AboutFive Lakes

Since 1965, Five Lakes Church has been a gathering place for people in Sylvania, OH, and beyond to discover life with Jesus. From the beginning, our church has been shaped by the picture of the first church in Acts: people who loved God, loved each other, and lived out their faith in real, practical ways. That same heartbeat still guides us today.

Multigenerational <br><span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">on Purpose</span><span style="color:var(--primary-color-bg)"></span>

Multigenerational
on Purpose

We believe church should feel like family, where every generation is valued, needed, and growing. At Five Lakes, kids, students, and adults come together to worship, learn, and serve. We’re committed to helping believers at every stage of life deepen their faith, while also creating space for new believers to begin their journey with Jesus.

Reaching the <span style="color:var(--primary-color-bg)"><span style="color:var(--secondary-color-bg)">World with Purpose</span></span>

Reaching the World with Purpose

Making a difference isn’t something we talk about—it’s something we do. Locally, nationally, and globally, we partner with ministries and organizations to bring hope and share the message of Jesus.

We pursue lasting impact, healthy partnerships, and initiatives that bring together both word and deed. We believe that selfless service and genuine presence open the door for meaningful spiritual conversations and ultimately, help us share the message of Jesus with the world. To put our mission into action, ten percent of our church’s annual operating budget is dedicated to fueling outreach efforts locally and globally.

Our Beliefs

Each Christian is encouraged to approach the Scripture in their own personal study and discover for themselves what the Bible teaches. While we stand firm on some doctrinal topics, we allow for variety of thought on many issues. We believe that variety—when accompanied by dialogue, love, and mutual respect—is far more healthy than inwardly focused uniformity.

As the early founders of our church proclaimed; “In essentials of our faith, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love.”

We agree to disagree agreeably, and in all things to love each other.  The following is a brief summary of some of the key beliefs of Five Lakes Church.

We believe in the absolute inspiration of the Holy Scriptures in their original writings. That they were given by the Holy Spirit without error as He moved upon holy men of old. Furthermore, we believe that since the church was Christ’s idea and His creation the church has no authority to establish doctrine or practice contrary to the same scriptures which were subsequently accepted as Canon by the early Christian Church. (II Timothy 3:16) On the other hand the church has the privilege of exercising every authority outlined in scripture and living in every promise made by God to the church.

We believe that it is impossible to truly explain God entirely. We can only understand what He has revealed of Himself. There is One God and Father of all. (Ephesians 4:6) He is expressed or revealed in the three persons or manifestations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16). He is both one and three. (Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14; John 1:1)

We believe that Jesus was willingly sent by the Father to become the sacrifice for the sin of mankind. His sacrifice would fulfill the law and allow anyone who accepted His Lordship by faith to receive the free gift of salvation.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was the only-begotten son of the Father, and is truly God and truly man. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a vicarious and atoning death for the sins of the world, resurrected bodily for our justification, and now reigns in Glory until all things be put under His feet. (I Timothy 3:16)

We believe that individuals who have a revelation of Jesus Christ as Savior in their lives can then be called believers. When two or more believers gather together that is what scripture calls the Church.

We believe that every believer has the empowerment and responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through words and deeds. The local church is the most powerful evangelistic force for Christ.

We believe in the Priesthood of the believer. That is to say all people born of God have equal status before God and direct access to their Lord. (I Peter 2:5)

We believe the identity of the body of Christ on the earth is primarily perceived through the local church. (Revelation 2, 3)

We believe that the callings of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher are functional within the body of Christ until the Lord’s return. Furthermore, these ministries are gifts to the church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, that the body of Christ may be edified. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Meet Our Team

Five Lakes Church is led by a dedicated team of pastors and staff who love God, love people, and are passionate about helping others take their next step with Jesus. We believe ministry is a team effort, and together we serve to equip the church, care for our community, and point people to Christ.

Our staff is supported by an incredible team of volunteers who make ministry possible every week. From kids and students to worship, care, and community life, every role matters and every person makes a difference.

Why We’re Called
Five Lakes

Our name is more than geography; it’s a vision! Five Lakes Church reflects both where God has placed us and what He has called us to.

Five

Five

In Scripture, the number five often represents the grace of God. Grace is at the center of who we are and everything we do. It’s only through God’s grace that lives are transformed, relationships are restored, and hope is renewed. We believe Five Lakes Church is called to be a living picture of that grace in our region and beyond.

Lakes

Lakes

Water runs as a powerful theme throughout the Bible—symbolizing new life, cleansing, and the Spirit of God. Just like water refreshes and sustains, we want to be a place where people encounter the living water of Jesus Christ. At Five Lakes Church, you can experience new life in Christ, be empowered by His Spirit, and live with purpose.

Rooted in the Great Lakes region, our heart is to make a difference here at home and around the world. We are a multigenerational Christian church in Sylvania, Ohio, committed to helping people know Jesus, grow in their faith, and share His love in practical ways. From investing in local outreach to supporting global missions, we believe the church should be a catalyst for hope and change.

Five Lakes Church isn’t just a name; it’s a reminder that God’s grace is abundant and His Spirit is still moving, impacting families, communities, and generations to come!


When God was giving unholy humanity a method of approaching a holy God, He gave them five sacrifices. They are the Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1; 8:18-21; 16:24), Sin Offering (Leviticus 4; 16:3-22), Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5:14-19; 6:1-7; 7:1-6), Grain Offering (Leviticus 2) and Peace Offering (Leviticus 3; 7:1-34). This was God offering grace to His children so they could come to Him. Another example is the way the Ten Commandments are broken into two sets of five commandments. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and relationship with God, and the last five concern our relationship with other humans. God’s grace is again revealed as He gives us guidelines to follow in building successful relationships with God and each other. Lastly, though not exhaustively, there were five ingredients in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:23-25). These ingredients (pure myrrh, sweet cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and hin) were given directly by God and used to consecrate the furniture of the tabernacle. It was a revelation of absolute grace.