A Revival in Sheridan: Jesus is Bringing New Life to a Forgotten Building and Community

On Main Street in Sheridan, Indiana, stands a building that was once abandoned and forgotten. Today, it is full of worship, prayer, and the presence of God. What was once a deteriorating former bar is now home to Issachar Church, where lives are being changed and revival is ignited.

The historic 8,000-square-foot building, constructed in the 1800s and rebuilt in 1914 after a fire, had served many purposes over the years, including as a tack and feed store that even produced bridles for horses in World War I. For three years it sat empty, a silent shell on Main Street, until 2016, when God opened the door for it to be gifted to Issachar Church.

“We literally had to gut the entire building down to the brick walls,” pastor Josh Kennedy recalls. “We filled 18 forty-yard dumpsters, replaced the roof, repaired flooring damaged by a water main break, and completely redid the wiring and plumbing. It was a huge task, but from the very beginning, we knew this building belonged to the Lord and that He had a purpose for it.”

PRAYER, PERSEVERANCE, AND GOD’S PROVISION

The restoration was a long and challenging process, but prayer and perseverance fueled the journey. The Sheridan community noticed and God provided the right people at the right time to help bring the building back to life.

“Sheridan has welcomed us every step of the way,” Kennedy says. “We prayed, we worked, and God sent the help we needed. This building is a testimony of God’s faithfulness.”

The church’s Third Place gathering space has become a neutral hub for the entire community, a place where people of all ages can gather, build relationships, and experience the love of God in a tangible way.

This fall, the ministry of Issachar Church will expand further by hosting LifeWise, a program that will bring public school students to the church each week for Bible classes and a meal, planting seeds of God’s Word in young hearts.

RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PEOPLE

Among the many who have poured themselves into this work are Daniel and Elisha Robertson, who embody the story of God’s perfect timing.

Before officially joining AG U.S. Missions as RV Volunteers with Church Mobilization, the Robertsons parked their RV behind the church and began dedicating countless hours to the renovation.

“The district became aware of them and asked them, as itinerant ministers, to help with the project,” Kennedy explains. “That experience stirred a calling in their hearts to serve as U.S. Missionaries with Church Mobilization, coordinating construction ministry in Indiana and Ohio, and now Puerto Rico. Today, they still serve the church while coordinating volunteers for projects across the region.”

Elisha reflects on what God has done in this space: “The community has a strong connection to this building. One lady told us she got married here three times. Someone else remembered when violence broke out in what used to be a bar. But now, this building is a place to encounter the love of God. The bar door became the church door, which is now the open door for people to meet Jesus.”

Over the past nine years, the congregation of Issachar Church, along with many churches, volunteers, and believers, have faithfully worked to bring the vision of revival closer to reality. Through prayer, hard work, and perseverance, a committed core of people stood together during some of the most challenging seasons of construction and ministry.

Executive pastor Frank Sabelhaus and his wife, Beth, stepped into leadership during a time of great transition, bringing steadiness and support as the church moved forward.

Longtime member Gale Ewing, now in his 80s, amazed many by climbing scaffolding, painting ceilings, and serving tirelessly week after week. Gina Kennedy has played a vital role in both construction and design, helping shape the environment of the church with vision and excellence. Their daughters, Hannah and Elisabeth — who now serves as youth pastor — have remained active and engaged, helping wherever needed as the church grew into its calling.

“These people, and so many others who prayed, gave, and worked, have been the hands and feet of Jesus,” Kennedy says. “God used all of us to prepare a place for His Spirit to move.”

A BIRTHPLACE OF REVIVAL

Today, the building stands as more than a renovation project — it is a house of worship where revival is beginning.

While the first floor is still receiving finishing touches, the house of worship is already alive with prayer, praise, and stories of life change. Each week, children, teens, and families are encountering Jesus. Broken lives are being restored, people are responding to the gospel, and the once-silent building now echoes with heartfelt worship and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Kennedy says the second floor is the next step.

“We want to put a prayer room and some classrooms up there,” he says, then laughs, “but this time, I am hiring a contractor. I am not a construction guy!”

He adds with gratitude, “Looking back, everything has aligned with God’s timing. Sheridan has embraced us, and God has chosen to use Issachar Church as a place where lives are transformed, and revival is born.”