Church Remarks for the 2005 Yearbook of the Primitive Methodist Church

CHURCH REMARKS$2005 YEARBOOK
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2005 CHURCH REMARKS WYOMING DISTRICT Young children are often described as egocentric. This means that their view of the world is so small that they think that they are the center of things. Of course, young children aren’t the only ones who are egocentric. Many adults operate as if the world revolves around them. And some of these people are well-known personalities such as Donald Trump. Trump is a self-made celebrity who is fond of referring to himself in the third person and seems obsessed with acquiring things – airlines, casinos, and high-rise buildings and putting his name of them. Even bottled water which bears his name is produced on Pine Run Road near our own Laurel Run Church,. His voracious appetite for power prompted a friend, Ed Young, to make the observation that, “he’s so exclusively involved with himself, with his need to announce and re-announce himself, that there’s no room for another person.” I wonder if anyone has ever clued Trump in to the reality that the world doesn’t really revolve around him. Rick Warren begins his wildly popular book, The Purpose Driven Life with these words, “It’s not about you.” That’s a good sentence to remember. It’s not about us. As long as we remain focused on ourselves and our needs and desires, we won’t touch God. Touching God requires us to focus on God. “See, I am coming soon,” Christ tells us in the last chapter of Revelation. “My reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches, I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. The spirit and the bride say ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. The one who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Let me say it again: It’s not about us. There is a favorite praise song that goes something like this: “I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you, it’s all about you, Jesus.” Yes it begins and ends with Jesus. It’s not about us – it’s all about Him. It’s about his sacrifice upon the cross. “See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown.” It’s all about Jesus victory over death. This is the very heart of our faith. How can we possibly experience what it means to touch God without acknowledging Christ victor over the grave? You can’t leave out either the cross or the cemetery when you deal with Christ’s coming into the world. There are many, many people through the ages who have discovered that this is the secret of happiness. When we know Christ and understand that his death on the cross was on our behalf and his victory over the grave was a promise of everlasting life, we know true peace and happiness that nothing can take away. It’s all about Him. Friends, do you know this Christ? Christ was more that a great teacher, more than a healer, more than a worker of miracles. According to John in his Revelation, Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” He is the Lamb that was slain and was resurrected and now reigns, world without end. And now this same Christ issues us an invitation, “Come. All who desire to come.” This is how the Bible ends. It’s all about Him. Christ is saying to us, “Come.” He is reaching out His hand to us today. CHERRY STREET BIBLE CHURCH, PLYMOUTH - The Lord has seen fit to bless our church this past year. Attendance at worship services continues to increase. We are working on purchasing additional land to increase our parking. Youth ministries, both to children and teens continue top be one of our strongest outreaches. We have resolved as a congregation to continue to foster spiritual maturity within our congregation, while adopting a five-fold vision to improve outreach to our community. We look forward to all the Lord has in store for our church. This is our 135th year of ministry. PLYMOUTH FRANKLIN STREET - We praise the Lord for the new beginnings at Franklin Street. We saw a strong year of ministry under the guidance of Rev. David Wildoner. Attendance has increased. Old friends have returned. One adult has been added to the roll. The primary department and the youth programs have begun. Operation Christmas Child exceeded our goal. VBS ministered to children and adults. A joint Christmas Service with Plymouth First and Nanticoke was a success. Mission giving has increased. Our “Sewers of Kindness” make lap quilts and use them as an outreach to the community. God has truly blessed us. We praise Him. SCRANTON – We are thankful for two new families regularly attending church. Rev. Morris had the privilege of baptizing five children from one of the families. Our church family and friends enjoyed an afternoon of fun and fellowship at PMBC, sponsored by our Youth Group. Another successful VBS resulted in five children accepting the Lord. Continue participation in Operation Christmas Child, Lackawanna County Prison Ministries and Angel Tree. 2005 will mark the 125th Anniversary of our Church. We look forward to special times of celebration and homecoming. We appreciate the work and dedication of Rev. Morris and Judy beginning their 21st year. WILKES BARRE FIRST – We thank the Lord for his faithfulness to our congregation as we begin our 133rd year of ministry in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre. We are seeing a few new faces but continue to struggle as some of the new attendees will be moving out our area later this year. Like all churches we wrestle with increased cost of operation not only in our homes but our church building. We are united in worship, fellowship, and our desire to serve our risen Lord. We look forward to sharing our faith in the highways and byways. WILKES BARRE EAST END - Praise the Lord for His faithfulness. We became involved in United Front Ministry’s Cluster Program helping us become more focused for Christ. Taken the Natural Church Development survey and have seen very positive changes. Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt saw 55 come to hear the Gospel presented through the M & M puppets. VBS acquainted people with our church. Fall Festival saw 60 children participate bringing several to Sunday School. Youth Group remains active and have two different Bible Studies in addition to the regular Mid Week service. We are excited at what God is doing and seeking His direction. WILKES BARRE LAUREL RUN – Celebrated 120th Anniversary this year with theme from Psalm 118:23 “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Highlights of year were having our bell choir play at PMBC, a fantastic VBS with 40 children, outdoor service in August with many rededicating their lives to the Lord, and the anniversary celebration in October with Rev. Gilmore and Rev. Ritts as guest speakers, picnic on Saturday and banquet after worship on October 3. We enrolled in the Nehemiah 6:15 project and ended year going Christmas Caroling to shut-ins and a beautiful Christmas program using spiritual gifts of members. WILKES BARRE PARSONS – Shoe boxes sent to “Operation Christmas Child” totaled 128 this year and our giving to missions increased by $2,000 for the second year in a row. A Teen Choir has been added to complement our Junior Choir and Senior Choir. Our Youth Sunday this year featured a message by Scott McGrady, who is now attending Lancaster Bible College to prepare for the ministry. Another of our young men, James Sienkiewicz, is now making preparations to work toward a Local Preachers License. Rev. & Mrs. William and Thelma Fudge (retired) and Lillian Hughes (ministerial widow) are members of the Parsons church. WILKES BARRE MESSIAH (BEAR CREEK) – Glory to God for blessings of past year. Year of stabilized attendance and finances, also year of spiritual growth. Evidenced willingness of people praying for/with one another and to minister to other’s needs without reservation. God’s love in ministry and relationship was seen in loving non-adversarial attitudes as believers studied their relationship to God and endeavored to do His will building God’s people for God’s kingdom. There was sadness, and spiritual joy, in home-going of a few younger members this year. Their witness and Christian spirit is missed, but we shall see them on that glorious shore with our Lord. AVOCA – This year we have grown in our appreciation of the Psalmist’s words, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand else where, I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God that dwell in the tents of the wicked.” We have committed ourselves to the Lord’s vision for our church, which is summarized in our statement: “Accepting the Un-accepted, Loving the Unloved, making Christ real to His children.” We have seen growth in our membership and ministry, and we praise the Lord for the work He has begun, trusting that He will continue to bless us. DICKSON CITY - We thank the Lord again for another successful DVBS used as an outreach to our community. DVBS material was again written and complied by our Youth Leader, Molly Mika and Crafts were developed and made by Kathy Reagan and Gina Ackley. We are grateful for the many talented people of the Church Family who provide inspiring music, by voice and instruments each Sunday. Our Sunday Evening Service continues to be a special blessing with the use of both hymns and our Praise and Worship Team, “4 Given”. Eighteen souls received Jesus as Savior this year. Praise His Holy Name. NANTICOKE - We praise God for His blessings upon our church this past year. We thank Pastor Kyle for his 11 years of ministry with us. We held a successful VBS in June. We had 200 young people participate in our Trick or Treat Alternative Night. We held our Ninth Live Nativity. The young adults of our church have worked on restoring the basement to be used as an all purpose room. We have seen an increase in attendance during our Sunday Worship Service, Sunday School, Children’s Bible Adventure Club and Bible Fellowship. 2005 is our 125th Anniversary. JERMYN - We want to be a church where friends and families, both familiar and new to us, gather to worship God Almighty, and grow together in the likeness of Christ. A place that has a welcoming and encouraging spirit. The efforts of so many busy people, to have events and ongoing ministries that foster this spirit are wonderful. Efforts to build on this theme include: kids attending PMBC, Secret Sisters, the music program, and missionary projects and support. VBS was very well attended by children and staff. All in all, we have nothing but gratitude toward our benevolent God and Savior. BLAKELY - Praise God!!! Despite the loss of a church building for 5 months, services were still held thanks to the Blakely Hose Company who offered the use of their building. New programs, a Prayer and Bible Study and a Good News Club, were started and are held in the parsonage. In addition to repairs to the church, repairs were also done on the parsonage and garage. Rev. Perry spoke at the Community Thanksgiving Service and our choir and Rev. Perry participated in a Community Unity Service. We are Thankful for a community that came together to support us financially and prayerfully and a loving, caring God. LAWRENCEVILLE (OLD FORGE) - Surely our “LORD is gracious and righteous,” and “our God is full of compassion.” This year our church has taken many important steps forward. We have paid off our debts and improved our facilities. More significant than that, we have renewed our focus on worshipping the Lord and doing His will. We are thankful that the Lord has blessed us with increased attendance and an even greater sense of community, as we love and serve each other. We look forward to how God will use us in the coming year, and we trust that He will do great things. TAYLOR – We continually praise God for watching over our church and keeping us spiritually and financially strong. We have greatly appreciated Rev. Gillard Evans ministry through the years and pray God’s blessing be upon him in his re-retirement. We also thank the Lord for sending us Rev. Robert Finley who has shared the preaching responsibilities with Pastor Evans for over five years. We are grateful to the District Superintendent, Rev. Norman E. Beck for appointing Rev. Finley as our pastor and are looking forward to the year 2005 with much expectation as he and his wife minister among us. HAZLETON – Began Fall season with ministry called ALPHA - basic Bible Study, designed for unsaved or new believers. Attendees are treated to free meal, upbeat music, and friendship groups for Study. Highlight of the study is a weekend when the Holy Spirit’s ministry and gifts are taught. Many who attended were blessed with new appreciation and one found new faith in Christ. We look forward to another ALPHA. Our puppet ministry continues to bless those in nursing homes and in churches. Church Tower repaired and other repairs are planned. God has blessed us with a zealous and caring congregation. JOHNSON CITY - “Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised!” Praise the Lord for His presence and leading through another year. We formed a Ministry Review Council according to the qualifications of Acts 6:3. Several positive moves have resulted from their continuing work. Our congregation agreed to sponsor a refugee family. They have not arrived but we are preparing. We maintain a high commitment to missions. We reached our locally through VBS, a neighborhood picnic and participation in a neighborhood year sale through giving away bottled water, donuts, tracts, and Bibles. May the Lord’s harvest be increased through all of this. BROOKLYN – Our church celebrated a campaign to initiate the year filled with joy and thankfulness for what our Lord has done for us. In May went to the conference in Maryland along with Pastor Manuel Castro – who was here from Dominican Republic. Since May the planning for the relocation of Rev. Rafael Blanco and the placement of Rev. Manuel Castro in Brooklyn began. Castro attended the School Of Theology in Pennsylvania. Our congregation had a joint service with other Hispanic churches to celebrate our anniversary. Two people were baptized. We started a prayer campaign for a larger worship place. MOUNTAINTOP – We continue praising the Lord for blessings He pours out upon us daily. We sit and reflect on the way He has taken us from a storefront to a church, from 13 people to 80 people, from brown metal chairs to 80 upholstered chairs with the need to order 20 more. He continues to bring new families into our church family. He blessed us with the gift of children, our future. He supplied us with new carpeting for Sanctuary and the funds for new flooring in our Social Hall. God has truly blessed us during the past year and He continues to bless as we proclaim His word in our community. Return to Index at the Top of This Page SCHUYLKILL DISTRICT: TAMAQUA – “They gave themselves over…” (Acts 2:42) As the foundation of fellowship has been laid in the lives of his people, the Lord has allowed his people to grow in renewed and revived relationships with one another. He has given to us godly servants who endeavor to lead as they follow their Lord. There have been many opportunities taken to reach out to the community around us. New programs have begun where folks are continuing to utilize the gifts and burdens our God has placed in their lives. Our blended worship services have yielded both inspiration and aspiration aw we have participated together in them. We continue to look to our God as we seek to continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. SAINT CLAIR – God has blessed us in many ways. We started a Kids Klub and monthly contemporary service, We keep in touch with homebound and those in homes. We have fellowship outreaches, game nights and dinners. We support missionaries and “Feed the Children”. We had VBS and a blessed Christmas Dinner. We collected food during the holidays and provided food for 5 local needy families. We have a Vision Committee as part of our revitalization effort to “Make Christ Known in Saint Clair”. GIRARDVILLE New Life Community Fellowship – 2004 was a year focused on fellowship. Church families old and new had an opportunity to come to know one another better and experience the miracle of God’s love, abundance and provision. Fellowship dinners and an awesome Church picnic at a new family’s residence reinforced God’s presence within the Body of Christ. Another successful VBS program and a blessed Christmas season, having our church opened to the community for caroling, refreshments and fellowship, reinforced our desire to move forward in presenting God’s love to those outside the Body of Christ. Outreach is God’s vision for our church in 2005. MAHANOY CITY – We greet you in the name of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We praise God for His many years of blessings. All we ask is your prayers for us. Pastor Ron and Sandy are retiring this year and we send our prayers and God’s blessings with them. SHENANDOAH – Greetings to you in the name of our wonderful Lord, Jesus Christ! We are grateful for blessings He has extended to our church family over the years of service He has allowed us. Pastor Ron & Sandy are retiring this year and we will miss them both. May God bless them & the work here at Bethel. MOUNT CARMEL – VBS last summer was a great success, two children made decisions for Christ. Christmas Eve Service was a blessing with 103 in attendance. From that service we have two couples join our church. God has blessed us with new people coming almost every Sunday, and many times they decide to join. We have had a great increase in membership. Our philosophy concerning missions is that each member becomes a member of our Missionary Society. The last Sunday of each month after church we have a missionary meeting with brunch. Our mission giving has increased. We are joyful Christians!! SHAMOKIN – Members of the 7th St PM Church are blessed to have Pastor Smith & Darlene as our pastor. A great healing has taken place in our congregation with a small increase in membership. The Home Bible Studies, Married couples & Discipleship classes have been a tremendous success. Outreach in the community was through our October emphasis on Heaven, Summer VBS, Manna for Many, Food for the Needy, Prayer walks around city and Community Lenten Services. Fellowship is great, especially between the two churches, with a Mother’s Day Banquet, men serving, and bus trip to hear Gaithers. WEST CONSHOHOCKEN – Psalm 67, “God has been gracious to us and has blessed us and makes his face to shine upon us.” The Lord has blessed us this year. We have had six people accept the Lord as their savior. We have added eleven to our membership. We had a purpose-driven Sunday night study and have just started it for a second time. We have added new people to prayer meeting. The Dorcas ladies paid for a new kitchen in the Parsonage. Our finances have greatly improved from last year. We eagerly wait to see God’s blessings as we serve Him this coming year. MAYFAIR PHILADELPHIA FIRST – We believe God has called us to a special ministry in the community, so we have changed our name to Mayfair Community Church. Several of our members were called home to glory. Our VBS was successful. We opened our building to the neighborhood as an election day polling place, offered hot chocolate for Thanksgiving Day parade, and held a yard sale. We sang Christmas Carols for our shut-ins and enjoyed an Adapt a Family project. We supported the Bibles project in Guatemala, and several missionaries, high school, hospital and students in Guatemala. We are looking with excitement to what God’s will has us do this coming year. HATBORO COMMUNITY – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this…” We praise God for our salvation through Jesus Christ, and for the opportunity to serve him. We continue to focus on our outreach ministries to the community. They included a dinner/concert for the homeless men of Whosoever Gospel Mission in Phila., adopting families through Life Abundant Prison ministry, outdoor concerts, coffee house ministry, Christmas and Thanksgiving meals for the needy, boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, a ministry to a local pulmonary pediatric unit, gifts for our local school teachers, community Bible studies, children’s ministries outreach along with our pre-school and VBS. We are currently working with United Front Ministries as we seek to develop a plan and vision for the next 5 years. LANGHORNE – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” Philippians 1:6. We received 3 new members and we have others who attend regularly, but have not yet made a commitment. Trinity’s mission statement is: PMC2, to Produce Mature Christians, Who Produce More Christians. Our programs include: Sunday School, Sunday Night Youth Programs, Prayer Meetings, and Ladies’ Bible Study. Our Community outreach include: Food Pantry, Blood Drives, Monthly Breakfasts, Rally Day Program, Corn Roast, Hay Ride, Ladies’ Retreat, Fall Festival, Christmas Tea, Youth Christmas Play, Super Bowl Bash, Easter Egg Hung, Choir Top Ten and DVBS. ALLENTOWN – The highlight of this year has been our involvement in United Front Ministries. We have profited from the insights gained at the sessions and are especially grateful for the enthusiastic involvement of the lay leaders of our congregation. We enjoyed another Resurrection Sunday with an early service, congregational breakfast, and worship service. We provided another community yard sale at the church in September as an outreach to the community, which was well received. LIONVILLE – This has been a year of transition and a year of God’s grace. We have been learning the lessons of Nehemiah as we seek to rebuild and the lessons of Gideon as we learn to trust in God not our own resources. We continue to minister to the needs of our community with a Good Samaritan Outreach, as well as providing Christmas presents for foster children. We sent many youth to PMBC, most with “campership gifts”. We again participated in Operation Christmas Child. We have provided training for small group leaders. We offer both Bible study and support type small groups and plan to expand. Our youth ministry continues with a reported 6 conversions. We continue our relationship with New Seasons Assisted Living, 2 Moms in Touch prayer Groups, a Middle School Bible study, 3 MMS Support Groups, a Brownie Troop and a Boy Scout Troop where Pastor Bob has just been installed as Troop Captain. NEWTOWN – Newtown Community Church wishes to thank God for his abundant blessings. Over the past year prayer has been a primary focus of our ministry. We have been very committed to United Front Ministry and project 6:15 as well. Renewed focus on small group ministry has resulted in a new Ladies’ ministry, Men’s Bible Study and Sunday Morning Prayer Group. Recently a new youth ministry has begun. God is on the move and Newton Community Church is following. Return to Index at the Top of This Page PITTSBURGH DISTRICT: Oh, that God would thrust us out in the harvest field to win souls for Him. The harvest field is white, but the laborers are few. We are trying to build attendance in our churches. Changing the name, presenting programs, having dinners. When the 120 met in the upper room, they were in one accord and in one place, when the Spirit came down, and they began to speak. Yes, they were to be witnesses, in both Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the world. When this happened the church grew. I like what Peter said in Acts 15:8,9 – “God knows the hearts of the Gentiles, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us. Purifying their hearts by faith.” When the fire fell upon the Isaiah, it purifies him, and his sin was purged, he heard the voice of the Lord, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then Isaiah said, “Here I am, send me.” In Psalm 127:1,2, “Except the Lord build the house, we labor in vain to build it.” In this song faith contrasts the sufficiency of God with insufficiency of man. Man’s effort to build a house, defend it, and to furnish it are in vain. In contrast God builds, furnishes, and defends a house. No matter what we do and try, God is building a spiritual house of sons. These sons are loved and energized by Him. Adam Clark said, “Sons and daughters build up a household which contributes a family. Unless the good hand of God be upon us we cannot prosperously build a place of worship for His name unless have His blessing. If His blessing be not on our children the house will not be built up, and instead of it being a house of God it will be a house of Satan. Our churches or our people ought to be as a city set upon a hill, as a candle to give light, as the salt of the earth, witnessing for God. And to witness for Christ, it is to imitate His Holy spotless life, His humility, His patience, His zeal and His forbearance. Two of our retired men are filling the Beaver Falls and Westmoreland City Churches – Rev. Tom Watkins and Rev. Bernard Murphy. The Revs. Allwine, Anderson and Balsinger reside in our district, as does Mrs. Dorothy Thomas. Mrs. Violet Hildebrand has moved to California and lives with her son. WESTMORELAND CITY – “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” We’ve experienced some challenges this past year, in the loss of four members. Other members have broken limbs and a few were placed in Special Care Centers, which ended their church attendance. We miss them, but need to continue as the body of Christ. As the membership ages increase so do the pains. When a member suffers, the whole church body suffers. However, we are happy to report that some new people are filling this void. We faithfully continue to sponsor the area food bank and a Cub Scout den. Our Ever Ready Missionary Society continues to be active in supporting the work in other parts of the world including our Missionary work in Guatemala. PITTSBURGH FIRST – Romans 8:28 has become very real to us this past year. We continue several of our outreach programs: Men’s Prayer Breakfast, VBS, Samaritan’s Purse (Christmas Shoebox), the annual Hip Hop Event, where one came forward and accepted the Lord, Kids Having Fun program with an average of 10 children attending. A community program with about 100 attending, with new families attending each week. This Lenten Season we hosted a community dinner with approximately 50 in attendance. Showed the movie, “The Passion of the Christ”. VBS was exciting as 6 preteens accepted the Lord and half of the teens are now attending the church. PITTSBURGH SECOND – God is good and is great. We continue to experience illness and hospitalizations of our members. We praise God for his answers to prayers. Bible study, prayer meetings, missions work, shut-in card ministry, Beulah Baptist Food Bank, and Operation Christmas Shoeboxes continue with much prayer and enthusiasm. New people are attending Sunday Services. We are working diligently to spread the word in this part of God’s vineyard. SWISSHELM PARK – We praise God for His faithfulness at Swisshelm Park. We have had more outreach opportunities than ever. VBS, Fall Fun Fair, and our Annual Christmas Program continue to bring in people from the community. This year we set up a tent on October 31st, passed out candy and tracts to children, and provided coffee and hospitality to adults, making contact with over 100 people. Monthly mission project nights continue to provide good fellowship and items for the mission field. Church attendance remains steady. We took in 3 junior members. MERRITT – God continues to bless our church. Our children and youth ministries continue to grow for the fourth straight year. We reach out into the community through local school, scouting and sports programs. The adult women’s group supports a young boy from the Utatlan School in Guatemala. Our church members support several families with food and gift baskets. We’re blessed with talented musicians who greatly add to our worship services. We will be there for each other believing that God will be faithful to us. In the midst of all challenges we give God praise and cling to Him and one another in love. VICTORY – We have a strong missionary emphasis with the following programs: Operation Shoebox, Christmas blessings, Harvest Home and White Gift. We modernized our church office with a new computer and laser printer; improved the building with the new entrance doors and purchased a Digital Hymnal. Psalms 71:3, “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; for Thou art my Rock and my Fortress.” SUTERSVILLE – “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O Lord, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” (Psalm 118:24-26). In the midst of changing situations, we’ve experienced Jesus’ love. During the summer months the Lord blessed us with five speakers willing to be our pastor. In September we welcomed Matthew Sigler and his family. Flood waters buckled our basement floor and the Lord provided the laborers to fix it. Our church has shared the Lord’s blessings by reaching out to the community with a Pumpkin Festival and Christmas Caroling. GRATZTOWN – We were blessed with many activities – three young girls from our church received scholarships to attend PMBC. They came back with a renewed spirit toward the Lord. Their lives were changed. Our entire congregation went to view the movie, “Passion of Christ” and we were overcome with emotion. We held a luncheon afterwards so that our pastor could answer any questions. We held our second Annual Gospel Music Festival and had shirts made for purchase by attendees. The Sing was a real success, raising $1,000 for the youth ministry. Held a service for our senior members who have been so faithful in their giving and in their attendance. We are thankful to the Lord who has been helping us to stay on the strait and narrow. GLENWOOD – The year 2004 was a year for change at Glenwood. We were challenged to put our trust in the Lord and nothing else! We operated for nearly a year without a pastor. God blessed us by raising up people to stand in the gap. Then God sent Nathan Doyle and Heather to shepherd our flock. It is exciting to see God establishing their ministry in Youngstown! Pastor Nate has established a small group ministry and has reinvigorated our youth ministry. Thanks be unto God! We also felt led of the Lord to change our name. We are now known as the “Glenwood Christian Fellowship” under Primitive Methodism. CARNEGIE – We give all praise to our living God for the blessings He has bestowed on our church. Our renovations have all been completed and we continue to pay back on our loan at an accelerated rate. God is truly good! Our Kids Club and Wednesday night prayer meeting is well attended. Our mission work continues through local missions such as the local Meals on Wheels, Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, and PM Mission projects. This summer we’re planning a community outreach through VBS and other neighborhood projects. Our goal is to reach Carnegie for Christ. HOUTZDALE – The year 2004 brought challenges to the ministry at New Hope Christian Fellowship. Some of these challenges resulted in changes on our leadership team. Still the focus remains the same, with a passion to reach the unchurched, our top priority. The highlights of the year included 6 making first time professions of faith. Seven Adults were received into membership, a work team sent to Guatemala with plans to return in 2006, and a successful VBC with 120 attending the Sunday morning program. We look forward to the future. Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18) STRONGSVILLE – For over a quarter century Pastor David Parry provided God’s guidance at Faith Community Church until the Lord led him into a new endeavor as a geriatric counselor for the Sebring Pastoral Retirement Center. As we sought God’s will in prayer for his replacement He had already chosen a new shepherd to lead our little flock, which He not only confirmed to us, the congregation, but to His choice for our new spiritual leader, Pastor Bob, and his wife Suzie. Already been a year of change, and exciter your of change, as each Lord’s Day we are refreshed by a new and vital exposition of God’s Word. We have a sense of spiritual renewal that has brought the fresh, but gentle wind of God’s Spirit through our midst. With grateful hearts we now affirm, The Lord is Our Shepherd, we shall not want. BEAVER FALLS – We praise our glorious Lord for all of His blessings. This past year we accomplished some goals that previously have been elusive. We have painted the interior of our church and parsonage. We installed new lighting in the church hallway. In addition to our regular mission offerings, 5% of our monthly income is designated for missions. We’ve added evening services. DCI, an institute training medical and lab technicians uses our facilities monthly for the pinning of their graduates, thus acquainting many visitors to our church. STREETSBORO – Five new members were received. New families are attending weekly. Continuing ministries include monthly Men’s Prayer Breakfast; Red Hat Society; Family Night with Pioneer Clubs, Jr. and High Youth Group and Adult Bible Study; classes for Elders and their wives; faithful missions support; musicals at Christmas and Easter; a successful VBS. Nine women attended the PM Women’s Retreat. A small group meets Sunday night in a member’s home for prayer and Bible Study. Spiritual growth continues within the congregation although numerical growth is slow. We praise God for allowing us to continue as a light on the hill. GLEN RICHEY – We thanks the Lord for His continued blessing this year. We did some landscaping alongside the church. Ladies’ Aid is still making award cards for missionaries, and sunshine boxes for the shut-ins. We collected items to send to Iraq for our service men and women from our area. Collected clothing and coloring books, etc. for the kids’ Christmas child’s ministry. Sent 35 boxes to Operation Christmas Child ministry. Return to Index at the Top of This Page WESTERN DISTRICT: ALBION PRAIRIE/BUSSEYVILLE CIRCUIT – Our churches are thankful for the blessings that have come to us during the year. God has been good to us and has blessed our efforts. The labors, sacrifices, tears and prayers are known to God alone. We are confident that our faithfulness to His precious Word will be revealed in eternity at the throne of the Sovereign God. BOONE –.The Boone Church, though few in number, is praising God for His faithfulness. Rev. Martin continues to teach the Word, enabling the members to grow in Christ. We do covet your prayers. LEADMINE – We want to give thanks for our minister, Rev. Masartis who preaches the Bible and lives by it. He is very compassionate, thinks of others before himself and is always helping those in need. May he continue just as he is. We appreciate him very much. As for our church, though small in attendance, they are faithful. We have Easter Sunrise services and breakfast following. We also make and give out booklets at Christmas time. We have all asked for Rev. Masartis to return. NEW DIGGINGS – We celebrated our 100th anniversary of our church building with special services and a picnic. We also had cook books and red wing quart crocks made. All festivities were open to the public. Pastor Ron Fladseth held services before lunch which was attended by some previous pastors and pastors’ wives. We are looking forward to a very fulfilling year in the hands of our Lord. We are going to strive to increase our members and spread the word of God to all. PLEASANT VIEW – Our main emphasis this past year has been to rebuild our Sunday School at every grade level, hold an annual Bible School and begin a nursery. Our most active projects through the Sunday School were sending a pair of goats to a third world country via Samaritan’s Purse, continued support of our denomination’s missionaries, the collection of shoe box gifts at Christmas, special outings for families such as swim parties, and outreach events with the presentation of the gospel. Our pastor has encouraged more membership involvement with the various Bible studies, special sermon series, training and equipping sessions and special fellowship gatherings. The Trustee Board continues to improve our facilities to meet increased usage. Finally the members continue to support our Hispanic outreach in Darlington which God has also blessed this year. STANDART – The Lord looks with favor upon His little country church. We have had two members added to our roll. He has allowed us to continue our support of two missionaries and other programs. The Ladies Missionary Society has been able to send Bibles around the world, including soldiers serving in Iraq. We pray that our repeat visitors stay close to our Lord and even join our church. May the Lord bless us all for the work we do in His name. WESTVIEW – We’re encouraged at Westview. Our summer outdoor movies continue to be an effective outreach. We had a 5-day Club through Child Evangelism with children receiving Jesus as their Savior. Visitors regularly walk through our doors and some have stayed! We received 3 new Sr. members, one Jr. member and another by transfer this year. Gwen Sargent is our youth/children’s worker and has done a great job. We have a combined youth group with another local church that meets in our facility. We hosted the annual World Day Of Prayer with the other Evangelical churches in town and it was a great time of unity – praying for our nation, our community and our local churches together. A handicap restroom on the main floor and new windows are in the planning for building maintenance for the coming year. We’re excited about the future of our local church AND our denomination! BIG PATCH – We are challenged and blessed by the ministry of Pastor Paul & Bobbie Glendenning. Missions giving to individual missionaries, our District Project, the Darlington Hispanic Church and other ministries is a priority. Local involvement includes “Meals At Home”, the Thrift Shop, and the weekly Oasis Christian concerts at City Hall. Ladies Aid makes items for missions. We join Westview for Bible studies, Sunday evenings and Cantatas. One hundred hand-delivered invitations to our neighbors for a Pre-Christmas program brought in five new households. The church was packed for our annual Christmas Eve program. Recently a new couple has started attending services. STREATOR – We are continuing to be the lighthouse God has called us to be in this part of the state. Several more of our members have been called home to glory. We have seen some fruit from our labor in that some families have attended our church services a couple of times due to the exposure they have received from our Kid’s Club ministry. Pray with us that God’s will be done not only here in Streator but through all of His people. Plowing forward and not looking back for God’s Kingdom. DARLINGTON IGLESIA HISPANIA EVANGELICA – We give thanks to our Heavenly Father for what He has done in Darlington. Two years ago the Spanish speaking people who had arrived to work on the farms, cheese factories and other factories had no placed to hear God’s Word and fellowship with others. But today they come to the newly painted blue and white church. In August 2 new believers were baptized at the city pool to give testimony to the community of the change in their lives. Pastor Mario and Maurina are recognized as leaders in both the English and Spanish communities. Return to Index at the Top of This Page EASTERN DISTRICT: MATTHEWS MEMORIAL – This year we celebrated our 125th anniversary with friends old and new. The highlight was a historical presentation of our church by Rev. William Fudge. We focused on presenting our church to our surrounding community with monthly services at a local assisted living facility and a Christmas cantata. We sponsored a boot at the local 4th of July celebration, selling roast Corn-on-the-cob and soft drinks, giving out tracts and letting people know where we are and what we are about in Jesus. This year we have continued to experience steady spiritual growth, and added 4 junior members by profession of faith. We had VBS, collected boxes for Operation Kid to Kid and contributed over 75 gifts to Salvation Army’s Christmas gift program for needy kids. TIVERTON – We are so thankful to the Lord for His grace, mercy and kindness. He has allowed us to expand our food pantry. Our music ministry is active with bi-monthly Saturday night praise and worship services. Sunday school and VBS are vibrant, and the mid-week Bible study is growing. We started a Bible study at an elderly complex in town. Our pastor, Rev. Wayne Conway, has applied for Sabbatical status. We as a church met and we are trusting in God to help us continue His work in our church. We have chosen to change the name of our church to The Lighthouse Of Faith Church. LAWRENCE STREET – Our outreach efforts for 2003 include: Sunday Evening Praise Time, Weekly youth activities for Kids, Jr. Hi & Sr. Hi, teen retreats, weekly Literacy Center, Senior Dinner, parenting class, Angel Tree, VBS, Missionary Society Food & Craft Fair for missionaries, and Sunday school-sponsored homeless clothing drive. We report 3 conversions this year. Our emphasis this year has been spiritual growth and being doers, not just hearers. CUMBERLAND – Nestled near the historic Blackstone River in the mill village of what was known as Lonsdale stands the Cumberland Community Methodist Church. Her doors are open to all who wish to enter. We are made up of people from different walks of life and different surrounding communities. Though diverse we stress the need for Unity. This past year we were able to take a work team of 21 to Guatemala where medical clinics were conducted and school construction projects were completed. This past we gave nearly $30,000 to missions. We received 16 new members into our church fellowship. There has been a steady growth in the number of young people attending the Sunday School and Junior Church program. A new choir director has brought in a more contemporary repertoire of music. A ladies’ Bible study was begun this year that meets on a bi-weekly basis. An active Pastor Relations Committee meets on a bi-monthly basis. Two of the good problems encountered this year were the needs for more classroom space and more parking space. In June of last year we held a Sunday Outdoor worship service in one of the local parks. We used this as a good evangelistic method of reaching out into the community. We are grateful to God for his leading over the past year. Rev. Fred Jeffrey has been invited back for his 25th year. NEW HOPE – We praise the Lord for His wonderful blessings that He has freely bestowed upon us. This year our church celebrated the ten year anniversary of the merger of St. George’s and Emmanuel churches. The church has begun giving 10% of undesignated monies in the weekly offerings to missions. We supported “Operation Christmas Child” through the shoe box ministry. The children in our after-church program, Serendipity, filled 51 shoe boxes for distribution to needy children. Through our “Giving Tree” program we were able to deliver Christmas gifts to St. Anne’s home, which is a home for neglected or abused children. Our Wednesday evening and Friday morning Bible studies continue to do well. We look forward to continuing in God’s service throughout this coming year. GREYSTONE – We want to praise the Lord Jesus for his blessings always. For several years new we have had blessings in regard to the ministry of music in our church. We have three organists. One who has now been with us for a few years began playing a xylophone to accompany our organist as the congregation sings. She also rehearses and leads our choir, providing music on Communion Sundays and at Easter and Christmas. We count in our membership Rev. and Mrs. Paul Anderton, Rev. and Mrs. Jesse Fisher, and Dr. and Mrs. Henry Hicks. Pastor Turner has been given permission to live in his family home in nearby East Freetown, Massachusetts. NEW BEDFORD SOUTH – Thanks be to God for bringing us through a year without a pastor at the helm. We have been blessed with inspiring and challenging messages from various ministers from our area and also Local Preachers. We have experienced a bonding of fellowship within our congregation, all with the same desire to keep our church doors open. For the first time in many years we exceeded our Anniversary Goal in November. The Choir supper and Anniversary Supper were well attended. Our Rummage Sales continue to be very successful. Although we are few in numbers our church members and friends continue to be led by the Lord and have dedicated themselves to striving to keep the work going at our church. Praise God for his guidance as he shows us the way! LUZ Y ESPERANZA (Light and Hope) PAWTUCKET – We give thanks to The Almighty God for the blessings of 2004. We had a net gain of 4 members; 20 were converted and 5 were baptized. Our Sunday school saw an increase in attendance, and there is a group studying the Old Testament. The revival among the youth continues. Our budget goals were accomplished, and we made important repairs in the temple and parsonage. We bought some new equipment and confronted problems with parking due to higher attendance on Sundays. We purpose to continue to grow with the help of our Evangelization Cells. EVANGELICAL OF LAWRENCE – Our church glorifies God for the work accomplished and in progress. Every Tuesday there are four groups meeting simultaneously, divided in zones East, West, South and North. Every zone has a leader and a group of members. 90% of the services are in non-believers’ homes. 9 people have been received as members and 6 candidates are being prepared for membership. We hosted the free medical ministry of the community, La Clinica, which offers medical services, clothing, food and the gospel. The building has gone through three major repairs with the support of the congregation. We hosted an event of Hispanic PM churches of New England for the entire family on October 30th. Attendance and finances have increased. PROVIDENCE – Through a year of change the Lord’s blessings were constant. The church has been studying the “Purpose-Driven Life” with great results in the lives. We praise the Lord for the sale of our building, and for the opportunity to have a fresh start. We keep working on small cell groups, developing new ways to reach out to our community. We had a great Bible School for the children in the summer time – we received new members. We had 10 new conversions. We would like to give thanks to all that helped us in the process of selling our building. May the Lord bless you in a special way. NEW BEDFORD MISSION – We praise God for another year of ministry in the Hispanic area of New Bedford. The group has been stable. We have two services per week. We have a “pantomime” young group. We made some important renovations to the building. We thank the New Bedford South PM Church for allowing us to use their parsonage. We received some computers to start an after school program in the near future. I thank those that prayed for my time of surgery (knee replacement), and my wife had hand surgery also. We have a great expectation of what the Lord will do in our midst. Return to Index at the Top of This Page SOUTHERN DISTRICT: NEW RIVER – We had a positive year in which God continued to keep His hand on our ministry. Our “early service” worship ministry was completed overhauled under the direction of Julie LaFosse. She also led a wonderful Sunday morning Christmas musical with 300 in attendance. Our overall attendance grew slightly larger and our Wednesday children’s ministry grew a whole lot with a 50% increase in attendance. We held special drives for Samaritan’s Purse and Buckner shoes as well as participating in a local stuffed animal drive for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Our preschool, under Director Cathy Wheeler, expanded by adding a Kindergarten class. Our Sunday morning “Kid’s Creek” is very effective under the direction of Pastor Bart Foster, who is also leading our Jr. High/High School ministry. We continue to reap the benefit of having Pastor Wayne Getchell as an Associate Pastor who focuses on the Senior citizen ministries of our church. BOWLING GREEN CHRISTIAN BIBLE FELLOWSHIP – Spiritually CBF continues to grow. As a fellowship we drive towards the goal of becoming a body of believers having a correct Biblical foundation whose head is Christ. CBF chooses to be Christ-led and ministry-driven: befriending, reclaiming and educating; Great Commission oriented in all we do. In the wake of damage from the three hurricanes that hit us last year, we’ve seen one man return to Christ and a discipleship walk and one woman embrace Christ for the first time, though raised in a Buddhist and New Age home. We suffered the loss of another who also had returned to Christ after many years apart, but the Lord is still using that to permit us access to bikers and druggies throughout the region – people who normally would rather go through withdrawal than talk to a pastor or other “Jesus Freak.” We praise our Lord for the opportunities. Emotionally CBF suffered through our losses. At the close of the year neither the roof of the main facility, nor the parsonage have begun to be repaired – or any of the other damages we still have as the insurance company changes their terms seemingly limitless times since Hurricane Charley hit on August 13, 2004 and have yet to send an adjuster in this direction. An elder lost half her home to an oak she may have played around as a child. Ministry of outreach nature ceased shortly after we cared for and sheltered our neighbors through the three hurricanes and we now struggle to regain our focus – by His grace, we are doing just that and the souls around us weigh heavily upon our fellowship once again! CBF desires to reach the 70% unchurched population of our region and has continued to encourage Home Bible Studies as methods of evangelism. We are a small fellowship in the midst of being reborn into a vessel fit for use by Jesus. Please pray for us as we seek to answer this call. KATHLEEN EVANGELICAL CHAPEL – This year has proven to be exceptionally exciting as God has favored us with a 100% increase in attendance, a Spanish congregation, talented and cooperative people, financial stability, puppet ministry, clown ministry, a new evangelical fervor, salvations and baptisms. The church is healthy, loving, spiritually gifted and upbeat. The Sonshine Ministry Team has ministered in various churches and nursing homes. We praise God for an exceptional Junior Church and youth ministry. Pastor Jose Ortega serves as our Spanish pastor and has been instrumental in providing sound Biblical instruction for our Hispanic brothers and sisters. Jonathan Malanowski, Lisa and Cara have proven to be an invaluable support and aid in their father’s ministry along with his wife Shirley during time of health concerns. LA GRAN COMISION METHODISTA PRIMITIVA, MARION OAKS – Praise God for his wonderful blessings! This year saw a new beginning for our church. We are conquering this community for Christ, and we experience a continuous revival. We thank God for sending Pastor David and Maria Gonzalez to work here. God blesses us financially and we are able to meet our obligations. We have a Sunday School with 3 classes and a New Anointing Worship Team. We report 20 new members and 31 conversions. We support International Missions (Dominican Republic and Guatemalan children) and other NMB ministry. We have a food program (Help the Needy) and a radio program (Wave of Blessing). Thank you Jesus.
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