About
Orchard NEO aims at raising up men passionate about reaching Northeast Ohio through the local church. We work alongside these planters to realize God’s vision for their role in this mission, training them to be as effective as possible. To accomplish our goal, we are committed to identifying, training, supporting, and deploying as many church planters as it takes to reach Northeast Ohio.
Our Team
Zach Weihrauch
Executive Director
Native to Indiana with nearly a decade in Northeast Ohio, Zach’s help in planting City Church solidified his heart for introducing Christ to the people in and around Cleveland. Zach received his MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Paul Turner
Assistant Director
Born and raised in The Land, Paul likens his firsthand joys and trials of planting churches to the history of his beloved Cleveland sports teams. He desires for the gospel to be readily heard by more people among Northeast Ohio, a place he proudly calls home.
Drew Gasser
Assistant Director
A Northeast Ohio native, Drew’s appreciation for the area manifests in his desire to bring the Gospel to all who inhabit it. He lives out his passion for church planting through a heart oriented towards administration and logistics.
Our Heritage
Why Northeast Ohio?
A great movement for the kingdom has already begun in Northeast Ohio, but there is still much work to be done. Orchard NEO serves as the continuation of decades of missional work, while also breathing new life into the Gospel efforts in Ohio. With over 4.4 million residents in the 20-county region of Northeast Ohio, the the cities of Cleveland, Akron, and Canton serve as the culture hubs of the region, each contributing to the diverse makeup of people and cultures existing in Northeast Ohio. This diversity accentuates the need for local expressions of the Church, each aiming at a specific people in a specific place.
Northeast Ohio is home to the resources and relationships that the Orchard Team has formed over their combined years of experience. We are passionate about this region to its core and aim to bring the Gospel in a way specific to it.