ACTS Grad

Kudos to Raguel Belony’s upon his graduation from ACTS and his new status as a Certified Lay Minister. Reguel attends FBC Greenville.

OCC @ CMBC

After a year of collecting supplies, volunteers at Christ Memorial Baptist Church, Dover, gathered to assemble dozens and dozens of shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Set Apart

It was a tremendous blessing to witness the ordination of Pastor Nate Ryan of West Springfield (French Creek Association). Nate grew up on the beaches of Cape Cod, MA, where he was raised in a fellow American Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Gordon College and Boston College. He loves singing in community choirs, cooking meals with his wife Jennie, and rooting for his beloved New York Jets.

Ready... Set... Go!

Rev. Mark Schollaert, our region's RMA for our LLC (Leadership Learning Community) met with local pastors at Al’s Cafe (yummy) to jumpstart a new LLC group in the Pittsburgh area. If you weren’t able to make that gathering no problem!! Pastor Mark would love to connect and get you plugged in!!

Ordination Celebration

Calvary Baptist Church of Allentown invited the Reading Association along with sister congregations in the community for Rev. Melvin Thomas’s Ordination Ceremony. Clergy from the Reading Association joined pastors of influence in Rev. Melvin’s life for this ABC Ordination Service. It was a great day of celebration as Pastor Melvin’s call to ordinates ministry was affirmed. It really was a great day celebration.

Getting a FaceLift

Rev. Jonathan Matthew and members of the Central Union Association for their work day at the Exton Community Baptist Church parsonage. Having been vacant for many years, the Central Union Association partnered with Exton to renovate the house where Pastor Jonathan now resides. Pastor Eric Kraihanzel (FBC Lansdale) and Kevin from his congregation joined 3 ladies from Parkesburg to do repairs and painting. Much was accomplished.

FBC Dover Anniversary

The congregation at First Baptist Dover celebrated 170+ years of ministry. The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1870 and the church was officially incorporated in 1872. Mark Mahserjian-Smith as on hand to present a certificate from the American Baptist Historical Society and ABCOPAD marking this milestone anniversary. Under the leadership of Pastor Dan Taylor, FBC Dover continues to be an amazing partner in ministry, contributing to the mission and ministry of our Region.

Samaritan Smiles

In Praise of Pastor Parker

The membership of Hepburn Baptist Church bade farewell as Rev. David Parker concluded his ministry. Pastor Dave has served Hepburn for a little over five years and been a wonderful shepherd to this flock. He will be moving to southeast ABCOPAD where a new home awaits him, being closer to his children and grandchildren. Hepburn provided a great sendoff for this partner in ministry who has served faithfully the congregation Jesus placed in his care.

The Snowy Day

American Baptist Churches USA is pleased to offer a new children’s storybook video for the American Baptist family based upon the book, “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. Members of the National Executive Council provided the voices and narration for the story. “The Snowy Day,” 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow had fallen while he slept. It allows the reader to remember childhood adventures and enjoy a snowy day from a child’s eyes.

Available HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMrLz8P3QA0

Shady Maple Christmas

Lancaster Clergy and Spouses met for their annual Christmas Luncheon at the Shady Maple. While it was a smaller group due to a number of factors including a number of significant members now celebrating Christmas home with Lord it really was a joy being together. It is a delightful group of dear friends and faithful partners in ministry, some having retired from active ministry while most still hard at work serving in pastoral leadership roles.

Sharing The Story

ABCOPAD Vice President Elect Lori Jennings and Pastor Sam Geiger attended Saint Peters Baptist Church in Central Union Association to do a mission presentation. Both Lori and Pastor Sam served in Uganda this past July.

Kids Under Konstruction

At First Baptist Church, Ford City, the Children and Student Ministry Team is doing tremendous work as they  connect with youth in their neighborhood. With many of our congregations struggling with ministry to students, it is an absolute joy to see this thriving youth ministry. Looks like a great night of fun and fellowship, as young lives are being discipled in faith.

Serv'n Soup

At First Baptist Punxsutawnee Pastor Mike Wilbur and a team of ladies were preparing for their Fall Soup Sale. The kitchen and fellowship hall with filled with the delicious aroma of homemade ham and bean soup. Yummy!

Central Union Update

The Central Union Association held its annual fall meeting, attended by over 50 people at Lower Providence Baptist Church in Eagleville. At this meeting a long discussed update and revision of the constitution and bylaws passed unanimously, the slate of officers was approved and we heard from Exton Community Baptist Church’s newly called pastor, Rev Jonathan Mathew Yohannan. Pastor Yohannan is a recently immigrated native of India who came to help the church reach the growing Asian population in southeast Pennsylvania. The association is rallying to help support this endeavor. We also learned of an effort underway in the association to help churches to better understand their unique worship cultures. Our time together was warmly concluded with fellowship around the tables while enjoying a meal brought to us complements of an ABCOPAD grant!

Hail to Pitt!

Meet Pastor Jonathan

The membership of Exton Community Baptist Church gathered to formally welcom and install Rev. Jonathan Matthew Yohannan. Pastor Jonathan is from India and was sponsored by the congregation through a Religious Visa to become its pastor. There is excitement looking to the future as Pastor Jonathan not only ministers to the long-standing members of Exton Community but also reaches out to the large Indian/Tamil population now working throughout the area. Rev. Mark Mahserjian-Smith was on hand to extend an ABCOPAD welcome.

Search Committees At Work

Pastoral search committees carry a heavy and sacred responsibility as they seek the Lord on behalf of the congregation about who God is calling to be the church’s next pastor. A number of ABCOPAD churches are now engaged in that process, guided by Region Staff and Geographic Pastoral Servants. Let's keep these folk in our prayers!

Liberty Baptist Church, Blanchard

Middlebury Center Baptist Church

In Memoriam: Anna Young

Recently, Pastor Debbie Loessy of Berean Baptist Church, Carbondale, officiated the funeral service of Anna Young, a faithful American Baptist saint who served her life in prison ministry at the Lackawanna County Prison. Pastor Debbie spoke eloquently about Anna’s life, faith and ministry, speaking from Psalm 121 and quoting the lyrics of “How Great Thou Art.” During the time of sharing, one person shared about how she came to know Jesus through Anna’s ministry in the prison in 1990. The service was a nice tribute of a faithful servant of God and beautiful testimony of a person who loved and served her Savior. In 2019, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) presented its national-recognition Jitsuo Morikawa ABHMS Healing and Transforming Communities Award to Anna Young, the organization’s longest-serving volunteer.