Jesus at the center
Our worship, teaching, care, and mission begin with the life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ.
About Wayside
We are about Jesus Christ
Jesus is the most significant person in history and is profoundly relevant to our lives today. His life, death, and resurrection changed the world and brought hope to the people around us.
Sunday Worship Gathering 10:00 AM
Coffee and Discipleship 9:00 AM
Our center
We proclaim the Gospel of Jesus
We are a community dedicated to seeing individuals, families, communities, and cities radically transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ through one Gospel-centered church at a time.
We are a community dedicated to seeing individuals, families, communities, and cities radically transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scripture in the room
We open the Bible together and expect God's Word to shape how we pray, serve, repent, and grow.
Life together
Wayside is a church family where people are known, welcomed, encouraged, and challenged to follow Jesus.
Our history
A small church with deep roots in South Charlton.
Wayside's story reaches back to the Second Advent Christian Society of Charlton, organized before the church building was raised on what is now Haggerty Road. The historic record describes this as the first church building in this part of town, while also noting that other Charlton churches began earlier elsewhere.
Timeline
Follow the story decade by decade.
Advent believers begin gathering
The Advent Christian witness in Charlton began in the early 1860s, with meetings held in homes and at Parker School No. 6 before a dedicated church building was built.
Land is secured on Haggerty Road
The society acquired land from William Case and Eunice Fitts, then adopted formal Articles of Association in 1870 with trustees serving the young congregation.
A church is built in this part of town
Soon after securing the lot, the congregation built a place of worship near Parker School No. 6. The church history describes it as the first church building in this part of Charlton.
Lay preachers and revival meetings
Early ministry was carried by devoted lay preachers, Bible teachers, Sunday School workers, and evangelistic meetings that drew neighbors from the surrounding area.
The chapel takes the name Wayside
After a season of decline, the congregation reorganized, repaired the building, added fellowship space, installed electric lights in 1937, and began to be known as Wayside Church.
Rooms, youth ministry, and mission
The church expanded with Sunday School rooms and a parsonage, welcomed student preachers from Berkshire Christian College, sent out workers, and continued a pattern of prayer, teaching, and care.
The same Gospel hope continues
Wayside remains a small church family in Charlton, gathering for worship, Scripture, prayer, teaching, fellowship, and life together in Jesus.
The ministry of Jesus
We embrace the five-fold ministry established by Jesus
We embrace the ministry of Jesus: reconciling the lost to God, healing the sick and broken, preaching and teaching the Gospel, delivering people from spiritual bondage, and embodying a life of servanthood and humility.
Reconcile
Welcoming people into restored relationship with God through Jesus.
Heal
Praying for the sick and caring for the wounded and broken.
Teach
Proclaiming the Gospel and grounding disciples in Scripture.
Freedom
Helping people stand firm against spiritual bondage.
Serve
Practicing humility, hospitality, and everyday faithfulness.
Our leaders
Meet Chase and Owen
Our leaders are here to shepherd, teach, pray, and help people take their next faithful step with Jesus.
Pastor
Chase Mendoza
Chase is a West Coast native who moved East to attend the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies in Lenox, Massachusetts. After graduating from BICS, he pursued further theological training through the Antioch School of Church Planting and Leadership Development. Pastor Chase and his family joined Wayside Church to revitalize this local community in 2019.
Ministry Leader
Owen Rushing
Owen Rushing was born in Laconia, New Hampshire. In high school, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served for nine years. In 2022, he attended a gap-year Christian school program at Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies.
Statement of faith
Our statement of faith
These convictions keep us rooted as we worship, serve, teach, and live as a local church.
When you join one of our worship gatherings, you may find it a little different than a traditional worship service. We model our gathering around patterns found in the Epistles and the book of Acts.
Read More About Our BeliefsThe Gospel and Teaching
We hold firm to the Gospel and teachings proclaimed by the Apostles: the Kerygma, meaning proclamation, and the Apostles' Teaching, also called Didache.
Advent Christian Declaration of Principles
We are part of the Advent Christian denomination and hold to its declaration of principles, including the hope of the return of Jesus Christ.
Reformed Emphasis
We affirm the five solas of the Reformation: Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and glory to God alone.
National Association of Evangelicals
As members of the National Association of Evangelicals, we believe in the authority of the Bible, the Trinity, the deity and work of Jesus Christ, the necessity of the Holy Spirit for salvation and godly living, the resurrection of the saved and lost, and the spiritual unity of believers.
Come visit us
Sundays at 10:00 AM
6 Haggerty Rd, Charlton, MA 01507