I first met Doug and Marcie when Bonnie and I began attending the Cincinnati Vineyard (now known as Vineyard Community Church) back in 1988. 

On our first Sunday at the church I filled out a connect card, noting that I was interested in serving in the Jr. High Ministry. I got a call that afternoon from Marcie, who was their Children’s Ministry Coordinator. She invited me to attend a children’s ministry meeting that evening on the other side of Cincinnati. I went to that meeting and I remember very clearly that it was only Marcie and two other women… and me... at that meeting.) 

Sometime after that, Marcie called me, stating, “I heard you have a guitar.” (Not, “I heard you are a worship leader.”) She then proceeded to invite me to their small group, to lead worship. I showed up with a guitar in hand at the very next meeting at their house.

They once invited our little family over for a cookout and served us steaks (and they were good steaks!) I was stunned. My expectation was burgers and dogs. Not long after that, Doug invited me to go out to lunch. I was working in downtown Cincinnati at the time. I couldn’t believe that he would drive all the way downtown from his house in Forest Park... to have lunch... with me.

Over the next couple of years, we spent a lot of time together. I continued serving in the Jr. High Ministry and began leading worship at various small events.  

On New Year’s Eve of 1989, Doug and I were playing a game of Monopoly, when out of the blue I asked Doug if he was thinking about planting a Vineyard Church in Dayton. I offered to help, stating, “I don’t play that well… or sing that well… and I’ve never played in front of a large crowd… but I’ll go if you want me to” to which he replied, “That’s ok… there won’t be a large crowd for a long time.”

I remember Doug calling to ask me if I wanted to go out on a Saturday morning to give out groceries and pray for people. My first thought was, “Well, that’s YOUR thing,” but I agreed to go. To this day, I can still tell you where we went. It was a housing complex at Needmore Road and N. Dixie Drive. 

That day changed the trajectory of my life and ministry.

At the time, I had my own business, and Marcie was working for me. Doug would randomly stop by and ask me if I wanted to go with him to deliver some groceries to a family (typically across town.) Our little ministry trips would include a stop at the cake shop in Englewood to get a piece of cake and a coffee, and what Doug would refer to as “skylarking,” meaning we would just… drive around… and see where it took us. 

Before then, I merely “attended” outreaches. And I only thought of myself as a guy who leads worship. But something began to change in my heart, over time, as I realized it was more than giving out food and clothing. It was about loving people unconditionally. It was about extending God’s kingdom. It was about demonstrating God’s unconditional love.

Now, all these years later, as I reflect on thirty years of serving and ministry, I realize that I wouldn’t be who I am…  the husband, father, pastor or leader that I am, apart from Doug’s leadership and his impact on my life. Doug and Marcie nurtured us through many difficult times in our lives, being young marrieds with two, three, then four kids. 

I just briefly encapsulated over thirty years of friendship and ministry into just a few paragraphs. I know there are countless others whose lives have been changed because of Doug and Marcie, both in our church and out in the community.

Thank you Doug and Marcie for your years of service to our church and our city! Blessings to you in this next season of your life and ministry! 

by Scott Sliver