The Table - Chantry: A Fresh Expressions Snapshot


By Jeanette Staats October 20, 2025

On the east side of Columbus, Ohio, a revival is stirring around dinner tables. The Table-Chantry, a Fresh Expression of church led by Pastor T.J. Wolfe, began with a simple vision: invite neighbors to share a meal, build genuine relationships, and meet Jesus. The first gathering, held in the community room of the Commons at Chantry, overflowed on opening night—so many came that they immediately had to move to a larger space.


Three months later, attendance is surging toward 100 each week, including dozens of children. In only the first five weeks, 20 people made the decision to follow Christ, prayers for healing have become a regular part of the evening, and one woman celebrated freedom from addiction by giving up her vape. “All it takes is a simple meal and willing hearts,” Wolfe says.


Meeting People Where They Are


The neighborhoods surrounding The Table-Chantry include families living paycheck to paycheck, seniors battling isolation, and individuals facing addiction or spiritual disconnection. Many residents have little to no connection with traditional church. A free weekly meal, served in a welcoming environment, became an open door.

“We ran out of places for people to sit. We ran out of food,” Wolfe recalls. “A revival is starting on the Eastside of Columbus—we would love for you to be a part!”

From the beginning, the goal was clear: this would not just be an outreach—it would be a fully functioning church. Worship, prayer, preaching, discipleship, sacraments, and generosity all happen in the same space where plates of spaghetti and bread are passed across the table.

Rooted in the Early Church


The vision for The Table-Chantry draws directly from Acts 2:46–47:

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts… And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

In the earliest days of the church, disciples met in homes, shared meals, prayed together, and saw God move powerfully. Fresh Expressions like The Table-Chantry embrace this same model—church in everyday places, open to anyone, designed to foster genuine community.


A Movement Any Church Can Start


Wolfe is clear: this is not about getting people into a Sunday sanctuary. “Some of these people may never darken the door of this building,” he says, “but it will still be their church.”

The simplicity of the model is part of its power. You don’t need a cathedral, a massive budget, or a perfect plan—you just need a table, a meal, and willing hearts. As St. Francis of Assisi is often credited with saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

An Invitation to Set the Table


The Table-Chantry’s story is a reminder that God still works through ordinary people and ordinary meals to do extraordinary things. In just a few months, this dinner church has become a place where the gospel is lived out, the lonely find family, and the Kingdom of God takes root—one table at a time.


What if you looked around your own community and asked: Where is there a table waiting to be set? Who is waiting to be invited? Whether you are an individual longing to connect with your neighbors or a church ready to reach beyond your walls, you can start right where you are.


As in Luke 14’s great banquet, God’s invitation still stands: “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.” Your table could be the place where someone meets Jesus for the very first time.

Snapshot of a Fresh Expression of Church


What is the Fresh Expression called?
The Table – Chantry


Where is it?
Columbus, OH


Who is it for?
The Table-Chantry dinner church is for anyone in the east side of Columbus who is hungry for food, community, and hope—including families, seniors, children, and individuals who may never step inside a traditional church. It creates a welcoming space where neighbors can share a meal, build relationships, and encounter Jesus in an atmosphere of hospitality and belonging.


What do they do?
The Table-Chantry gathers people each week around a free shared meal that includes worship, prayer, gospel teaching, and community connection, offering a full expression of church in a welcoming, relational setting.


Who is the Pioneer?
T.J. Wolfe


Where can I learn more?

The Table – Chantry

This snapshot was developed through thoughtful research using publicly available sources, including websites, news articles, community updates and a brief conversation with the pioneer.

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A group of people gathered around a table indoors. Eating, reading, and conversing, yellow-toned.

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