06 Apr Easter Story: Shippensburg, Pa.

From Rocky Spear (right), senior pastor of Mongul UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

Easter for Mongul Church began Saturday morning at 11:00 with an 1100 egg Eggstravaganza. Food and crafts were also available. Having promoted this on the radio, internet and flyers, we did not know what to expect.

We were excited and overwhelmed when over 250 kids and adults showed up, some as early as 10:00. Great contacts were made with our community.

Easter Sunday morning marked a new page in the history of Mongul, as we began a third worship experience. All three services were well attended with a total attendance of 251.

The highlight? At the end of each service, we gave the opportunity to pray the sinner’s prayer. The instructions were, if you prayed to receive Christ, write your name on the bulletin tear-off and place a “1” beside your name.

A little girl, attending with her parents and grandparents, walked by me at the end of the service, holding her grandfather’s hand, and she handed me a little piece of paper with her name written in her best handwriting and a “1” beside it. Her grandfather had tears in his eyes.

Sixty guests joined us for Easter worship, about half of them “first-timers.” God is working in the church and he’s helping us reach into the community. I am excited about the journey God is allowing Mongul Church to take.