Rev. John
Schmid
johnschmid@core.com
330-674-9862
www.johnschmid.com
Common Ground Ministries (Prison Ministry)
PO Box 178
Berlin, OH 44610
 John Schmid is the
founder and director of Common Ground Ministries. This unique ministry,
based in Berlin, Ohio, is a singing ministry with a focus on prisons in
the Ohio Corrections System.
During an average year, this ministry goes into more than 50 prisons, 30
churches, four to five camps, six evangelistic crusades, 40 banquets, a street
fair or two, several weekend seminars, numerous concerts, and a fair
amount of living rooms. They provide Bibles and Gospel Echoes Bible
study correspondence courses to prisoners in the Ohio system at no cost
to the prisoner or the system.
John Schmid is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore,
Kentucky. He and his wife, Lydia, served seven years as missionaries in
Costa Rica, from 1980-1987. Two of his three children were born there.
Returning home, John served as youth pastor at Berlin Mennonite Church
for two years (1987-1989). His youngest child was born in Ohio during
this time. Common Ground Ministries was started after those two years of
youth work.
John’s unique style of singing, a blend of country/folk/gospel, with a
touch of the contemporary, has gained him audiences in a wide variety of
settings, from prisons to embassies, high schools, rest homes, churches,
army bases, concert halls, living rooms.… His honest, genuine voice is
easy to listen to and his message is made acceptable through humor, true
life stories, a love for people, and a wide selection of songs (not to
mention the Holy Spirit).
He was singing in a country western band at the time of his conversion
in 1972. God changed his desire for stardom in Nashville to service in
God’s Kingdom. He went to school, then overseas, back to church ministry
and now back to singing (this time for Jesus).
He has sung in over thirty different countries and takes an annual
work/mission trip to Central America to help Christians overseas as well
as helping American Christians get a vision for missions, both foreign
and at home.
John and his family reside in Benton, Ohio. They are members of Mennonite
Christian Assembly in Fredericksburg, Ohio. His son, Adam, is learning to
play bass guitar, while sisters, Amy and Katie, help sing.
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