Report of the Board of Church Extension
The Board of Church Extension, under the direction of Executive Director, David E. Gundrum, continues to serve as the church planting arm of the BFC, providing vision, direction, and oversight in planting new Bible Fellowship churches. What a joy to be a part of God’s glorious work!
The Board met four times since last Annual Conference to fulfill its mission. In addition to these Board meetings, the various committees of the Board met numerous times to carry out their responsibilities.
Church planting must be at the heart of our denomination’s vision if we are to move forward in “becoming a fellowship of churches united to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”
The Board is grateful to all those who faithfully support the ministry of church planting through prayer and finances. Also, the men who serve in church planting ministries, along with their families, are deserving of our gratitude and support. David E. Gundrum continues to provide excellent leadership and untiring enthusiasm for the Lord’s work. As in all successful ministries, those “behind the scenes” play a vital role. Ruth Richards has been a great asset as Administrative Assistant. She will be leaving this position in September to pursue another career and a search for her “replacement” is already under way. Carol Snyder’s role in special assignments, publications, and communication is vital. Raymond & Louise Bertolet and John & Judy Pello have been a great encouragement and help in the Delmarva region. Board member John Elias resigned from the Board to prepare for his ministry with World Team in England. We rejoice in God’s leading for the Elias’s and express a hearty “well done” to John for his service during his tenure on the Board. In personnel moves, Stephen C. Mann resigned as “organizing church planter” at the Hellertown, Pennsylvania, Mission Church. The Board issued a call to Albert J. Dommel to serve as “organizing church planter” at Hellertown. The Board hired Carlos Rodriguez to serve at the Reading, Pennsylvania, Mission Church and Mark Morrison to serve at the Cape May, New Jersey, Mission Church. Other potential church planters have been interviewed and assessed during the year. Andy Stapleton has served as a church planting
intern in the Delmarva area during this past summer. Representatives from the Board have served on the “Committee to Study and Propose Mechanisms to Provide Support for Weak or Declining Churches.” The Board supports the committee’s recommendations being made to the One Hundred Twenty Second Annual Conference.
This year we rejoiced in the establishment of new mission churches in Cape May, NJ, and Adams County, PA. In addition to these new missions, there is an investigative Bible study presently underway in Millsboro/Dagsboro, DE. God’s faithfulness is evidenced by the “graduation” of several churches from the Department. Newark, Ocean County, and Cottrell Corners, New Jersey, along with Thompson, Connecticut, have all “graduated” from the Department of Church Extension Ministries. The Long Neck, DE and Newark, NJ churches are involved in building programs that will enhance their ministry to their communities. Long Neck, DE, under the direction of Kenneth F. Barber and Raymond R. Bertolet, will be moving into their brand new sanctuary on Easter Sunday of this year.
The Board has approved the ministry profile and job description for an Assistant Director for Church Planting ministries. The Personnel Committee has begun formulating a plan to fund and fill this position. The “Forward Plan for Church Extension” presently under consideration by the Board will provide a framework to give direction to the Bible Fellowship church planting ministry through 2010. When adopted, the successful implementation of the plan will require the denomination’s support and participation under God’s gracious provision and enablement. The Board is encouraged by the increased awareness, involvement, and participation by the churches in the work of church planting, but there is much yet to be accomplished. Continue to pray for God’s provision and enable-ment as we seek to honor God and serve the BFC in this way.
The following is a list of men who are presently serving in the Department of Church Planting Ministries:
Adams County, PA……………………………………………………………………………….. To Be Called
Brooklyn, NY…………………………………………………………………………………….. Ralph E. Ritter
Cape May, NJ …………………………………………………………………… Mark L. Morrison (interim)
Chesapeake, VA …………………………………………………………………………….. Willis I. Dowling
*Cottrell Corners, NJ ………………………………………………………………. John C. Vandegriff, Jr.
Hellertown, PA ……………………………………………………………………………… Albert J. Dommel
Las Cruces, NM ………………………………………………………………………… Thomas H. Morrison
Long Neck, DE……………………………………………………………………………… Kenneth F. Barber
*Newark, NJ ………………………………………………………………………………. Delbert R. Baker, II
*Ocean County, NJ ……………………………………………………………………………. Dean A. Stortz
Reading, PA …………………………………………………………………………………… Carlos Rodriguez
South Allentown, PA ………………………………………………………………………… Elliot H. Ramos
*Thompson, CN …………………………………………………………….. Dennis W. Spinney (interim)
Worcester County, MD …………………………………………………………………………. To Be Called
*Denotes graduating from Department
Board of Church Extension: Richard E. Taylor, Chairman; Byron Widger, Vice Chairman; William R. Singletary, Treasurer; William G. Schlonecker, Secretary; David E. Gundrum, Executive Director; Robert W. Davies; John C. Elias (resigned during term); Kenneth D. Keeler; Clyde W. Snyder; Carl K. Spackman; Robert H. Zentz