March Difference Maker: Orrville Christian Church
- CCHO
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
We are honored to introduce our March 2026 Difference Maker, Orrville Christian Church!
Orrville Christian Church (OCC) has faithfully supported the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio since the very beginning, making them a founding church and one of the longest-standing church partners in CCHO’s history. Their commitment to the mission is evident through consistent financial support, volunteer groups who assist with campus projects, participation in the Christmas Wishlist program through donations, inventory and gift wrapping, and the generous use of their church facilities for CCHO, Encourage, and Encompass meetings and training events for staff and foster families.
Jody Shoup, OCC Mission Teams Chair, shared about her personal connection to CCHO, which dates back to 1990 when she served as an intern on campus. After her internship, Jody remained as a full-time employee, where she licensed and trained foster parents and later provided family and marriage counseling through New Beginnings, now known as Encompass Christian Counseling.
John Mulpas, OCC Lead Pastor, reflected on the strong relationship between OCC and CCHO, noting that former CCHO President & CEO, Gary Porter, played a significant role in deepening that connection. As an elder at OCC, Gary inspired many within the congregation to support CCHO’s mission and help more children discover their worth in Christ.
Jody explained that OCC’s Mission Team receives many requests for support, but they prioritize “homegrown” ministries that directly impact their local community. This is one of the key reasons OCC has remained such a committed partner to CCHO over the years. The church has the opportunity to send youth groups for work trips, small groups for service projects, and participate in meaningful outreach like purchasing and praying over Christmas gifts.
“It’s great to feel that connection to children in need right here in our own community,” Jody shared.
Pastor John added that several OCC congregation members work at CCHO, creating strong ties and deep-rooted connections to the ministry. In addition, multiple families from the church have stepped forward to become foster parents.
“We love supporting the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio because they don’t just help children in a general way — they bring Christ into the equation,” Pastor John shared. “There are many stories of children and teens accepting Christ and being baptized. It’s truly transformative. It’s not just providing housing or putting a band-aid on a situation; it’s real life change and real power that comes from Christ.”
CCHO is incredibly grateful for the decades of faithful support and partnership from Orrville Christian Church as they continue to help serve countless hurting children and families.
