Friday, September 26, 2025

Ever wonder what it was like at CedarCreek’s very first public service? Retired staff member and launch team pioneer Donna Eoff was there from the beginning—here’s how she remembers it.

A CedarCreek 30 Year Celebration Story!
My perspective of our first public service
by: Donna Eoff

"It's finally here"!  I'd been nervous, yet soooo excited, waiting for this day to come. I could feel the anticipation in the air. There was so much nervous energy as everyone was scurrying around doing their 'last-minute' checks. We'd been planning so long, working so hard, praying so much for this day, and it was finally, finally here.

Everything was about to become real! Throughout the ballroom and hallways, our greeters were eagerly waiting to smile, shake hands, and welcome our guests. The coffee area was set up. Our children's teams were ready with toys, crafts, and baby care items, excitedly waiting to see little faces coming through the door. The band had finished rehearsing, the microphone sound checks were done, and the huge, oversized beanbag for the drama was in place. We'd finished praying for the service and for hearts to be moved. Everyone was in their place, and we were ready!

It was October 8, 1995, CedarCreek Church was about to launch at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg.  Absolutely none of us had any idea of just how big God's plans were for CedarCreek Church! And I felt…I feel...so incredibly blessed to be a part of it.

Now we were trusting God to fill the room with people whose hearts He'd prepared. It seemed like such a long journey until launch, more than a year of preparation. It wasn't an easy journey, and on several occasions along the way, we could have given up. However, through God's strength and the support of one another, we persevered.

We all wore many hats, and one of mine was as a backup singer. I became more nervous as the room got fuller. I can't remember the choruses we sang or the order of events in the service, but I do remember the special song we did, "Basics of Life" (by 4Him). It was about how we've drifted so far from the Truth and need to get back to the basics of a pure heart, blind love, and faith in Christ.

At our second service the following week, we sang one of my early favorites, "The GreatAdventure" (by Steven Curtis Chapman). The chorus says, "Saddle up your horses! We've got a trail to blaze! Through the wild blue yonder, of God's amazing grace. Let's follow our leader… in the glorious unknown. There is a life like no other! This is the great adventure!" and then later in the song one line says "Come on get ready, for the ride of your life!"  For me, the song became an anthem of sorts in the early days.

Lee told us shortly before we launched to the public, that things were never going to be the same….and they weren't. 185 people attended that first service.

Today, that doesn't seem like many, as we have more than that in one service at one of our six campuses. However, to us back then, 185 seemed huge! And even more huge is that many came back the next week, and many weeks after that, to help us make a difference.

The heart of the message to attendees in those first few weeks was "Come join us on this great adventure! Help CedarCreek share God's amazing grace through Jesus!  It may be scary along the way. We'll experience mountains and valleys as we help people find the Truth, but we don't have to be afraid because God is going to take us on the ride of our lives! And what a ride it's been!   Happy 30th Birthday, CedarCreek!     

Make sure to join us theweekend of October 4/5 and be a part of remembering more moments that made these last 30 years so special and to look forward to what’s next.

Check out Donna (in purple) as a backup singer in this video from one of the early services held at Holiday Inn French Quarter!