LEAD PASTOR & ELDER
JOSH ROLLINS
Josh Rollins is the founding and Lead Pastor of Newark Grace Church. From 2022 to 2026, he served as Associate Pastor at Pataskala Grace Church, where his ministry focused on preaching, discipleship, student ministry, and preparing for future church planting. Newark Grace grew out of Pataskala Grace’s commitment to multiplication and a shared desire to establish a healthy, gospel-centered church in the city of Newark.
Josh grew up in the hills of West Virginia and began following Jesus as a teenager. Before entering vocational ministry, he worked in journalism, editing, and public relations, experiences that helped shape his love for people, storytelling, and clear communication. He studied at Liberty University, Grace Theological Seminary, and Grimké Seminary.
At the heart of Josh’s ministry is a simple conviction: Jesus is the center of everything. He is passionate about Christ-centered preaching, deep discipleship, meaningful life in the local church, and equipping ordinary believers to live faithfully on mission where God has placed them. His hope for Newark Grace is to see people transformed by the gospel, leaders raised up, and healthy churches planted throughout Licking County and beyond.
Josh and his wife, Jen, have been married since 2016 and are the parents of their daughter, Willow. Jen grew up at Pataskala Grace Church and shares Josh’s love for hospitality, community, and the mission of the church. Her previous ministry experience with Encompass World Partners in Battambang, Cambodia helped cultivate a deep love for global missions that continues to shape their family.
The Rollins family has quickly come to love Newark and the life of the city. Some of their favorite days are spent downtown, discovering local restaurants and coffee shops, walking around the square, and taking Willow to the Canal Market District. They love the sense of community they’ve found in Newark and look forward to putting down deeper roots, building friendships, and raising their family alongside the people they have been called to serve.
Outside of ministry, Josh enjoys music, comic books, board games, sports, and lucha libre, and still carries some of the instincts from his former life as a sportswriter. Jen loves being outdoors, kayaking, CrossFit, and baking sourdough bread to share with friends and neighbors. Together, they enjoy good food, hosting people in their home, and finding new places to explore with Willow.
Josh grew up in the hills of West Virginia and began following Jesus as a teenager. Before entering vocational ministry, he worked in journalism, editing, and public relations, experiences that helped shape his love for people, storytelling, and clear communication. He studied at Liberty University, Grace Theological Seminary, and Grimké Seminary.
At the heart of Josh’s ministry is a simple conviction: Jesus is the center of everything. He is passionate about Christ-centered preaching, deep discipleship, meaningful life in the local church, and equipping ordinary believers to live faithfully on mission where God has placed them. His hope for Newark Grace is to see people transformed by the gospel, leaders raised up, and healthy churches planted throughout Licking County and beyond.
Josh and his wife, Jen, have been married since 2016 and are the parents of their daughter, Willow. Jen grew up at Pataskala Grace Church and shares Josh’s love for hospitality, community, and the mission of the church. Her previous ministry experience with Encompass World Partners in Battambang, Cambodia helped cultivate a deep love for global missions that continues to shape their family.
The Rollins family has quickly come to love Newark and the life of the city. Some of their favorite days are spent downtown, discovering local restaurants and coffee shops, walking around the square, and taking Willow to the Canal Market District. They love the sense of community they’ve found in Newark and look forward to putting down deeper roots, building friendships, and raising their family alongside the people they have been called to serve.
Outside of ministry, Josh enjoys music, comic books, board games, sports, and lucha libre, and still carries some of the instincts from his former life as a sportswriter. Jen loves being outdoors, kayaking, CrossFit, and baking sourdough bread to share with friends and neighbors. Together, they enjoy good food, hosting people in their home, and finding new places to explore with Willow.
