05 Nov On the Road: Ohio and Pennsylvania

Last Sunday evening, Sandy and I went to Mainstreet Church (Walbridge, Ohio) to hear senior pastor Marty Pennington talk to the small groups that normally meet on Sunday evenings. They set up their lobby as a coffeeshop and served coffee and donuts. He shared about their “BE” capital campaign. It was an enjoyable night.

We returned on Monday for a tour of the Mainstreet facility. It is an attractive and functional church. We shared lunch with Marty and Amy. It is exciting to see God at work.

On Tuesday morning, before we headed out of Ohio, we realized that we were only about 10 miles from Bethel UB in Elmore, Ohio. So we drove over there. Pastor Norm Pickett was visiting someone in the hospital, but the church secretary showed us around. She was a great guide and spoke in positive terms about the church and the impact it is having in the life of the community and in her family. It was exciting to hear. We then drove on to Franklin, Pa.

On Wednesday morning, we met with Steve Clulow’s cluster at the Atlantic Avenue church in Franklin. About 10 pastors were there. Gary Small, who pastors Atlantic Avenue, shared devotions about unity from Acts 4. Some good discussion followed and then I shared a little of what has been going on at Healthy Ministry Resources.

Gary took us on a tour of the new facilities under construction. They will have a new sanctuary, offices, and lobby, and the lower level is being turn into a delightfully decorated children’s area. God is at work.

Sandy and I then left Franklin around 11 and headed across Pennsylvania. And today, Thursday, it is on Yonkers to meet up with Dalton Jenkins and the Bethel Temple of Praise church. Looking forward to a good time together.

05 Nov Pastor Appreciation Month in Action

Greg Helman, Senior Pastor, Blue Rock UB (Waynesboro, Pa.)
Blue Rock Church held a roast for me at the Mont Alto Fire Hall to celebrate over 20 years of ministry for me. There was a tremendous turnout for the event. Some people who attended were in my Sunday school class when God called me to be a pastor. At that time, I was the teacher.

Photograph albums, posters, and a ministry scrapbook of weddings and funerals were laid out for all to see. A number of people stood up and spoke from the audience. Two of my children did a Top Ten of things they thought were both funny and serious about me. My wife shared her point of view from the call throughout the last 20-plus years.

Of course, they asked me to share some, and I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love through cards, gifts, and kind words. It was a wonderful night of good friends and good food.

David Burkett, Senior Pastor, Mount Morris UB (Mount Morris, Mich.)
For Pastor Appriciation Month this year, I received cards of appreciation, some including gifts of cash or gift cards, throughout the month. Then on Sunday, November 1, we had a “Pack-A-Pew” Sunday. We gave a prize to the person who brought the most first-time visitors. The prize-winner brought six new people with her! Following the morning service we had a potluck dinner at which my family and I were the honored guests.

Tell us how your church recognized Pastor Appreciation Month.

03 Nov A Definite “Yes” for Mount Hope UB Church

Early last Sunday morning, I picked up my good friend Wally before heading to Carson City, Mich., where I was scheduled to speak at Mount Hope United Brethren Church. Wally’s wife, Phylis, was sick with the flu and didn’t want Wally doting on her all day. She just needed to rest.

On the way there, Wally asked what to expect. I told him I had no idea. I believed it was a country church and told him the pastor’s name. Wally and I do a lot of wilderness canoeing trips together, so jumping into the unknown is not an issue.

We arrived at the church and were immediately greeted by folks in the parking lot. Within minutes, all of our display stuff was in the church vestibule and we were enjoying cookies and coffee. We met the pastor, Valerie Reynolds, and discovered that she was raised in Chicago near Wrigley Field. That followed with a lengthy conversation about the proper way to dress a hotdog and whether or not diced tomatoes belong on a dog. Wally grew up in Chicago, too.

The service went well. Sincere people with a sincere faith in God. It was great to hear of 14 people who have recently come to Christ, baptisms, and various outreaches to the community. The congregation was a mix of young and old, professional and blue collar. After the service, there was a potluck lunch in the adjacent building and great conversation around the tables.

Once we had things packed up and were on our way back to Fort Wayne, Wally asked, “So was that what you expected?”

I told him I was pleasantly surprised. Although the church has been there for years, it certainly is not a “has been” church but rather one that remains vital and continues to impact its community and world.

I told Wally, “I always come away from a church visit asking myself if I would attend this church if I lived in the community.” This Sunday, the answer was a definite yes!

01 Nov On the Road: in Oak Harbor, Ohio

Sandy and I spent the morning with Shoreline Church in Oak Harbor, Ohio. We enjoyed worshiping with them and sharing a testimony of God’s leading in our lives. Steve Fish is doing a good job of leading this congregation. He spoke out of John 13-14 about the 4 questions that were asked of Jesus by Peter, Thomas, Philip, and Judas.

It is wonderful to see God at work in the life of Shoreline. They are growing and have a vision to impact the shoreline of Lake Erie with the message of hope that comes from Christ.