lead pastor Nathan Stjernholm is our team pastor. Learn more about our pastors under the leadership tab. When We Meet: Sundays 9:30 AM Sunday School for All Ages 10:30 AM Morning Worship Service 7:00 pm CAMPFIRE WORSHIP First Wednesday (Sept.-April) 6pm - Meal and Activities for all ages Pray Now (3rd Wed., Sept.-April) 7pm |
Location Our church is located at: 6097 Akron Road Smithville, OH 44677 |
Where Do I Park?
The main entrance can be accessed from the front section of the parking lot. The west entrance can be accessed from the larger side section of the parking lot. There are handicapped parking spots and accessibility at both entrances. There is a “drop off area" at the main entrance under the overhang.
What Happens When I Arrive?
You will be greeted by a friendly usher and given a church bulletin and a warm smile.
If you come at 10 AM for the Worship Service, you may go into the Sanctuary, upstairs to the balcony, or you may go to the Youth Wing where we simulcast our worship service. If you are visiting, we would love for you to fill out a connection card, which you can find in the back of the pew in front of where you sit. If you come with children, there is a nursery for children (infant through age 3) as well as Children's Church for children ages 4 through 4th grade. Children will be invited to join the teacher about halfway through the service.
If you stay for the 11:15 AM Connection Time (Sunday School), you will be invited to join an Adult Sunday School class. There is a class for women, a book study, another class that will be watching the Chosen Movie series each week as well as a Sermon Discussion class. An usher can help you after the service to find a class that you would like to join.
There are also classes for teens and children as well as a nursery for children (infant through age 3). An usher can help you find those classes as well.
The main entrance can be accessed from the front section of the parking lot. The west entrance can be accessed from the larger side section of the parking lot. There are handicapped parking spots and accessibility at both entrances. There is a “drop off area" at the main entrance under the overhang.
What Happens When I Arrive?
You will be greeted by a friendly usher and given a church bulletin and a warm smile.
If you come at 10 AM for the Worship Service, you may go into the Sanctuary, upstairs to the balcony, or you may go to the Youth Wing where we simulcast our worship service. If you are visiting, we would love for you to fill out a connection card, which you can find in the back of the pew in front of where you sit. If you come with children, there is a nursery for children (infant through age 3) as well as Children's Church for children ages 4 through 4th grade. Children will be invited to join the teacher about halfway through the service.
If you stay for the 11:15 AM Connection Time (Sunday School), you will be invited to join an Adult Sunday School class. There is a class for women, a book study, another class that will be watching the Chosen Movie series each week as well as a Sermon Discussion class. An usher can help you after the service to find a class that you would like to join.
There are also classes for teens and children as well as a nursery for children (infant through age 3). An usher can help you find those classes as well.
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What About My Children?
We have prepared for your visit. Our nursery for three year olds and under is clean and well-staffed, and our Sunday School classes for children preschool through sixth grade are well-organized, fun, and Bible-centered as well as a class for teenagers. There is something for everyone. All of our classes are led by friendly and well-qualified teachers and helpers who will make church exciting and memorable for your children. Our church has a lot of rooms, which to a guest can seem overwhelming at first. We are here to help you find the appropriate classes and services for every person in your family. Our ushers are located around the building, at each entrance and in the lobby. They will gladly help direct and even escort you to the right place. For your convenience, there are maps of the building with locations of classes strategically placed around the building. In addition to Sunday School, children preschool through grade two have Children's Church every Sunday morning during the second half of the worship service, located in the Children's Church classroom in the Youth Wing. See the children’s ministry tab of our website for a more complete description of this ministry. Check out our children's ministry brochure. Smithville Mennonite Church Misconduct Policy |
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What About My Teens? The teens attend the worship service the first hour with their parents and then their group's Sunday School class for the next hour. The teens meet on Wednesday evenings as well. Smithville Mennonite also has a vibrant mentoring program, where teens, beginning in Junior High can choose to be matched with an adult of the same gender in the church to journey with them until they graduate. Learn more about each group under the youth ministry tab. Check out our youth ministry brochure. Youth Application for a Mentor |
What Is Your Worship Service Like?
We usually begin with any announcements and a greeting from our pastors, then enter into a time of singing. We have a blended style of worship where we have some Sundays with hymns led by a song leader and some Sundays with contemporary worship music led by our praise team. We are privileged to have some incredibly talented people involved in our music ministries. Our services also are simulcast to our Youth Wing every Sunday morning.
We usually receive an offering in the middle of the singing time, have special music every once in a while, and then Pastor Todd comes to preach a straight-forward and practical Bible message. Most of the messages are uploaded to our YouTube Channel and are usually up by the following Tuesday.
The service concludes with a closing song and a benediction. If you desire to talk with or pray with one of the pastors after the service, they usually hang around in the front of the Sanctuary or in the lobby. Feel free to approach them after the service. They would love to connect with you.
We usually begin with any announcements and a greeting from our pastors, then enter into a time of singing. We have a blended style of worship where we have some Sundays with hymns led by a song leader and some Sundays with contemporary worship music led by our praise team. We are privileged to have some incredibly talented people involved in our music ministries. Our services also are simulcast to our Youth Wing every Sunday morning.
We usually receive an offering in the middle of the singing time, have special music every once in a while, and then Pastor Todd comes to preach a straight-forward and practical Bible message. Most of the messages are uploaded to our YouTube Channel and are usually up by the following Tuesday.
The service concludes with a closing song and a benediction. If you desire to talk with or pray with one of the pastors after the service, they usually hang around in the front of the Sanctuary or in the lobby. Feel free to approach them after the service. They would love to connect with you.
Do I Have To Put Money In The Offering Basket? No. We don’t invite you to Smithville Mennonite Church for your offering. We want the service to be a gift to you. Please don’t feel obligated to participate in the offering as a guest; this is a form of worship for our regular attenders and whoever can cheerfully give. No one will look at you funny for not participating. Do You Embarrass Guests During The Service? Not if we can help it! Sometimes we have a time of greeting where the members of our church shake hands and seek to meet guests. We don’t point out guests during the service or ask them to stand up. What we do is ask guests to fill out a connection card and drop it in the offering basket as it passes by during the offering time. The connection cards can be found in the backs of the pews in front of your seat or online by clicking here. The information helps us keep track of where our visitors come from, what their needs are, if they have any prayer requests, and if they’d like to know more about the church. Questions?
Maybe there are more questions that you would like answered. We would be happy to answer your questions to the best of our ability. Give us a call or email us at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hearing from you! |
How Should I Dress? There is not a dress code at Smithville Mennonite Church for members or guests. You will see a wide range of dress at Smithville Mennonite Church from shorts and tee-shirts to suits and dresses; however, our main goal is that you would feel welcome on your visit here at Smithville Mennonite Church! What About Crying Babies? There’s no need to be embarrassed. If you would like, you can take your child to the nursery or mother's room and helpful volunteers will be glad to welcome you in. You can also step out into the lobby, where you can hear the service over the speakers or have an usher take you to the Youth Wing where you can watch and listen to the service on a projection screen. What About The Hearing Impaired? We have audio headsets available for those who need them. They can be found in the west hallway mailboxes. We also have an interpreter signing American Sign Language twice a month (usually the 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings) in our worship service for those in our congregation who are deaf. 
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