CedarCreek Church, the nondenominational multi-site megachurch, has a new lead pastor at its Perrysburg Township campus.

The Rev. Lee Powell, senior pastor, has announced that Tom Martin will be lead pastor of the largest of its three current campuses.

With total weekly attendance of 8,500 and a fourth campus due to open in December on Byrne Road, CedarCreek is the largest church in northwest Ohio. The church held its first service in October, 1995, and is now the 59th largest church in the United States, according to Outreach magazine.

Mr. Powell had been lead pastor of the Perrysburg campus, but said this week that he has been focusing on his role as senior pastor with oversight of the entire church.

“Tom Martin will be responsible for the flock that goes to Perrysburg,” he said. “It’s really a bonus to the Perrysburg campus because Tom will be there to oversee everything.”

Ed McCauley, executive pastor of operations, said Mr. Martin is a businessman who has served on CedarCreek’s finance committee.

“With the experience in his professional career, he’s going to be a huge asset to CedarCreek,” Mr. McCauley said.

Mr. Powell said he will continue to preach about 30 weekends a year, delivering sermons at two Saturday and three Sunday services.

The sermons are preached at the Perrysburg campus and streamed live via the internet to CedarCreek campuses in West Toledo and Whitehouse.

Having multiple locations rather than one large venue has several advantages, Mr. Powell said. For one, it’s cheaper to meet in several smaller venues than to build one large sanctuary. It is also more convenient for people living near the campuses.

“We have about 200 people coming to the Perrysburg campus from the Findlay area,” he said. “Try inviting your neighbors [to a church that is 40 miles away]. It’s not so convenient.”

CedarCreek is “very interested” in adding new campuses in Sylvania and Oregon in the near future, Mr. Powell said.

First Published October 1, 2011, 4:15 a.m.