Monday, January 19, 2009

January 17, 2009 - York Springs Church

Blue Mountain Academy sent 15 students on a mission trip January 15-17. Because Pennsylvania is a Mission Field, these 15 students, under the leadership of Pastor Dave Ferguson, went to the York Springs SDA Church in York Springs, PA, and spent their time in mission cleaning, painting and working on the York Springs Church.



Sabbath, the BMA students conducted the worship service, gave the sermon, told the Children’s story and had special music. In the afternoon they were available for outreach activities as requested by the church. Dave Ferguson reported to me as I spent an hour with the BMA group on Friday, that this group of students would probably not be able to take part in a foreign mission trip experience, but here they were able to contribute in a significant way. Singing praise songs and laughing as they painted and worked, the BMA students seemed to be having a great time.



The PA Mission Trip took flight when Abby Hartwell approached Rob Gettys, principal of BMA, with the concept of doing mission right here in PA where there were so many churches that could use a team of students to come and work with the church.



Mr. Gettys strongly endorsed the concept and recommended Abby talk with the Chaplain, Dave Ferguson, who then coordinated the project.



3 churches were communicated with and the York Springs Church was selected. The students “roughed it” as they slept 3 nights on the floor of the Gettysburg Church. Everyone of these students told me of how glad they were to be a part of this project.


If your church would like to host/sponsor a BMA, Pennsylvania Mission Field, Mission Trip, contact Rob Gettys or Dave Ferguson at Blue Mountain Academy.

January 17, 2009 - Hershey Church

The Hershey Seventh-day Adventist Church is located in the town the “bills” itself as the “Sweetest Town on Earth.” With all the chocolate and candy manufactured in Hershey, there certainly is a sweet smell in the air. And there is a sweet atmosphere in the Hershey Seventh-day Adventist Church. I had the privilege to visit the Hershey SDA Church January 17 and present the morning worship message.



During the worship service, the Church Elders joined me as we conducted an ordination service for 1 Elder, 2 Deacons, and 2 Deaconesses.


In the afternoon, I had the privilege of spending some time with Volunteer Lay Pastors Mike Knapp and Tyler Kruger. Mike reported to me that 4-5 years ago the average Sabbath morning attendance was about 30-40. Presently, the average Sabbath morning attendance is 80-100. Hershey is one of 3 churches that are completely led by a Volunteer Lay Pastor. The Lebanon, Pleasant View and Hershey Churches, being led by dedicated, competent lay people, are enabling us to start a new work in the Pittsburgh region, which currently is the least entered metropolitan region/city in North America with the Adventist message. So many members of the Hershey church are willing and dedicated to taking up various ministries and responsibilities, much as Ellen White outlined that churches should do, to enable pastors to evangelize other regions. And God has blessed the Hershey Church. I appreciate the leadership of Mike Knapp and Tyler Kruger in Hershey.

January 16, 2009

On Sabbath, January 10, I joined the East Suburban Church for morning Sabbath School and worship. After the worship service, we had a combined meeting with the East Suburban and Greensburg Churches. I shared with them that we had selected Donald Lewis to be the Volunteer Lay Pastor of the East Suburban Church and Brandon Yorty to be the Volunteer Lay Pastor of the Greensburg Church.


Donald is retired from the U.S. Veterans Hospital system and has been serving as the Head Elder at East Suburban Church. He also just completed the lay pastor training course taught by Jim Wibberding. Donald was baptized by Bill Peterson in Gulf States a number of years ago, and was trained by Bill there in Church ministry. Brandon had served as an elder at East Suburban a few years ago under David Livergood. Then Brandon and his wife moved to Michigan where she completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and the University of Michigan. They then returned back to Western Pennsylvania. Brandon works for the Department of Aging, overseeing the financial accounts and bills for some 60-70 elderly individuals. Brandon and his wife are moving to the Greensburg community.

We have placed the East Suburban and Greensburg churches under the district leadership of Elder Bob Williams. He will coach and advise the Volunteer Lay Pastors of these two churches as they will have the majority of the leadership and spiritual direction for the churches.




Later in the afternoon I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. David Anderson, DDS., to be the new Volunteer Lay Pastor for the Washington Heights Church. Dr. Anderson is a graduate of Pine Forge Academy, Oakwood College and Howard University. In addition to operating a dental practice in the Pittsburgh area, he is also a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry. Dr. Anderson grew up watching his father serve as a church elder and also as a lay pastor. He has served, himself, as a church elder, a head elder, and in a number of local ministry positions. We praise God for his willingness to bring spiritual leadership to the Washington Heights church family.




Bill Oblitely had recently served as the Volunteer Lay Pastor, Bill has been a professor at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the computer department. He was selected for a Fulbright Fellowship and is currently serving in Ghana for one year before returning to Pennsylvania. Bill has served on our Conference Executive Committee, the Union Executive Committee and the Conference Constitution and By-Laws Committee.