Report of the
Board of Church Extension
The Board of Church Extension Ministries is the church planting arm of the BFC, seeking to “build the Body of Christ through extending the Bible Fellowship Church in the world by means of evangelistic church planting.” The Vision Statement of Church Extension Ministries states that we will “efficiently and effectively plant new Bible Fellowship churches, promote and facilitate daughter and regional church planting, and connect with groups seeking affiliation with the Bible Fellowship Church.” The Board met four times since last Annual Conference and various committees of the Board met additional times to accomplish its necessary work.
The Board recognizes the immense value of each member of the team. David Gundrum, Executive Director, has provided faithful and diligent leadership for another year. Mark Morrison, Assistant Director, works closely with several church planting pastors in providing oversight, accountability, direction, and encouragement. He devoted significant time to Cape May, NJ, Adams County, PA, Hellertown, PA, and South Allentown, PA, during the past year. Though Mark has served full-time for this year, he remains in need of additional support from churches and individuals. Lisa Christensen, Administrative Assistant, continues to serve with excellence in this area of ministry. William Singletary, long-time Board member and treasurer of Church Extension Ministries for many years, continues to devote many hours in his retirement to keeping the financial records of the Department with excellence. Carol Snyder continues to assist in special assignments, publications, and communication. Raymond and Louise Bertolet have completed their ministry at Long Neck, DE. Ray has also completed several demographic surveys of potential church plant areas in the Delmarva region. This year the Lord called home John and Judy Pello, long-time servants in the BFC church planting ministry. Their devotion to the Lord, heart for church planting, and servant hearts will be sorely missed.
The Personnel Committee is very active in meeting with and providing direction for each church planter. David Way and Frank Lenahan resigned from Adams County, PA, and Cape May, NJ, respectively, both seeking the Lord’s will regarding future ministry opportunities. The Chesapeake, VA, Mission, where Willis Dowling has served as church planter, will be closed this year. Though a church was not planted, lives were impacted for Christ through the Dowling’s ministry. The Board is grateful for the faithful service of these men and their wives / families. The Board was also pleased to issue a call to Marcos Ramirez to serve as Church Planter at Iglesia Biblica La Roca, Merida, Mexico, and to Carlos Rodriguez to serve as Church Planter of La Roca Mission Church in Reading, PA. We give thanks to God for these growing Hispanic Mission Churches and the men being called to serve in the BFC. Two Training Days were held for church planters and Tim Zuck and Al Dommel attended the CMTC’s Church Planter’s Boot Camp in Lancaster, PA. Church planting intern, Tim Zuck, is presently serving at the Hellertown, PA, Mission Church.
Several Aquila and Priscilla teams continue to provide encouragement and support. Harry and Sandra Workman are assisting in Long Neck, DE, and are eager to see how God will grow His church in the Delmarva region. Jason and Joanne Englehart are serving in the La Roca Mission Church in Reading, PA, and this year Russell and Eleanor Ruch began serving at the Hellertown, PA, Mission Church. Pray for these auxiliary team members who are so vital to the development of church plants. Visits to mission churches for worship services can go a long way in encouraging church planters and their congregations and reminding them that they are not alone. Also, numerous church plants would welcome assistance in the areas of music and youth ministry. Why not consider how you or a group from your church can personally be of assistance and encouragement to a particular mission church?
We rejoice that two mission churches will be presented to the 125th Annual Conference to be recognized as Particular Churches – Las Cruces, NM, and Iglesia Biblica La Roca, Merida, Mexico. These two new Bible Fellowship Churches expand our denomination to new horizons. We pray that these are the first fruits of many more to come, by God’s grace and for His glory. Dennis Spinney and the Thompson, CT, church are diligently seeking to plant a daughter church in the nearby Danielson / Killingly area. There are presently several churches in various stages of discussion and exploration of connecting with the BFC.
This year the Board formed an Endowment Development Committee in order to formulate a strategic financial plan to supplement the Church Extension Ministries’ strategic plan of planting churches for years to come. Board member, Robert Davies, attended the “Professional Development Training Program” in Indianapolis. As costs to plant a church increase, we must be purposeful in stewardship, establishing financial stability and the resources necessary to continue to move forward appropriately.
The Board continues to evaluate and make adjustments to the “Forward Plan for Planting New Bible Fellowship Churches in 2006-2011 – Missions Here and Now.” This strategic plan continues to provide a focus and direction for the great task before us. The Board encourages each local church to review this plan and to consider ways to be increasingly involved in reaching these goals for God’s glory and the strengthening of the BFC for the future. Prayer and financial support from churches and individuals are the backbone of this ministry. As faithful stewards, this ministry seeks to maximize every gift given and is grateful for the heart of each giver. Hundreds of individuals pray regularly for Church Extension Ministries, many using the monthly prayer guide supplied. Please help the Board by making these available and accessible to as many in your congregation as possible. Continue to pray for the Lord of the harvest to raise up church planters from among our churches and to lead others to partner with us in this endeavor. Pray for the church planters. These men and their families faithfully and sacrificially serve – some bi-vocationally – and often without the things that pastors of established churches take for granted. A note of encouragement or a personal visit at the right time can make all the difference for a discouraged church planter. The Board covets the continued prayer and support of so many churches and individuals.
The following is a list of men who are presently serving in the Department of Church Extension Ministries:
Adams County, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To be called
Brooklyn, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph E. Ritter
Cape May, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To be called
Mark L. Morrison, Interim Church Planter
Chesapeake, Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Willis I. Dowling
(to be closed this year)
Hellertown, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albert J. Dommel
Las Cruces, New Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thomas H. Morrison
Long Neck, Delaware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathon W. Arnold
Mantua, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To be called
Merida, Mexico (Iglesia Biblica La Roca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marcos G. Ramirez
Reading, Pennsylvania (La Roca). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlos Rodriguez
South Allentown, Pennsylvania (El Faro). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elliot H. Ramos
Worcester County, Maryland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To be called
The Board of Church Extension recommends the following resolutions be adopted by the 125th Annual Conference of the BFC:
1. Whereas, the Board of Church Extension is of the opinion that the Las Cruces, New Mexico, Mission Church meets the qualifications of a Particular Church as specified in Article 18 of the Articles of Faith of the Bible Fellowship Church, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Las Cruces, New Mexico, Mission Church be recognized as a Particular Church, and that its delegate be received into membership of the 125th Annual Conference of the Bible Fellowship Church.
2. Whereas, the elders currently serving at Iglesia Biblica La Roca Mission Church in Merida, Mexico, meet the qualifications for an elder in the Bible Fellowship Church, and
Whereas, more than twenty persons are committed participants in the La Roca Mission Church, and
Whereas, La Roca Mission Church has demonstrated that it can offer an adequate salary package for a pastor and is able to financially maintain its ministry outreach and facility costs, and
Whereas, the Board of Church Extension is of the opinion that the Iglesia Biblica La Roca Mission Church of Merida, Mexico, meets the qualifications of a Particular Church as specified in Article 18 of the Articles of Faith of the Bible Fellowship Church, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Iglesia Biblica La Roca Mission Church of Merida, Mexico, be recognized as a Particular Church, and that its delegate be received into membership of the 125th Annual Conference of the Bible Fellowship Church.
Board of Church Extension Ministries: Richard E. Taylor, Chairman; Byron Widger, Vice Chairman; William R. Singletary, Treasurer; William G. Schlonecker, Secretary; Robert W. Davies, Kenneth D. Keeler, Alfred G. Roberts, Clyde W. Snyder, Carl K. Spackman, Robert H. Zentz, David E. Gundrum, Executive Director; Mark L. Morrison, Assistant Director.