The Link is the college and career ministry of Westmore Church of God. Our purpose is to fulfill Westmore’s vision of “reaching with care, nurturing with Word, and worshiping with passion.” The church has created a ministry specifically for the 20-something plus generation.

Mission Statement:

To cultivate a nurturing environment where college students and growing career professionals can grow in relationship with God and one another through teaching, prayer, worship, and fellowship.

The Beginning:

It all began on a mission trip in 2000. While ministering to the people of Ireland, Pastor Robert Green and Hugh Hale felt a call to begin a discipleship group for college students. When they arrived back in the US, the first college class met in a basement classroom under the sanctuary with a small group of just four or five members. With homemade muffins made by Hugh’s wife, Laura, and freshly brewed coffee served each Sunday, it wasn’t long before the class started to expand. But it wasn’t just the free food that got the students out of bed every Sunday morning. The students were responding to a ministry offering relevant teachings for their stages in life. Through prayer and God’s grace, the group soon outgrew every classroom at Westmore, averaging 150 students each Sunday. In September 2003, the college class moved across the street from Westmore’s main campus to Pathway Bookstore. As the class continued to grow, a leadership team and an emphasis on recent graduates and young professionals were developed. The name of the group officially became Westmore Church of God’s College/Career Ministry, and various small groups were added to provide further opportunity for discipleship and fellowship. In January 2005 the class moved once again, this time to the church’s Oneighty Center.  With a sign out front boasting “Jeans, Java, and Jesus,” the class was revamped with a more relaxed atmosphere. As Pastor Robert explains, “We wanted to create an environment that is welcoming to the post-modern community. You don't have to show up in a suit." Modeled after a similar program in South Carolina, the aptly-named Link service sought to connect, or “link,” the church's college group and 20-something plus generation meeting in the Oneighty Center to the service on the main campus. This new service started with a short lesson from Hugh, praise and worship with a live band, and a message by Senior Pastor Kelvin Page. Taped during Westmore's early service, Pastor Page’s message was projected onto a large screen in the Oneighty Center, “linking” the campuses together.

Link Today:

In August 2006, the class was on the move again, this time back to Pathway Bookstore in preparation for the planning and construction of Westmore’s new campus. It all starts at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Everyone is invited to come in and mingle with friends over Laura’s freshly baked muffins and Land of a Thousand Hill’s coffee. At approximately 10:00, Hugh presents a short lesson. “I try to provide a Biblical-based lesson relevant to the place this group is in their lives. Most of them are making critical decisions that will affect the rest of their lives - financial, education, career, family, life priorities,” Hugh says. After a short break to give people a chance to get to the main campus if they so chose, the second part of the Link begins with praise and worship. The acoustic-driven music is designed to be more appealing to young adults.  A sermon from either Pastor Robert or Pastor Page completes the service. What started as two men with a vision and a few young adults has grown into a full-blown ministry to as many as 200 each Sunday morning. But despite its growing numbers, the Link’s attention to personal needs and relationships has not changed. “I spend a good deal of time with the group during the week just talking to them and trying to fully understand the issues they face,” says Hugh. “This age group, this generation, is not the church of tomorrow - it's the church of today,” he says. “We want to help lead and transform them into a passionate, Christ-centered army. We believe the people in this group will change not only the city of Cleveland, but many parts of the country and world.”