Pequea Valley townlively.com
AUGUST 10, 2022
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LVIII • NO 33
The Road To Zion an Solodky, who became the part-time pastor at Mount Zion United Methodist Church (UMC), 753 Mount Zion Road, Narvon, on July 17, has a message for area residents. “I want them to know this is a safe place and that we all have had hurts, hang-ups, and habits, but Jesus is the way to get past those,” said Solodky. The invitation is offered based on his personal testimony. “I got here by an act of God,” he explained. “I have no formal education for (pastoring yet). I have the Bible, my experiences, and my convictions.” Solodky’s path to Mount Zion has been long and sometimes dark. “I was led into the valley of the shadow of death,” he said. “My God, whom I love, had to break me to get me to understand the proper way to fill in the cracks (in my soul) that I believe we all have.” Growing up in Manheim Township, Solodky became interested in emergency services when his sister was in an auto accident. He became a firefighter with the Eden station and took part in the first paramedic training program held at HACC, Central
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BY ANN MEAD ASH
2022 Shining Light Award Bestowed
Jaime Santiago, founder and executive director of Restart Training Center Ministry (RTCM), an organization that strives to help men who have developed addictions as a means of coping, sees the goals of the RTCM in space mission terms. “Restart is the rocket booster that helps (students) get into the orbit of sobriety and recovery,” said Santiago. Once students are ready to launch, Santiago said, they are sustained by connecting to a local church where they can continue to grow spiritually. “We help them blast off, but they have to utilize
BY ANN MEAD ASH
After 10 seasons of coaching Girls on the Run (GOTR) and Heart and Sole programs with LancasterLebanon GOTR, Gayle Boltz, winner of the 2022 Shining Light Award, knows exactly what is most rewarding about volunteering, but she cannot talk about it without becoming emotional. “It’s when you see the girls just come to life (as a team),” explained Boltz, who said the transformation usually happens See GOTR pg 5
Solodky said no again, but he agreed to pray on the subject, and he met with the district superintendent of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UMC. With approval from the conference and completed background checks, Solodky met with Mount Zion elders, who voted to accept him as pastor. Solodky plans to complete his schooling during an intensive UMC training program in early 2023. In addition to preaching, he has begun making house visits to church members. “I love what this church stands for,” he said, reading the Zion mission statement, which expresses the importance of knowing God and making Him known so church members can return God’s love as witnesses and followers. He has taken note of the wisdom of the congregants. “They have learned about who Jesus is and how He is working in their lives,” he said, adding that he has felt welcomed. “This church has thrown their arms around me and made me feel comfortable,” he shared. Mount Zion currently holds Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship at 10:15 a.m. More information may be found at http://mzumchurch.net.
Ian Solodky is the new pastor at Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Narvon.
Josh McDowell To Speak At Fundraiser the resources in the community,” said Santiago. So, for RTCM’s sixth annual fall banquet, the organization is aiming to give attendees the resources to help them blast off by featuring a star of the Christian publishing world - Josh McDowell, author of “Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” along with about 150 other books. The event will be held at Shady Maple Banquet Center, 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Call of Grace Band will provide special music for the event, door prizes will be given away, and a freewill offering to benefit the ministry will be received. See RTCM pg 8
Josh McDowell
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Church To Host Great Giveaway . . . . . . . .2 Business Directory . . . . . .2 Senior Citizens To Meet . .3 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9 House Of Worship . . . . . .12
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Pennsylvania’s Community College, graduating in 2001. He served with emergency medical services in Strasburg, married his high school sweetheart, and had three children. Solodky referred to his time as a paramedic as his “pre-Christian life.” “When I started relying on (God’s) understanding instead of my understanding, my life was completely transformed,” he explained. “I am still a sinner, but ... I am compelled to spread the Good News.” To reach out to those in need, Solodky became involved in a food ministry at Long Memorial United Methodist Church in Neffsville. “I felt my ministry was to be help those people who were (struggling) as I once was,” he said. In 2015, he began working for Line Pro Inc. He and the owner of the company began attending group meetings held by local pastors who recognized Solodky’s gift for ministry. “(The pastors) kept saying, ‘You would be a good pastor. Why don’t you start the (training) process?’” Solodky recalled. He kept refusing, but in May, he was told of a small church about 45 minutes from his home in Mount Joy. “They said, ‘We think you would be a great fit.’”
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BY ANN MEAD ASH