First Posted: 3/24/2015
LIMA — “Love your town. Love Ohio.”
That is the mantra of Chet Miller-Eshleman, pastor of LifeBridge Community Church in Dover. Miller-Eshleman is taking that message throughout the Buckeye State as he journeys on foot from the Indiana to Pennsylvania border. Roughly following U.S. Route 30, Miller-Eshleman’s journey will total roughly 290 miles and take three weeks. He traveled 28 miles Monday and hoped to travel an additional 17 miles Tuesday.
According to Miller-Eshleman, a former Elida resident, this idea was birthed in prayer as he sought guidance for a way to help raise funds for his church.
“We hope to add on to our building, and we don’t have the funds,” he said.
Miller-Eshleman hopes to use the addition as a thrift store, a space for conflict mediation services and as a coffee shop.
“In our town in the evening, there are only bars, and I work with a lot of guys who are recovering alcoholics,” he said. “We’d love to have a nice coffee house in our church as an alternative.”
He plans on either boarding with friends along the way or staying in motels.
“Ohio is a great state,” he said. “This is a great way to meet Ohioans.”
To donate to the church expansion, contact the church at 330-556-4644. For information on the church, go to http://lifebridgedover.org or look up LifeBridge Community Church on Facebook.
