Members of Trailblazers and New Hope Church celebrating a baptism at Whipple Dam State Park near State College, PA

Inspiring people to
follow Jesus every day

Church on Sunday

Join the Trailblazers church community with New Hope!

logo for New Hope Church, Trailblazers' partner church in State College, PA

10:30 AM · 125 Premiere Dr, State College, PA 16801.

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Trailblazers Church in State College, PA

Pastor Robbie Parks and his wife Autumn Parks at Trailblazers Church in State College in Centre County, PA
Welcome to Trailblazers

You Belong Here

Trailblazers Church is a Christ-centered community in State College, PA, with a heart for Penn State and the world. Our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ and help people follow Him in every area of life. Jesus is our true foundation, and we learn about Him together through diligent study of His divinely inspired message to us, the Bible. He empowers We believe He wants to empower you through the Holy Spirit to recognize His leading, grow in faith, and share His love with others.

Looking for a church in State College? Come worship with us at the movie theater! New Hope Church was our church home before we planted Trailblazers, and we have now returned to worship and serve with them together. You’ll meet students, young adults, and families from different backgrounds who come together to worship and explore the Bible. Join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. for New Hope’s service at the UEC State College 12 movie theater, 125 Premiere Dr, near the Nittany Mall. Look for the New Hope Church signs when you arrive. We would love to meet you and sit with you!

For Penn State students, we are helping build New Hope Student Fellowship, a campus ministry focused on studying the Bible, learning to recognize the Holy Spirit's leading, and putting faith into practice. Our heart is to equip students to share the gospel, discover God's purpose for their lives, and carry the love of Jesus wherever they go. Whether you are exploring Christianity or looking to grow deeper in your faith, we would love to connect with you. Need a ride to Sunday church or someone to meet you when you arrive? Text or call Robbie at .

Plan Your Sunday Visit
The front of the UEC State College 12 movie theater where Trailblazers and New Hope Church meet on Sunday mornings near the Nittany Mall in State College, PA, in Centre County, PA
Looking for a Church in State College?

Church Services in State College

Join us this Sunday, November 15, at the UEC State College 12 movie theater, 125 Premiere Dr, State College, PA, near the Nittany Mall. The Trailblazers community worships with New Hope Church on Sundays at 10:30am.

Plan Your Visit to Church this Sunday

If you’re searching for churches in State College or a church near Penn State, this might be a great place for you!

Sunday worship: Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Location: UEC State College 12, 125 Premiere Dr, State College, PA 16801

Who is welcome: Families, Penn State students, young adults, and people of all ages exploring Christian faith

What to expect: Worship, prayer, Bible teaching, and a welcoming community

Transportation: Need a ride? Text/call .

Church Together: The Trailblazers community attends New Hope's Sunday service; we are not currently holding a separate Trailblazers Sunday service.

What to Expect at Church

  • Worship ▾

    Join us for Christ-centered worship at New Hope Church in State College, with a combination of well-known guitar-led songs and occasional classic hymns. We invite everyone to worship as they feel most comfortable.

  • Prayer▾

    After worship, the floor opens up for anyone to share a prayer request. We pray with each other right then and there. This time is frequently mentioned as one of the favorite parts of the New Hope church service.

  • Bible study / sermon ▾

    The Bible is central to both Trailblazers and New Hope Church. Each Sunday includes practical, Scripture-rooted teaching that helps people know Jesus and live out their faith in everyday life.

Get Directions to Church
A world map showing countries where current and former members of Trailblazers have come from
Our Story & What’s Next

The History of Our Church and Our Continuing Vision

Trailblazers Church began in the State College area with a heart for sharing Jesus, helping people experience the Holy Spirit, and equipping believers for mission. After Robbie worked in campus ministry at Penn State for six years, he and Autumn encountered the Holy Spirit in a fresh way through the biblically grounded teaching of a Vineyard church in Greenville, South Carolina. In 2018, they spent three months serving as missionaries in South Africa. They returned to New Hope Church in State College, Pennsylvania, in 2019 with a passion to share what they had learned.

In 2020, they followed God's call to plant Vineyard Trailblazers Church of State College in nearby Pine Grove Mills. Over the next three years, Trailblazers gathered at the Lions Club in Pine Grove Mills, on Calder Way in downtown State College, and eventually on the HUB Lawn at Penn State.

Today, the work of Trailblazers continues through New Hope Church in State College, PA. Rather than holding separate regular services, we are worshiping and serving with the New Hope community, helping reach Penn State students through New Hope Student Fellowship, and preparing for international missions work with Pioneer Bible Translators. Our heart remains the same: to share the good news of Jesus, help people experience the Holy Spirit together through prayer and worship, equip students and families to study the Bible and share the gospel, and inspire people of all ages to participate in God's mission around the world.

We also hope to establish regular Trailblazers gatherings again in coordination with New Hope, whether in State College or another city, as a team, funding, and the right timing come together. In the meantime, we continue doing what has been at the heart of Trailblazers from the beginning: investing in students, sharing the gospel, and helping people grow as followers of Jesus.

Current and former members of the Trailblazers community have connections around the world. We have Trailblazers who:

  • Practice law in Panama
  • Plant churches in Vietnam
  • Promote women's health in Nigeria
  • Protect victims of human trafficking throughout the United States
Partner with us
A photo of a baptism during the Jesus Movement depicting Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee
Vineyard & Brethren Connections

Origins: Our Church Heritage and Focus

  • The Association of Vineyard Churches ▾

    Trailblazers began as a Vineyard church plant in State College. The Vineyard brings a distinctive blend of biblical grounding and spiritual experience. We expect the Holy Spirit to be present and active, working in and through each of us who belongs to Jesus. We also love worship and have a heart for evangelism.

    The Vineyard’s approach to the Christian life, called Kingdom Theology, draws on the Gospels, where Jesus announces the coming kingdom of God. This kingdom is already here in part and available to every one of us, but it will not be fully realized until Jesus comes again.

  • Local Church Connection ▾

    Before launching Vineyard Trailblazers Church of State College, now shortened to Trailblazers Church, Robbie and Autumn were members of New Hope Church, a Brethren church in State College. The Brethren Church says of itself that it is "led by the Word and Spirit as a family of churches creating innovative relational spaces for every tribe, language, people, and nation to encounter God’s redemptive Kingdom." Two things that really stand out about the Brethren, and New Hope Church specifically, are a love for the Bible and a warm, welcoming family. We carried those qualities into Trailblazers Church and have now reunited with New Hope to continue living out the Great Commission together.

  • Emphasis on the Bible and Sound Doctrine ▾

    At the heart of our church is a strong emphasis on the Bible. We are committed to teaching and living out the truths of Scripture and helping our members understand and apply God's Word in their lives. We prioritize sound doctrine and biblical teaching, and we don't shy away from the hard parts, ensuring that our beliefs and practices are rooted in the truth of God’s Word. Our goal is to equip you with a solid foundation of faith that guides you in your spiritual journey. Our preaching features an extensive, book-by-book, verse-by-verse style of teaching. Even when we teach on a topic rather than a book, we don't choose a single verse to expound on alone but bring in as much biblical context as we are able and prefer to address whole chapters and passages rather than single verses.

  • Missions & the Holy Spirit ▾

    Trailblazers was born out of a desire to empower people for Holy Spirit ministry and send them out to plant churches all over the world. We care deeply about missions and teaching every person how to hear God for themselves. We believe the Holy Spirit is ready and active to do miracles in your life today, and that He wants to use you to complete His mission of advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ to the farthest reaches of heaven and earth.

  • Church is About Jesus! ▾

    Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith and the center of our lives. He is our hope, and we believe that you can know Him personally, just like we do. We also believe that the Holy Spirit is present and active in the life of every Christian: if you are a follower of Jesus, then the Holy Spirit is living inside you, and you can learn to hear His voice and use the miraculous spiritual gifts just like the people of the New Testament. We are passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, and we want to reach our community and beyond with the message of God’s love and grace. The Holy Spirit wants to empower you to be bold in your faith and to share Jesus with everyone you meet!

  • If You’re Looking for a Non-Denominational Church in State College ▾

    Many people looking for a non-denominational church in State College feel at home here. People from Vineyard, Brethren, Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, and other church backgrounds have discovered the love of Jesus and the refreshing simplicity of a community centered on Scripture and a sense of family. Whether you come from a church background or are exploring Christianity for the first time, we would love to get to know you. Our community values the Bible, prayer, the work of the Holy Spirit, and friendships that help us follow Jesus.

  • Partner with us!
    Stories from Our Community

    Testimonies from People in our Church

    These testimonials reflect people’s experiences with Trailblazers during its years as a church plant and campus ministry community. We are very grateful for the friendships God has provided for us!

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    Sarah DeSmet

    This church is nothing like I ever experienced before. It seems like in culture there's an emphasis on just being logically convinced that God is real. But at this church they are passionate about experiencing God and how much he loves you. It's life changing.

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    David Moorman

    Awesome place with the true presence of God! Great people who truly care for each other! If you don’t have a church Join join join

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