SPRING 2016 | USPS 165-700
PennDel World Missions Project
DISTRICT CALENDAR MARCH 1.................... SWM – 9:30 am – Riverside/Oakmont SCW – 2:00 pm – Real Life/Bedford 3.................... SCE – 9:30 pm – River of God/Enola SC – 2:00 pm – Bethel/Chambersburg 4-6.................Kids’ Breakaway #2 – BCC 7.................... NC – 9:30 am – Freedom Life/Milesburg NCW – 2:00 pm – Glad Tidings/Clearfield 8.................... EC – 9:30 am – The Bridge/Hamburg NE – 2:00 pm – Faith/Hazleton 10.................. GPA – 9:30 am – Trinity/West Chester Delmarva – 2:00 pm – First/Wilmington, DE 10-12.............National RR Council – Dallas, TX 13..................Daylight Saving Time Begins 14..................Executive Presbytery – Spring Session 15..................Credential Interviews 19..................District Teen Bible Quiz Finals 20..................Palm Sunday 23-25.............District Fine Arts Festival – BCC 24-25.............District Youth Convention – Giant Center, Hershey 25..................Good Friday – Ministries Center Closed 27..................Easter
APRIL 1-2.................RR District Leadership Conference – Newport 2-10...............World Missions Spring Tour 4-6.................Northeast Regional Missions Council 8-9.................Acts 2 Journey Retreat – BCC 9....................WP Spring Tour – Monroeville 12..................Sectional Missions Reps’ Meeting – BCC 16..................PDRR Camp Work Day 16..................WP Spring Tour – State College 17..................National Youth Day 22-23.............Girls’ Ministries Impact – BCC 27..................Administrative Professional Day 29..................Fasting & Prayer 29-May 1......RR George Washington FCF Spring Trace 30..................WP Spring Tour – Reading
May 2-4................. MinistrieSummit /100th District Council Anniversary Celebration – CLA, Camp Hill 5....................Youth Committee Meeting 5....................National Day of Prayer 6-7.................NE Regional Teen Bible Quiz Finals 8....................Mother’s Day 14..................Kids’ Fun Arts 15..................Credential App’s deadline for Sept. 2016 19..................PennDel Charities Golf Tournament 22..................Pentecost Sunday 30..................Memorial Day – Ministries Center Closed
Pennsylvania-Delaware Ministry Network 4651 Westport Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Read online: penndel.org/connexions
Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen R. Tourville Managing Editor: . . . . . Carole Bongiorno
Executive Presbytery Superintendent . . . . . . . Stephen R. Tourville Assistant Superintendent . . Bryan Koch Secretary/Treasurer . . . . . Donald J. Immel Timothy Bunney Southwest Suburban - SWS Christopher Clark North Central West - NCW Steven DeFrain East Central - EC Jeffrey Kettering South Central - SC Jeff Marshall Southwest Metro - SWM Robert Novak Greater Philadelphia Area - GPA James Pentz North Central - NC Randall Rhoads South Central East - SCE Roland Coon Delaware - DEL Walter Smith South Central West - SCW Allan Thorpe Northwest - NW David Twiss Northeast - NE General Presbyters Stephen R. Tourville Donald J. Immel Bryan Koch Honorary General Presbyter Philip Bongiorno PennDel Superintendent Emeritus
Volume 62 Number 1 - (USPS 165-700) is the official periodical published quarterly by the Pennsylvaina-Delaware District Council of the Assemblies of God. Periodical postage paid at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Circulation Stands at Approximately 7,500 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pennsylvania-Delaware District Council 4651 Westport Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-4887
SUPERINTENDENT
ROMANIA
Pastor Stephen Tourville, D. Min. 717.795.5921 supt@penndel.org
PennDel World Missions Project
T
he heart of missions is about reaching people with the good news of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for humanity who have never heard the gospel. Recently,
Marjie and I had the opportunity of being with Ana and Mike Dascalescu in Romania and experienced a field of ministry that is ripe for harvest. The area where they serve, as a part of the former Soviet block nation, has had little exposure to a faith message through people who believe and proclaim the full gospel experience under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Personal background, professional training and the call of God has prepared the Dascalescus for effective ministry among these precious people who need to hear about Jesus. By partnering together, a Baneasa Community Center can be built and equipped to serve the practical needs in this community with the establishment of a church in the middle of communism and Islam. Our opportunity to impact this area
Pastor Steve & Marjie Tourville with Ana & Mike Dascalescu
is truly exciting and challenging. One hundred years ago our fellowship was initiated through people who had a vision to reach the world for Christ. Because of their faith and commitment, the Spirit of God has moved in lives and brought salvation to so many people. What can happen if we pass that same passion and vision to others whether here at home or in another nation that is yet to be reached for Christ? This edition of Network ConneXions shares that story and opens a door for all of us together to make that happen in Romania. I invite you to read the accounts, hear the voice of the Spirit calling us to this challenge, and become involved in the process of changing a nation for Christ.
Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 3
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT Bryan Koch 610.678.0266 ext. 224 bryankoch@gtaog.org
A Message of Hope A Day that Changed my Life Forever JUNE 7TH started like any other Sunday. Bryan and Lynn Koch got up and went to church, where Bryan kicked off GT’s newest series with a message honoring first responders. After church, they headed home, had a bite to eat, and then Lynn suggested they go out for a motorcycle ride. The couple headed out later that afternoon to one of their favorite spots…the Pretzel Hut in Lancaster, and chatted about life change and about the new role of grandparent that they’d be assuming later that year. Shortly after 6pm, Bryan and Lynn turned onto Grange Road, just minutes from home. Moments later, an SUV crossed the center line, hitting them and pinning Bryan and the bike under its front left tire, and killing Lynn. Bryan was taken by helicopter to Reading Hospital, where over the course of the next 51 days, he would undergo 19 surgeries and receive 36 units of blood while he fought for his life. Bryan’s injuries ranged from broken bones to bruising, but the worst was the amputation of his left leg.
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Throughout those 51 days, Bryan’s three sons, Ben, Bryce, and Brett, along with the rest of the Koch family and GT, would wait and pray first for Bryan to pull through each procedure, and eventually, to wake up. On August 8th, his 28th wedding anniversary, Bryan finally went home from the hospital, and on Sunday, October 18th, he preached his first sermon back on the GT stage. Despite doctors’ warning him that he had a long recovery ahead and that Bryan & Lynn he might be ready to be fitted for a prosthetic leg around Christmas of 2016, Bryan miraculously reached his next milestone early and was able to walk out on the stage during this year’s Christmas Eve services.
Haba Na Haba There’s a Swahili proverb that uses the phrase “Haba Na Haba,” which translates to “little by little” and has become something of a motto for me through these past few months. In times of blinding pain and grief, in times of great difficulty, when we reach those hard places, God brings us through. We might not see the big picture and we might not know the path, but little by little, He guides us.
JUNE 7TH was a day that changed my life forever. Before June 7th, my testimony included a story about how I lost sight in one eye while playing minor league baseball. After June 7th, that story changed and began to include how I lost my leg and my wife while doing one of the things I enjoyed most…riding my motorcycle. When I returned to GT on October 18th, I preached the closing message in our fall series, “EPIC.” The series had been planned long before the accident and it just so happened that the closing message would focus on the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Here they were, the entire nation of Israel, at the foot of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army close behind. They where between a rock and a hard place. And what does God do? He parts the sea, and they walk right through. Fast forward a bit and you’ll find those same Israelites wandering around in the hot, dry desert, complaining that God hasn’t delivered them into the Promised Land, forgetting God’s past provision. The problem is, they were living in the future instead of seeking God in their present. They couldn’t be patient and wait for God’s plan to unfold, and like the psalmist says in Psalm 106, “but soon they forgot what He had done and did not wait for His plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.” The Israelites learned the power of forgetting and the problem with sameness. When you’re in a difficult season, it’s all too easy to focus on your circumstances and what’s happening right now. Trust me, I know! The past seven months have undoubtedly been some of the hardest I’ve ever been through. Facing the birth of our first grandson without Lynn, and then going through the holidays without her was hard. And it could have been easy to wonder where God is in all of this. But there’s importance in remembering, when you’re walking in the deepest of valleys, the things that God has done in your past. And there’s hope and joy in seeking out the ways God is working in your present pain. If biblical hope is confident expectation and biblical joy is intentional, incarnational, and eternal, then being hopeful and joyful in hard circumstances is a choice. We wake up each day and have to make the choice to find hope and joy in the ways God is working in the present, because whether we can see it or not, He has already made a way through it.
Psalm 77:19 Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!
IF GOD BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE’LL BRING YOU THROUGH IT. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS REMEMBER WHAT GOD DID IN OUR PAST, LOOK FOR GOD IN OUR PRESENT, AND TRUST GOD WITH OURNetwork FUTURE. connexions | Spring 2016
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SECRETARY/TREASURER Donald J. Immel 717.795.5921 don@penndel.org
About People: Ministers Transferring In: Benson, Ronald L (Licensed) Crabtree III, Glenn B (Licensed) Franklin, John (Licensed) Gorel, Austin E. (Certified) Hirji-Walji, Nabil (Licensed) Hirji-Walji, Sarah L (Licensed) Knutsen, Bernard (Ordained) Knutsen, Evelyn (Certified) Roberts, Addison (Ordained) Scheetz, Christina A (Licensed) Waldecker, Paul (Licensed) Ward, Benton (Certified)
from Ohio from Potomac from Northwest from Georgia from Minnesota from Minnesota from New York from New York from New Jersey from Ohio from Northwest from Kentucky
Ministers Transferring Out: Alexander, Paul (Licensed) to New York Beauvais, Jeffrey J (Licensed) to N California/Nevada Beauvais, Melissa L (Ordained) to N California/Nevada Beeman, Kristin M. (Licensed) to Potomac Brockmeyer, Joseph (Max) (Licensed) to S New England Cambria, Russell (Licensed) to N California/Nevada Clover, Aaron (Licensed) to Kansas Hundley, Jack (Ordained) to PenFlorida Lecocq, Anthony (Ordained) to Potomac Michaux, Bruce T (Ordained) to Potomac Neece, Brady (Licensed) to Oklahoma Neece, Megan (Licensed) to Oklahoma Reeves, Joanna M (Licensed) to Michigan Reeves, M. Peter A. (Licensed) to Michigan Roberts, Rick (Ordained) to Louisiana Spindler, Michael A (Licensed) to Ohio Strickland, Michael (Certified) to North Texas
New and Upgraded Credentials: Certified Minister Harris, Jason B Myers, John R Piraino, Laura M Licensed Minister Anders, Gregg A Bashir, Shamaun Brougher Jr, Gary E Bube, Todd R Denard, Robert W Galindo, Edgardo Gibson, Joseph R Gladson, Timothy J Graefe, Sarah L Hartman, Josiah D Leinheiser, Rita A Maenza Jr, Philip J Pie’, Rachael E Reeves, M. Peter A. Robinson, Colin T Sanderson, Rafe S Schaltenbrand, Greta Sheaffer, Terry D Simonic, Jessica D Snavely, Jaron Thoma, Robert V Wenrich, Zachary C Wirmel, Joey L Zuilkowski, Joshua M Credentials Reinstated Martin, David (Ordained)
With The Lord: JAMES SWANK, 90, of Culpeper, VA passed away October 28, 2015. Jim was born in Leechburg, PA, August 26, 1925. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and served his Lord for 40 plus years in the ministry. Surviving is his wife of 65 years, Lorraine Swank of Culpeper, VA. Jim was the Lead Pastor of several congregations in the PennDel Network from the 1950’s to the 1990’s, when he retired. The churches he served were located in Lansdale, Carbondale, Barnesboro, Moosic, Bedford and Glad Tidings in Reading. 6 | Network connexions | Spring 2016
About Churches: General Council Affiliated: The Block Church, Philadelphia, PA Lead Pastor, Joseph Furjanic, III District Affiliated: New Life AG, Mercer, PA Lead Pastor, Larry Helsel Parent Affiliated: CityLife Church, Lansing, MI Parent Church Lead Pastor – Brad Leach PAC Leader – Jerome Vierling Pastoral Transitions: Hugh Flanagan III to New Life AG, Reading, PA Kurt Jenkins to Central AG, Houston, PA Thomas Kroll to Jeannette AG, Jeannette, PA Randall Eliason to Calvary AG, Wyncote, PA
ACMR – although the “on time” filing deadline for the ACMR has passed, Dr. Bradford’s office has requested that we communicate to our churches to PLEASE fill out your form and send it in. For those who completed their ACMR – Thank You! Thanks in advance for those who will complete their ACMR in response to this appeal!
LAURIE JAYNE, 43, was promoted to her Eternal Reward on January 15, 2016 after a recurrent health challenge. Laurie was born May 14, 1972, in Boston, Massachusetts. Laurie is survived by her husband, Kevin and two wonderful children: son, Joshua K.; and daughter, Delaney E., both at home. Pastor Laurie (as she was respectfully known) completed her B.A. in pastoral ministries from Northpoint College (formerly Zion Bible College, class of ‘95). She served in many ministerial capacities. She was a teacher, pastor, ordained minister and certified life coach. However, the greatest role she had was being a loving mother and wife. In her later years, she traveled across the United States, preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The mission of her life was clear, love God … love people.
Connecting
Around the Network
Pastoral Commissioning Pastor Dan & Shawna Corfield Evangel Heights, Sarver, PA
Pastoral Commissioning Pastor Jason & Wendy Gornicz Emmanuel AG, Allentown, PA
Pastoral Commissioning Pastor Kurt & Charisse Jenkins Central AG, Houston, PA
UNIVERSITY OF VALLEY FORGE On-Campus or Online With eight graduate programs as affordable as $425 per credit hour and more than 50 undergraduate programs to choose from, you have the flexibility to start or complete a degree on-campus or online. For more information visit valleyforge.edu. Contact our Office of Admissions at 800.432.8322 or admissions@valleyforge.edu. Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 7
WORLD MISSIONS Donald J. Immel 717.795.5921 don@penndel.org
F
A Century of PennDel Ministries
or one full century, the Eastern District (now PennDel Ministry Network) has been sending missionaries to engage in “the greatest evangelism the world has ever seen!” In December of 1916 Christopher and Inez Hines went to Guatemala and would become the Eastern Districts first recorded missionaries. That same month W.W. & Martha Simpson left for China, and would represent the District’s second missionaries. A total of 131 missionaries have been sent from our District over the years, with 38 fully appointed missionaries and 18 missionary associates presently engaged in global ministry. Their stories are as inspiring as they are diverse. Personal sacrifices were sometimes monumental. Their experiences were legendary. Some would bury their spouse on their field of service (Margaret Baltau in 1919 and Isabelle Mueller in 1922). Some would find their helpmate on the field (John & Bernice Burgess, India 1926-1953). Others would find their efforts interrupted by world
events (George & Helga Hemminger had to return from Africa during World War II because travel had become so dangerous). Others, like Annie Bailey (’44-’86, China/Hong Kong) would so impact their place of service, that dignitaries would honor them in their passing. As the United States was exiting the Great Depression and entering World War II, the Eastern District continued to advance the cause of global missions by giving $131,185 to missions (an equivalent of $2 million dollars today). World Missions has always been at the heart of the Assemblies of God. Reaching the lost both at home and abroad has been a driving force and a central purpose in who we are as a fellowship. “We’re better together” is nowhere better exemplified than in our cooperative effort in sending missionaries, compassionately ministering to lost people, and leading these lost to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Network Notes of Interest: First District Missionaries – Christopher and Inez Hines (Guatemala, 1916-1919)
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Most recently fully appointed missionaries: Steve & Sophia Getchel to Eurasia and Ben & Jessica Bock to Spain
31 single women have served as missionaries
2 sisters served together as missionaries to China (Bernice & Thelma Hildebrand, 1936-1957)
Missionary: Bernice F. Burgess (Wife of John H. Burgess) “My early life was lived in a strict adherence to the Roman Catholic faith as was that of my entire family. It was an unusual experience for me to visit the Pentecostal Church on Parrish Street, Wilkes Barre. At that time there was a great revival in progress. Having never seen anything of this sort, this was indeed a revelation to me. At the close of the second service I was invited to the altar. I was told I was a sinner and needed salvation. This upset me, for I had been very faithful to my Catholic Church. Romans 3:23 was quoted to me; the Holy Ghost then gripped my heart with conviction, which prompted me to call upon the Lord for salvation and I was gloriously saved. Ten days later, I was filled with the Holy Ghost. At that time God called me to India as a missionary. I went to Bible College and in 1927 sailed for India and upon arrival there, I was married to Rev. John H. Burgess. In 1927 Bethel Bible School (Punalur, India) was established.”
World Missions Cohort/Connect Group For all missions directors/pastors and interested lead pastors Join us at one of these locations: EAST – Thursday, February 11, 2016 GT Church, Reading WEST – Friday, February 12, 2016 Monroeville A/G Our Mission Statement: The purpose for our Missions Cohort is to meet and discuss best practices in connecting and communicating missions at the local church level.
Save The Date Missions Leadership Team Training Event Saturday, September 10 – 10AM @ New Life AG, Lancaster Jeff Hartensveld (AGWM Director of Mobilization), Main Sessions Speaker Lunch at Good ‘N Plenty Restaurant (all you can eat)
Status Changes Jeff & Vixie Friedman announced their retirement effective 12/31/2015. Recommended reallocation of funds: Ben & Jessie Bock (Spain) # 2880524 Steve & Sophia Getchell (Sensitive) # 2293686 Current Itineration: Our PennDel website has a full up-to-date itineration list for our PennDel Missionaries during 2016.
Over the past 5 years, Network churches have contributed over $750,000 to District projects in India, Africa, and Israel
In 2015 PennDel churches gave 6.7 Million dollars to Assemblies of God World Missions
New Missionaries Itinerating Steve & Sophia Getchell (Sensitive) – newly appointed! Ben & Jessica Bock (Spain) – newly appointed! Karen Miller (Northern Asia) Doug & Brittany Favuzza (Argentina) Bobby & Kelly Bailey (Morocco)
MinistrieSummit “Missions Connection Event” Monday, May 2 • 5PM at CLA, Camp Hill Menu: International Food Feast (FREE) This ministry connection event will provide an evening of fellowship along with a missions emphasis of our past, present and future PennDel Missionaries. Dress in your international apparel and enjoy a great evening including the atmosphere of a variety of mission field regions. Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 9
An Escape from
Romania
MIKE AND ANA DASCALESCU were miraculously delivered from communist Romania in 1981. Their escape began one night when Mike, a merchant-marine officer, heard God tell him it was time for Ana, her brother and him to flee. As they navigated their way to the ship headed for Greece, God’s miracles began. Even though the entryway was guarded, they walked through the gate without being seen. For the next step in their nighttime journey, Ana (who was pregnant) and her brother had to jump into freezing waters so Mike could hoist them up to the deck using ropes. Ana recounts, “With the rope tied around my waist, Mike began pulling me out of the water. When I was only 15 feet in the air we both saw a searchlight from a patrol boat. At the moment it would have spotted us, the rope snapped, and I was dumped back into the water while the patrol boat changed direction. We knew that God was fully involved in every detail of our escape!” Mike had a hiding place prepared for them once they were on the ship, but before he could take them to the closet located in the bottom level, Ana and her brother needed to hide in an empty oil tank while a final search of the ship was performed before setting sail. Ana remembers, “While remaining perfectly still, kneeling in a thick layer of sludge, my brother and I could hear the soldiers walking on the oil tank and see the beams of 10 | Network connexions | Spring 2016
their flashlights penetrating through the cracks, but God again protected us. Soon, I heard a whistle from Mike indicating the coast was clear.” They were able to crawl out of the oil tank and sneak to the small, dark closet that was their cocoon for the next eight days. When they arrived in Greece, the three snuck off the ship at night and sojourned across Greece into Yugoslavia
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
Mike and Ana Dascalescu PennDel Missionaries to Romania
Baneasa Community Center, Romania Last year, the Dascalescus moved to the town of Baneasa, where there are no evangelical churches within fifty miles! Ana reports, “we desire to plant 44 new churches by 2022. In order to do that, we need a base of operations to help reach the surrounding communities with the Gospel. We have found favor with local authorities and were offered facilities to start a clinic to help the community with their medical needs.”
What has happened… • During a recent medical outreach over 800 local people where saved! • Christmas outreaches to more than 1200 children, parents and teachers • Outcome: weekly services in a village public school
The Baneasa Community Center will provide… • After school literacy and feeding programs for abandoned and neglected children • Adult literacy and vocational training • Temporary shelter for trafficked victims • Discipleship and ministry training where they were caught by police and sentenced to three weeks in prison for crossing the border illegally. They were then released with instructions to travel to Italy. Once in Italy, the American Embassy graciously granted political asylum for them to come to the United States which became their home for over 33 years! In 1989 Mike and Ana began serving at GT in Reading, PA. After their harrowing escape from Romania, why would Mike and Ana want to ever return? Ana simply but passionately says, “Since the fall of communism we feel compelled to take the gospel of Jesus to the Romanian people.” They have done many missions trips back to the very country they had fled and were struck by a shortage of ministers to disciple new converts. It was this need for leaders that prompted them to answer the call to full-time missions. Leaving their secular jobs of business and nursing, leaving their three children and grandchildren, Mike and Ana returned to Romania and are planting churches, training leaders and serving in the unreached region of Southeast Romania.
Assistance to construct, develop, and staff the ministry center will be provided by national leaders, missionary associates, and short term missions teams. The ministry center will provide housing for these workers. CENTRUL COMUNITAR BANEASA
The first phase of the project will necessitate $150,000 along with a few hardworking teams from our PennDel Churches and the prayer of every missions minded partner! The building lot has already been purchased, the plans are already drawn, marked and approved; all that is needed are the funds to build! Thank you for giving attention to this priority and making this your missions project for 2016! Thank you for your partnership in reaching the lost of Southeast Romania!
Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 11
HOME MISSIONS Tom Rees 717.795.5921 tom@penndel.org
Mosaic Vision
The 2016 Home Missions Project Churches A mosaic is a beautiful work of art. What’s interesting about this piece of art is that it is made up of many broken pieces. These pieces come in different shapes, colors and sizes and they’re not much by themselves. But when they are brought together and arranged by a skilled artist, they make something beautiful.
Churches are made up of many different people. We come in different shapes, colors and sizes. We experience brokenness. But we believe that God, the master artist, brings people together by His grace, and makes something beautiful of us. This is what we see happen when we plant and revitalize churches.
You can support this MOSAIC VISION in three ways: pray, give and go.
NEW CHURCH PLANTS
South Scranton Spanish Church
Scranton, PA Northeast Section Church Planters Needed
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Cranberry Community Church
Solid Rock Revival Church
Cranberry, PA Northwest Section
Bridgeville, PA Southwest Metro Section
Pastor Joseph and Emily Gibson
Pastor Prabhu and Sucila Isaac
Transformation Church
Grove City, PA North Central West Section Pastor Scott and Laurie Lewis
> PRAY You can spend time as an individual or as a group pleading with the Lord on behalf of each
REVITALIZATION
pastor and church that God will take brokenness and make something beautiful by His Grace.
> GIVE
Capital City Church
You can give financially to one or more church projects. A special offering will also be received
Harrisburg, PA South Central East Section
at MinistrieSummit.
> GO
Campus Pastor Freddie and Minnie Salas
And, you can go, if the Lord calls you to plant a new church or to be a part of a church plant or revitalization team.
Ebensburg Church Plant
Wilmington First Assembly
Ebensburg, PA South Central West Section
Wilmington, DE Delaware Section
Church Planters Needed
Pastor Eric and Tiffany Spanier
Victory Church UCity
Crosspoint Assembly of God
University City, Philadelphia, PA Greater Philadelphia Area Section
Carmichaels, PA Southwest Suburban Section
Campus Pastor Phil and Valerie McLeod
Pastor Josh and Anne Koss
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YOUTH MINISTRIES Doug Sayers 717.795.5921 dyd@penndel.org
g in iv G f o y r u t n e C More Then a Half SPEED THE LIGHT began in 1944 after Ralph Harris, then head of the National Youth Ministries department, prayed a desperate prayer for “worthwhile ideas;” for a way to give AG students the opportunity to help missionaries in their work. During the era in which Speed the Light was born, the U.S. was actively involved in the horrors of World War II. Our nation was faced with a future of uncertainties and the church seemed to be at a standstill in the process of world evangelism. Speed the Light has proven to be more than a worthwhile idea. 70 years of giving by each generation of youth and churches of the PennDel AG has totaled $9,516,071.09. Generation after generation has sought for those causes that are worthy in spite of risk. Now, by providing ministry equipment to our missionaries, STL is training the young people of PennDel to develop individual ownership of the Great Commission as they help our missionaries spread the gospel message to the lost. If our missionaries are going to get to where the lost live, it will be because of Speed the Light. Every missionary in the Assemblies of God will at some point fly, drive, or float to their destination in transportation that has been provided to them by our churches and students through Speed the Light. Airplanes, cars, vans,
motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, buses, boats, horses, camels, donkeys, wheel barrows, etc.; if it has wheels or hooves and can carry a missionary to a country, city, town, village, where someone is waiting to hear about Jesus, Speed the Light has provided it.
PENNDEL STUDENTS STL GIVING
We give so our missionaries can travel faster, preach clearer, and be heard louder, in order that Heaven might be a bigger place…filled with people from every nationality, color, and tribe who have accepted Him as their Savior. Ralph Harris closed his comments on that hot August day in 1944 with these words: “But a name and a program are not enough.” Speed the Light has never been a program; it is a ministry. This ministry trains and challenges youth and churches to assist our missionaries to do what no other generation has done—preach the gospel to every creature.
YOUTH ALIVE MISSIONARY Lee Rogers 717.795.9780 lee@reachtheschool.com
reachtheschool.com • twitter.com/reachtheschool • facebook.com/reachtheschool
My School, My Mission
T
he first Christian missionaries were empowered with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, just a few days after the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Jesus told them it was coming: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 ESV). With that empowerment, the great missionary movement was launched into the earth. We are the descendants of that movement, and we continue to send forth missionaries as a part of that movement. Interestingly, the work of the missionary doesn’t begin at the end of the earth; it begins in Jerusalem. That means it begins right here, right now. The mission field begins when we walk out of our home, our church, and into our neighborhoods, towns, workplaces, and schools. In this sense, we are all missionaries. A student’s mission field is his or her school, and the church’s responsibility is to equip each student for the work of the ministry in this mission field (Eph.4:11-13). Every church must empower every student to reach every school. Calling students to the commitment of a Campus Missionary is an important part of that empowerment. This summer, we are redefining the term “Campus Missionary” on a national scale. The heart of the Campus Missionary will remain the same—to make Jesus known on the school campus and beyond—but we are simplifying the definition so that more leaders and students can identify and join with this movement. For years, a Campus Missionary was defined by five core behaviors: Pray, Live, Tell, Serve, and Give. Three years ago we simplified that definition to the three Scriptural principles Live, Love, Lead: Live on purpose, Love out loud, Lead to eternity. This summer we will make it even simpler: A Campus Missionary is a student who shares Jesus at school. Several great new resources will also be released to help leaders and churches equip students in this journey of missional discipleship. Youth pastors and leaders, to take your missional discipleship to the next level, join the 2016 Exponential Leadership Cohort. More information can be found at www.reachtheschool.com/exponential.
A Campus Missionary is a student who shares Jesus at school.
Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 15
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BONGIORNO CONFERENCE CTR. George Krebs 717.795.5921 george@penndel.org
What Can a Kid Do?
W
e know from Scripture that everyone is born with a sinful nature, even those cute little babies who cuddle and coo and laugh and giggle. As a father and grandfather, I have witnessed many “first words.” Somewhere in that list appear the words “mine, mine, mine…me, me, me!” Yes, I’ve seen that sinful nature revealed in my grandchildren at less than one year old. When life does not go their way, they grit their few teeth, squeeze those eyes, wrinkle their brows and make those angry faces as they let out a scream! We will spend years discipling children to be less “me” centered and more God centered. One of our goals as a Ministry Network is to teach kids to be compassionate and to look at the needs of others.
During our Kids’ Breakaway weekends every February/March, close to 900 children attend a retreat that is themed around missions and BGMC (Boys & Girls Missionary Challenge). Does it work? Yes! We have seen kids become more compassionate year after year. We want to send them back loving Jesus and giving out of compassion. Allow me to share one young boy’s story with you. During a Breakaway weekend not long ago, we informed the kids that they were going to have a great meal that was similar to what kids around the world might enjoy; we fed each child one scoop of white rice for dinner. It was the quietest the dining hall has ever been. At that evening’s service, we
presented a missions project and placed an offering container on the platform. The kids knew there was a cash snack bar after service that night. A young boy walked up to me with open hands, change in one and a five dollar bill in the other. He said “The change was supposed to be for the offering and the five dollar bill was for the snack bar. But I don’t like rice,” he said, “and I’m very hungry! Which one should I give?” I encouraged him to sit and pray; I told him the Holy Spirit would tell him what to do. I watched as he sat there praying in tears. After a moment, he got up and walked to the offering container. Once there, with tears rolling down his face, he poured in both handfuls of money, the change and the five dollar bill! He sacrificed his dinner at the snack bar to feed a child in Latin America. (Just so you don’t think we are terribly cruel, we gave the kids a free pizza party after service.) Kids can learn to be less selfish; they can grow compassionate hearts, and they can serve others. In 2016 we have selected several missions projects, and our kids will give thousands to those projects. How do I know this? Every year, boys and girls in Pennsylvania and Delaware give change offerings of approximately $200,000 through BGMC. Add that to the rest of the nation and BGMC totals have reached over six million dollars! That is a
lot of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters! What can a kid do? With growing hearts of compassion, they can give $6,000,000.
Pathfinders ... ... on a Mission
ROYAL RANGERS
Greg Scott 302.697.2313 gscott@pdrangers.org www.pdrangers.org
W
hat is Christian Missions? Perhaps it could be defined as following Christ’s call by sharing the Gospel with the lost
world through God’s wisdom and strength. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Does it
apply to Christians today? Absolutely! It is known as the Great Commission. God could convert everyone using a blinding light and the voice of Christ as He did with the apostle Paul. Instead, He gives Christians the mission of reconciliation (Acts 1:8-9). He works through us, calling sinners to turn to Christ in
Dominican Republic Missions Trip missionaries that go into the foreign fields to reach the lost cannot be emphasized enough. To be effective they need our prayers, financial support, and yes, even our service. The commitment of these three resources and the impact they have may never be known by us, but the missionaries understand their value and see the results.
repentance and faith. Jesus made it clear that Christians are to reach out to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Instead of countries, he was referring to people groups, those ethnic cultures without a Gospel witness. It goes without saying that not everyone is called or cutout to go into overseas ministry. All Christians, however, have the mission to share Christ on the home field with family, friends, coworkers, and the community. We must be ever mindful though that the Christian mission of sharing Christ does not end with a sinner’s salvation. The commission was to make disciples – not immature believers. Thus, Christian missions involves not only evangelism, but also discipleship. Sharing the Gospel humbly, boldly, and passionately is our Christian mission, but we cannot do it alone. Specifically, God sends missionaries through the support of the church to the unreached. The Lord works through them to rescue the lost. What greater mission can one answer? The need to support
The Royal Ranger ministry supports our home and foreign missionaries by supporting them in all of these areas. They are constantly held up in prayer and money is raised to support them. The Royal Rangers also have a branch called Pathfinders that go into the home and remote foreign missions fields to help build churches and schools in communities the Missionary is trying to reach. Although we rarely hear about the results of our efforts, I recall one project in the Dominican Republic where we built a church for a community of about 800 people. At the time only about 10 percent of the community had come to know the Lord. As a result of building the church, the missionary has reported to us that over 90 percent of the people have now been saved. This is just one example of why your support of missionaries should not be underestimated. In sum, Christian missions is obeying Christ, sharing Christ, and relying on Christ. Rather than a burden, obeying His call brings joy and reward in heaven. We should strive to fulfill our mission not out of duty, but love.
Coming Events in 2016: DISTRICT LEADERS CONFERENCE Newport Assembly of God Thompsontown Campus Thompsontown, PA April 1-2 PENNDEL RR CAMP WORKDAY Honey Grove, PA April 16th GEORGE WASHINGTON CHAPTER FCF SPRING TRACE PennDel RR Camp Honey Grove, PA April 29-30 PENNDEL RR CAMP WORKDAY Honey Grove, PA June 4th
Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 17
WOMEN OF PURPOSE
Ruth Puleo 717.795.5921 ruth@penndelwomenofpurpose.org penndelwomenofpurpose.org
I
THE HEART OF MISSIONS
n March of 2015, Lynn Koch took a Missions Team to ROMANIA (from GT Church, Reading). Her team planned an outreach to 170 women at risk in the community and several street ministry opportunities. They encouraged and equipped local churches and women in leadership. Lynn was an inspiration to her team using her creative ability to cross all cultural barriers and touch the hearts of those she encountered. This was her last missions trip she would take before the tragic motorcycle accident that took her life just a few months later. May her love for people inspire us to do what we can to reach the lost – to have the heart of missions. Maybe you can’t go, but you can give financially to reach the people of ROMANIA.
ROMANIA 2016 Missions Trip May 16 – 27, 2016
MINISTRY FOCUS:
REQUIREMENTS:
• • • •
• • • • • •
Women’s Conference Pastors’ Wives Conference Sunday Church Ministry Women at Risk Outreach
TRIP COST: $2,500 includes: • Airline Ticket from Newark, NJ • Hotel & Meals • Transportation in Romania • Team T-Shirt • Ministry Expenses 18 | Network connexions | Spring 2016
Maturity Flexibility Servants Heart Team Spirit Must be over 18 Application & three references
INFO: ruth@penndelwomenofpurpose.org
LEADERSHIP TRAINING RETREAT
GIRLS MINISTRIES
Sharon Poole penndeldmc@yahoo.com penndel.org/girls
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
GIRLS MINISTRIES IMPACT!
APRIL 22-23, 2016 BONGIORNO CONFERENCE CENTER
Psalm 139:23, 24 When I was in high school, I recall sitting in a missions service in my home church. The speaker, missionary JoAnn Butrin, spoke from Psalm 139. I was captivated by the thought that my Lord and Creator knew everything about me – and cared about my life! Through the years, each time I read this portion, my thoughts go back to that night. Sometime ago as I was reading this, the Holy Spirit began to open my eyes to the last phrase, “and lead me in the way everlasting.” At first I saw it as a “reward” for righteous living. But as I meditated on it, I realized that His leading is so much more than a reward. His leading is a responsibility. As I follow the precious Holy Spirit each day, He leads me to others who are in need of salvation. The wonderfully complex and yet simple ways of God are that He knows EVERY aspect of my life, my thoughts, my being…and He can and will use them to bring others to salvation! It is my responsibility to tell others (missions) and to lead them (mentoring) in the way everlasting.
Save the Dates: Stars Retreat
“He Has Made Beautiful Things…” JUNE 16-18 Communicator: Keith Applegarth Friends and Girls Only Retreat
“He Has Made Beautiful Things…” JUNE 16-18 Communicator: Heather Glogau
Network connexions | Spring 2016 | 19
Pennsylvania-Delaware Ministry Network 4651 Westport Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Find us online: penndel.org Follow us on Facebook: PennDel Ministry Network Follow us on Twitter: #penndelag
IT’S AN INVESTMENT THAT WORKS! HIS Fund is helping Network 211 to fulfill the Great Commission. “We recently moved our account to HIS Fund in
current interest rates
the hope of extending our effectiveness in
($500.00 Minimum Investment)
evangelism. I’m excited to report that our current projections are showing that in the
5 year Term Note 4.00 %
next 12 months, the interest that we will
receive from our Demand Note with HIS Fund
4 year Term Note 3.25 %
will cover 30 days of our Ad Word evangelism
2½ year Term Note 3.00 %
ministry that we conduct on JourneyAnswers.com
Thank you, HIS Fund” Kevin Weaver C.E.O. Network211
1 year Term Note 2.75 %
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Demand Note 2.25 %
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