The father and son walk alike. They're about the same height and share contagious laughs and quick smiles.

        The men also have the same desire to preach a message of God's love and being a faithful witness.

The Rev. Brad Rosenberg (left) will take over on Sunday as senior pastor of Tri-County Assembly of God Church, the Fairfield church his father, the Rev. Hugh Rosenberg, founded and has led for 40 years. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        In many ways, when the Rev. Hugh Rosenberg on Sunday passes the mantle of leadership of Tri-County Assembly of God to his son, the Rev. Brad Rosenberg, it won't be the end of an era, rather a continuation of one.

        But when it comes to delivering God's word, their methods are a generation apart.

        Since the Rev. Hugh Rosenberg founded the church 40 years ago, he has preached from handwritten notes. His wife, Joan, often played the organ and piano.

        Today, a keyboard and drums keep the beat during his son's sermons. PowerPoint presentations outline key issues, and the church bulletin includes fill-in-the-blank notes for members to complete.

        “My style is totally different,” says the Rev. Brad Rosenberg, 30, a third-generation Assembly of God preacher. “We have a saying around here, "The methods change, but the message stays the same.'”

        When the Rev. Hugh Rosenberg first came to Cincinnati in the late 1950s, Fairfield was a country town. Interstate 275 was under construction.

        Rev. Rosenberg thought four acres just north of I-275 would be ideal, and with two dozen start-up members, built an A-frame sanctuary with six classrooms. On March 4, 1962, 97 people showed up.

        By the 1970s, Tri-County Assembly of God had grown into one of the leading churches in Greater Cincinnati, with five services on Sundays and attendance around 1,500. The church eventually built a sanctuary that seats 3,300.

        The Rev. Hugh Rosenberg “was looked to by a lot of smaller evangelical churches as a prophet and leader and spokesman,” says the Rev. Duane Holm, director of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati. “For a lot of them, he was what they wanted to be.”

        Rev. Rosenberg cites as one of his greatest accomplishments the more than 300 people who grew up attending Tri-County and today work in missions and ministry throughout the world.

        Another blessing: to hand the church he nurtured and loved to his son.

        On Sunday, Rev. Brad Rosenberg becomes the senior pastor of a 750-member congregation.

        “My advice (to my son) is to work hard and love the people and be available,” says Rev. Rosenberg, 67.

        “But most of all, preach the word of God.”

        Lesson learned, says the son. Message heard.

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