Shekinah Christian Fellowship Welcomes New Youth Minister
A new youth minister joined the Shekinah Christian Fellowship after a personal and spiritual connection with the pastors led him back to Barnesville.
Shekinah Christian Fellowship welcomed a new youth minister, Philip Omondi, in October.
Shekinah Christian Fellowship, located at 145 W. Main St. in Barnesville, is a non-denominational community church led by pastors Roy Hershberger and his wife, Martha Hershberger. The congregation meets for service at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
“Besides being non-denominational, I believe we exist to share God’s love and reveal and share the Christian faith,” Martha said.
Omondi, originally from Kenya, first met Roy and Martha Hershberger during a children’s mission trip to Kenya in 2017, while he was serving as a chef.
Philip Omondi (middle) joins Shekinah Christian Fellowship as the new youth minster after connecting with senior pastors Roy and Martha (right) Hershberger. Left is Beth Dennis, associated with the church. ©Barnesville Area News Company photo.
“I went there to cook,” Omondi said. “I didn’t know how much more we would connect on a spiritual level.”
Although he had already served as a youth pastor in Kenya, Omondi said he initially did not share that part of his life with the Hershbergers. Over time, his testimony emerged, and the three developed a deeper connection. In 2018, Omondi visited Barnesville for the first time, attended a service with the couple and continued to stay in touch.
After years living in Florida, Omondi said he felt God calling him to reconnect with Roy and return to Barnesville.
“I called him up and said, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ Man, this sounds strange, but the Lord is placing it on my heart. I should come and see you. I don’t know if I should. I don’t know what it is.”
Omondi visited again in May and continued praying for clarity. During that visit, Roy mentioned the possibility of him serving as youth pastor, but Omondi said the idea didn’t resonate with him at the time.
In October, while spending time at a prayer mountain in North Carolina, he said he asked God for direction and felt led back to Barnesville.
Omondi said he asked God to reopen communication if it was meant to be. A few hours later, he received a message from Roy checking in. Omondi told him he planned to return to Barnesville.
Roy said after he spoke to Omondi about the youth pastor role, he knew it was simply a matter of time.
“Barnesville was right at the heart of God,” he said. “Every time he wants to move in a solid place, he starts by putting people that he wants to pour himself through. And when you see the changes that have been happening in Barnesville over the last couple of years, you can tell that in as much as we can look at the physical, there’s also a spiritual momentum that God is building.”
Omondi’s position is still being designed, but he will oversee youth ages 10–20. Children’s services are held from 11 to 11:45 a.m. on Sundays, and weekly youth classes are planned, with one group for ages 10–14 and another for ages 15–20, which has not yet been fully established.
Omondi served as a pastor in Kenya for eight years. He grew up Catholic, drifted away from church and later reconnected with his faith.
“I am very passionate about helping the youth find their identity, in terms of who they are in God’s eyes,” he said.
He added that he wants to help them become bold and confident in their faith.
“I feel great about it,” Omondi said. “I’m excited. I’m looking forward to engaging and also breaking the barriers that exist, and just let everybody know that above all else, love is the greatest commandment.”
Shekinah Christian Fellowship can be found on Facebook.
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