The Rev. Dr. Timothy Ahrens, pastor of First Congregational Church UCC of Columbus (First Church), has connections to United Church Homes that are personal and date back 75 years. His great-grandparents once lived at Fairhaven Community in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. His grandfather, Rev. Hugo Carl Kellenmeyer, was the superintendent of Fairhaven from 1942 to 1946.

While his personal connections are significant, they are not what fuel his passion for UCH. Instead, it is the opportunity to advance the health and healing ministry of Jesus Christ that animates Rev. Ahrens. For him, Christian faith is not only about personal salvation, but about helping others as well.

First Church is unique. It’s located in downtown Columbus, on East Broad Street, across an alley from the Columbus Museum of Art, and a block away from the Columbus College of Art & Design. With such distinguished artistic neighbors, it’s no wonder that the church itself is an exquisite architectural gem. It was designed by John Russell Pope, who’s better known as the architect of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. No other church in Ohio enjoys such a pedigree.