American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware

ABCOPAD Life! Blog

WV Flood Relief

ABCOPAD Churches were part of the hands-on WV Flood Relief efforts out of the Ranielle Baptist Church, including individuals from Hatboro Baptist, WWJD - Waynesburg, Moreland Baptist - Muncy, Wayland Baptist - Meadville, Redeeming Grace - Uniontown, and North Ten Mile Baptist - Amity. MANY other ABCOPAD churches all across the region, across our two states, sent in-kind donations as well as made monetary contributions.

Workers stayed in the church's Christian Life, Christian Education Center. Homes were gutted. Repairs made. Rebuilding begun.

Thanks to one and all for being the hands and feet of Jesus there in the devastated area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Ministries ~ Date: 8/26/2016
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FBC Emporium Farewell

On Sunday, Jeff and Karen represented the ABCOPAD family at the farewell service and luncheon for Pastor Andy Johnson and his family. Pastor Andy has served as the interim at the First Baptist Church of Emporium for the past three years. He has accepted a call to a church in New York State. Pastor Andy's last sermon focused on the potter and the clay. He encouraged the church folks to stay on the wheel, a phrase he repeated several times and had the congregation do the same.

 

After Pastor Andy symbolically and spiritually released the church to eventual new pastor, and had the leadership release him to his new ministry, Jeff was asked to pray a blessing over Pastor Andy and the church.

 

A wonderful meal was served in the basement. The area, as was the cake, were decorated in New England Patriot colors. Special music and words of gratitude were shared by many folks. 

 

 

After the appreciation wrapped up, Jeff met with a good number of the congregation, leadership and laity, to discuss 'what now?" Next steps for the securement of an interim were covered that our Kevin Walden will facilitate, and discussion of the eventual search for a new pastor occurred, a process Jeff will facilitate.

 

 

Categories: Region Life ~ Date: 8/17/2016
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Luminitza Nichols Ordination

A few pictures from the Ordination service for Reverend Luminitza Nichols. "Lumi" is the associate pastor at the Baptist Church of West Chester. The Reverend Doctor George Hancock-Stefan (Associate Professor of Church History at Palmer Seminary) stated that his research has shown that Lumi is the first Ordained Romanian Baptist Woman in the World. Both George and Lumi are immigrants from Romania. It was a very special day for Lumi, her church, the region, the denomination, and in the history of women in ministry. To God Be the Glory.

The complete photo album is available HERE.

  

 

 

 

 

Categories: General, Region Life ~ Date: 8/14/2016
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New Covenant CaveQuest

A few pictures from New Covenant's (Pottstown) VBS production of Group's CAVEQUEST. Kevin Walden got to be the story teller and share about Peter walking on water. Then with the help of a lot of corn starch, the kids got to walk on water too. Special thanks to Hatboro Baptist for the loan of a few props! A couple of guys in the church did a great job on the cave.

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Region Life ~ Date: 8/14/2016
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Rusty Horning Ministry Celebration

Rusty Horning's was recently honored for his 30-year pastorate at FBC, Shinglehouse. The service was one of rededication, as both Rusty and the congregation committed themselves anew in their relationship to one another. Following the service there was a beautiful fellowship dinner at the fire hall. Rusty's wife, Michaelene, and a number of members of the congregation did a beautiful job in planning s very special day.

Participants in the celebration included Frank Frischkorn, Jeff Johnson, and Don Girdwood (former ABCOPAD Area Minister and a special friend of many years). Rusty's 30 years of ministry account for 27% of the church's history... that is a legacy that all leaders should aim for.

Congratulations to Rusty and the church family at FBC, Shinglehouse, for serving as such a great model of how ministry can be.

See the complete Photo Album HERE

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Region Life ~ Date: 8/14/2016
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Camp Carmel Board

 

 

Monday evening, Jeff Johns, ABCOPAD Regional Pastor with Congregations, attended the monthly meeting of the Camp Carmel Board. The leaders, representing seven different ABCOPAD churches, gathered to review their summer season. It had been a great one! A few literal bumps and bruises as is to be expected with any outdoor ministry, but the spiritual growth of both the staff and campers was tremendous. God provided in every way for the camp's needs in both staffing and resources. Jeff was asked to attend to provide some guidance concerning how to help staff and counselors have a greater impact and be even more equipped spiritually to minister to the campers. A extensive counselor training is now being planned for next spring before the start of their 2017 season. They are already counting the days ... 46 weeks until their opening next year.

 

Jeff also shared that the camp is strategically poised to be a network of churches working together in ways our associations used to be, like the two that founded Camp Carmel more than 60 years ago. This would be true of all our camps in the region. You will remember, just one week ago, Jeff was at the one and same camp, baptizing his son, Judson, who stayed for the week as a Junior Counselor and had the unexpected opportunity on their last night there to share a Biblical message at campfire. 

 

 

 

 

Categories: General, Ministries, Region Life ~ Date: 8/3/2016
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GraceCrossing Community Church in Phoenixville

 

On Sunday, Jeff Johnson, ABCOPAD Regional Pastor with Congregations, spent the morning and early afternoon with the congregation at GraceCrossing Community Church in Phoenixville. Pastor Steve Crane is doing a great job as their interim. Jeff provided the morning message and at the end of the service the entire front of the church was filled with the folks praying for their own needs and those and those of the church as well. A time of light refreshments followed the worship service and then Jeff conducted a requested Q&A with the church as they move forward in their search process but at the same time also wanting to live out their vision and all the implications of doing so. 


 

 

 

 

Categories: Ministries, General, Region Life ~ Date: 8/3/2016
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2016 ABMen Conference

It was a great weekend, as men from across the region gathered for the 2016 ABMen's Conference at Shippensburg University. Focused on the theme, “God, Our Ever-Present Help!” Rev. Dr. Larron Jackson was the featured Minister, Teacher, and Motivational Speaker. The weekend included times for Worship, Bible Study, Learning Workshops, and Fellowship. American Baptist Men of Pennsylvania & Delaware has been Forging Relationships for 62 Years! A few highlight photos below. The complete album is available HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: General, Ministries, Region Life ~ Date: 8/2/2016
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