the story of the ten mile vineyard
The story of our church is ongoing. Presently, our church is in its infant years as a community and in the major development phase. Below is a brief timeline giving a picture of how our church came into existence and where our roots are. This church is a testimony to the leadership of God the Holy Spirit. As a church, the desire to launch a new church is really rooted in God’s desire to glorify Himself and make Himself known. Here is the timeline:
January 2003 : Two Columbus Young Life Staffers (Ryan Snow and Jamie Moan) begin talking about the vague idea of starting a new church in Toledo, Ohio at multiple Panera Bread locations.
May 2003 : During a VLI Intensive on Church Leadership, Ryan Snow senses a strong leading of the Lord to pursue the idea of church planting and to leave a full time position with Young Life to be an intern and part-time staff member at Vineyard Columbus.
May 2004 : Jamie and Sarah Moan move to Toledo and get jobs, buy a house, and begin life in an entirely new city.
March 2005 : Ryan and Libby Snow lead a group of 8-10 people who are interested in planting a church in Toledo for an interest weekend in Toledo, Ohio.
April 2005 : With two very attractive job opportunities in the Columbus area, Ryan and Libby are questioning whether or not the church planting thing is exactly where God wants them to go…During a two hour run, Ryan listened to a message from Tim Keller (pastor in NYC – Redeemer Presbyterian) on God’s love for the city and His passion for people, based on Jeremiah 29. That very day, as Libby was spending time with the Lord, she felt that the Lord wanted her to read Jeremiah 29. She sensed that the Lord wanted her to read the entire chapter, not merely verse 13 (which is read at every Christian high school graduation). The next day Ryan and Libby were driving in their car and Libby told Ryan that in her time with the Lord, He lead her to Jeremiah 29 and she took it as His word to move to Toledo and love the city into relationship with Jesus. The very theme of the message Ryan was deeply impacted by one day earlier during a run.
June 19, 2005 : Ryan and Libby move to Toledo, Ohio along with their daughter Ellie, their dog Telli, and a really big U-Haul truck
September 2005 : Ryan and Libby host a small group at their house with people who might be interested in a church plant. That meeting had seven people at it: Ryan & Libby Snow, Jamie & Sarah Moan, Kevon Gray, Hope Mendola, and Erin McMillan. This group begins to have cookouts, parties, etc. to gather people.
November 2005 : The Snows begin to host a Sunday night “small group” church at their house, which continues for five months.
April 2, 2006 : The Ten Mile Vineyard has its first Sunday Night “Service” at Washington Church on Central Ave. The church met at this location until September 9, 2007.
Summer 2006 : The Ten Mile Vineyard hires its first official (part-time) staff member.
November 2006 : Ryan is officially added to the payroll of the Ten Mile Vineyard on part-time (but really full time basis).
September 16, 2007 : The Ten Mile Vineyard began having their Sunday services in the morning at Arbor Hills Jr. High in Sylvania.
October 2007 : The Ten Mile Vineyard launched two small groups to provide a place for people to begin the dual task of building community and extending the mission.
June 14, 2009 : Moved Sunday service to the Sylvania Senior Center. Presently, we are still there.