Wayside Community Church began in the spring of 1968 as two visions converged: a group of believers seeking a new spiritual home and Rev. James Shaw, who felt a divine calling to plant a church in the Mercer/Grove City area. They found their first home in an empty building on Lee Road, establishing the Wayside Church of the Bible Covenant.

When mission work called the Shaws to Honduras in 1970, the congregation turned to James’s brother, Rev. Kenton Shaw. Under his leadership, the church flourished so rapidly that they outgrew their original walls within two years. In a true testament to the community’s spirit, the current church building—completed in 1973—was constructed largely through the volunteer labor of its own members.

The church has always valued its local identity. After years of growth—including the addition of a fellowship hall in 1989 and a sanctuary remodel in 2008—the congregation navigated several denominational shifts. In 1986, they became the independent Wayside Community Church, and in 2009, they joined the International Fellowship of Bible Churches (IFBC) to maintain their cherished local autonomy.

The pulpit has been graced by dedicated leaders, including James Shaw, Kenton Shaw, Allen Patterson, Gary Sansom, and Lester Rowan. Today, that legacy continues under the leadership of Pastor Luke Vogan, who accepted the call in 2023 to lead Wayside into its next chapter of service and worship.