Fellowship City Church opens Hudson campus

by Kim Garred

Fellowship City Church, which opened a Hudson campus – “Fellowship City Hudson” – last month, hit the ground running by spreading its “For Hudson” message throughout the community.

You may have experienced meeting them at Heartwood Coffee, buying you a cup of coffee. It could have been at Summer Music Nights on the Green, handing out water bottles or gift cards. Possibly you saw them at the Farmers Market, sharing a smile and canvas bag for shopping. And most recently they have been cheering on the Hudson High School Explorers at Friday night football game, ringing cowbells and sharing them with game goers.

Pastor Dustin Keele, his wife Kim and other members have made it a point to be a presence in Hudson, sharing the love of Jesus, Keele said.

“We just want to love on Hudson. Be there for them and their needs,” he said. “We plan to work for the good of Hudson.”

Fellowship City Church has a main campus in Chagrin Falls with another campus in Orange. Its Hudson presence started as a home church at the house of Andrew and Kimberly Pfeifer.

“We love Fellowship City Chagrin, but it was just a bit too far for us,” the Pfiefers said. “We started watching the live stream and invited friends, and we have grown.”

After researching the area, Keele said Hudson was a prime location to further the ministry of Fellowship City Church. The Fellowship City Hudson congregation began meeting at Barlow Community Center on Oct. 8, but expecting growth, plans are to look for a more permanent home down the road.  

“We want to be a sustained presence here in Hudson. We aren’t competing with other local churches, but walking alongside them, supporting, encouraging, and furthering the Gospel of Christ,” Keele said.

At the Oct. 8 opening, Pastor Aaron Tredway preached to a gathering of 200 people. According to Keele, many familiar faces from the community events hosted by Fellowship City were in attendance. He said the Fellowship City Hudson team now looks to draw others in and “to share the love and truth of Jesus.”

“It is important to love your neighbor and to be there for them. We will be,” Keele said.

Fellowship City Hudson meets at Barlow Community Center, at 41 South Oviatt St., Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Visit fellowshipcity.org  for more details. ∞

Photo: Chad Collins and his son, Luke, 9, and son’s friend, Luca Audino, 8, cheer on the Explorers with cowbells courtesy of Fellowship City Hudson. Photo by K. Garred.