Pastor Kimberly Strain is a former native of Georgia, where she was born and raised in the city of Macon. She came to know the Lord under the ministry of the late Suff. Bishop Larry Clarence Dunning Sr., the late pastor of Pentecostal Temple Holiness Church in Macon, Georgia. She received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in May of 1976. Two years later she was inspired by the Holy Spirit to attend Aenon Bible College in Columbus Ohio.
It was while attending a retreat conference in Zanesville, Ohio, Pastor Strain met Minister Harry Strain whom she married in November 24, 1979. To their union was born five children, who are now fulfilling their own personal career paths.
Pastor Strain holds a B.A. in Religious Studies & Black World Studies, from Ohio Wesleyan University. In 2009, she completed her Masters in Pastoral Counseling at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio in Delaware, Ohio. Over twenty plus years, Pastor Strain worked in different capacities at Ohio Wesleyan University. After a long career with Ohio Wesleyan, she feels blessed to have retired from the position of Managing Coordinator of the Curriculum Resource Center June 26, 2015.
Pastor Strain has been involved in many community events within the city of Delaware. She believes that the “Church” has to extend itself beyond the brick and mortar, making the message of the Gospel relevant through our visible presence in our communities. Pastor Strain organized and hosted the city of Delaware’s first “Night of Laughter,” a sold out event that uplifted the community with clean comedy. As John C. Maxwell stated, “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” For over 37 years, Pastor Strain has served in many different ministerial capacities. She is the founder and senior pastor of Outreach Christian Center in Delaware, Ohio, which was founded in October of 1998. Pastor Strain is supported in ministry by her husband Assistant Pastor Harry Strain. Her greatest love and joy in life is her grandchildren.
It is her up-most desire to be an obedient servant, as she serves God through serving others and to one day hear the Lord say: “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”