Living Word Galena · Est. 1999 · Galena, Ohio
26 years of God’s faithfulness in central Ohio.
We are not here because of good strategy or the right circumstances. We are here because God keeps showing up through a small group of 54 people in an orthodontist’s office, through a building on Dustin Road, through a fire, and through everything in between. This is that story.
The Beginning: Word Alone
Living Word began as a small group of 54 people meeting in an orthodontist’s office, committed to upholding the inerrant, infallible Word of God at its core. That commitment was so central that the congregation was originally named “Word Alone.”
After several weeks it became clear that God had brought these people together for a purpose. Living Word became an official independent Lutheran congregation and sought to call its first pastor.
“54 people in an orthodontist’s office. That’s where it started. Nobody had a building, a budget, or a fully fleshed out plan. There was just a conviction that the Word of God was worth gathering around.”
The Church in a Box
Under Pastor James Stalder, the congregation grew and the members leaned in. They were fueled by a passion to serve Christ and serve one another. The group met in the Westerville Senior Center, the Mason’s Lodge, and several parks.
It was affectionately known as the “church in a box.” Each Sunday’s location was available for just a few hours, so at the end of the day it all went back in the box. Eventually Living Word found a more permanent home in an office building on the south end of Westerville, which allowed for multiple Sunday School classes for a vibrant and growing group of young people.
Dustin Road: Our Permanent Home
God provided an abundance of blessings by leading Living Word to its permanent property on Dustin Road in Galena. A quiet, country location was the perfect spot. This location allowed the congregation to build the facility that still stands today.
Construction on Dustin Road, 2005, the building that would become home.
Transition & LCMS Affiliation
Pastor Stalder retired in 2011 and Living Word entered a transition phase. This was a time of reflection and learning about who we were and where we wanted to grow. The congregation was led by two interim pastors, Rev. Stu Schultz and Rev. Marc Schroeder, and formally affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod during this season.
A New Chapter: Pastor Derrick Hurst
Living Word called its second permanent pastor, Pastor Derrick. With a renewed focus on helping families experience the grace of Jesus wherever they live, work, and play the congregation began growing again with fresh energy and a deepening sense of mission.
Now more than 13 years later, Living Word still holds firmly to the Word of God as its anchor, confident that this is God’s gift as both guide and foundation.
The Fire
In April 2025, Living Word experienced a significant loss when fire damaged our office spaces. It was a hard season, but it revealed something important about who this congregation is. People showed up for each other. The mission didn’t stop. The church kept going.
That response, the rallying, the resilience, the refusal to slow down was not strategy. It was the natural expression of a community that had learned over 26 years what it means to belong to something bigger than themselves.
“The fire didn’t stop us. The congregation showed up for each other and for the community. That’s what Belong looks like when it’s tested.”
Where We Are Now
Living Word is a growing congregation of young families in Galena serving Knox, Morrow, Delaware, Franklin, and Union Counties. In 2025 we grew 26% in reach, and we are pursuing a five-year vision of 350 people experiencing the grace of Jesus together.
26%
Growth in reach, 2025
You’re part of the next chapter.
Every person who walks through our doors is a continuation of a story God has been writing in Galena for over 26 years. Come see what that looks like on a Sunday.
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