02 Mar Prince Street’s Partnerships in the Cleveland Area

Jim Bolich (right), senior pastor, Prince Street UB church (Shippensburg, Pa.)

Four members of the local board at Prince Street church (Shippensburg, Pa.), helped build a children’s ministry area at helped build a children’s ministry area at Forward Church in the Slavic Village neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. The four persons–Missions Commission chair Wayne Hawkins; Property Commission chair  Steve Finkey; member at large Dan Cole; and senior pastor Jim Bolich–traveled there February 17-23, 2013.

Prince Street Church became connected with Jeff Bodziony, pastor of Forward Church, through another partner in the Cleveland area, United Brethren pastor Andy Sikora, who leads ReNew Communities. Prince Street has been a financial partner of ReNew for the past few years, responding to Andy’s call for supporters at the 2011 US national conference.

This is the third team Prince Street has sent to the Cleveland area. Previous teams have partnered with Forward Church and the Cleveland Browns to restore a playground in the the community.

Forward Church meets in the lower level of a former Cleveland Public Library building constructed as of gift by Andrew Carnegie in 1905. This team installed walls and drop ceilings to create two spaces: one to be used as a nursery, the other to serve as a place to minister to students through 8 years old.

The team also connected Jeff Eagen, Executive Director of Joy of Living Ministries (another Prince Street ministry partner), with the Forward Church team. Joy of Living Ministries specializes in providing Christian camping experiences for urban students.

Prince Street plans more trips this summer to further our relationships with ReNew Communities, Forward Church, and Joy of Living Ministries.