Who We Are
Find Refuge. Live the Gospel. Join the Mission.
We exist to know Christ, love one another, and make Him known - gathering weekly, growing in community, serving the church, and going on mission.
At Refuge Centralia, we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything.
The hurting find healing and hope.
The curious find truth and clarity.
The saved are equipped to live as disciples who make disciples.
Our vision is to be a refuge for the weary, a light for the lost, and a training ground for Gospel centered living in Centralia and beyond.
We are a young church plant in Centralia, Missouri - formed from prayer, grounded in grace, and built to be a refuge for the weary and a training ground for Gospel living.
Refuge isn’t just our name - it’s our heart. We exist to be a Gospel-centered community where real people can encounter real hope in Jesus.
Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for years, or you’re just starting to ask spiritual questions, there’s space for you here. No perfect people - just people trusting a perfect Savior.
Our prayer is that Refuge Church would be known for:
A love for Jesus and His Word
A deep commitment to each other
And a visible impact in our neighborhoods, homes, and city
We’re not just building a church. We’re becoming a people who live the Gospel together - week by week, house by house, step by step.
Jerry Patton, Lead Pastor
Jerry Patton serves as the lead pastor of Refuge Church - Centralia. He has a deep love for God’s Word and a lifelong passion for helping people see the beauty and clarity of the Gospel. Before planting Refuge, Jerry spent years serving in student ministry, church leadership, and higher education - experiences that shaped his heart for discipleship, everyday faith, and building healthy, Christ-centered communities.
Jerry and his wife are raising a big, lively family, and they love opening their home, sharing good conversations, and investing in the people of Centralia. Whether he’s preaching, meeting for coffee, or walking alongside someone in a difficult season, his desire is simple: to point people to Jesus and help them grow as disciples who make disciples.
He’d love the chance to meet you and hear your story.
Adam “AJ” Griggs, Pastoral Resident
Adam is a sinner redeemed by the grace of God and continually being shaped by Christ’s love. He believes faith is lived out through humility, service, and dependence on the Lord. His prayer is that his life reflects God’s goodness as he pursues Christ and shares the Gospel through the gifts God has given him.
Thomas Hudson, Pastoral Resident/Worship Lead
Thomas Hudson serves as the worship leader and a pastoral resident at Refuge Church, where he is passionate about serving God and others through worshiping together in song. He is committed to fostering a welcoming, Christ-centered community and growing alongside the church family in faith, service, and discipleship.
Carol Rodgers, Operations Manager
Carol lives on mission to her husband, Don, her children, grandchildren, extended family, and local community. As Operations Manager, she is committed to organizing the world, or at least Refuge Church, for Jesus! She is gifted with a love of all things spreadsheets and uses both her skills and her love of organizing for everything from financial to food. Carol is a sinner saved by grace and loves to call Refuge Church home