Report of the
Board of Church Extension
The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:5-6
…you have no awe of Me, declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.
Jeremiah 2:19
This is a timely truth for these days of uncertainty and challenge. As Wall Street searches for the bottom, people on Main Street are searching for answers that will provide hope and peace for their troubled lives. We have that answer and it is found in a person, Jesus Christ, and in a meaningful connection to Christ’s body, the church. The BFC is poised to embrace this opportunity to reach many with the Gospel and establish local churches that will serve as lighthouses in our communities. Our own nation has become a mission field, characterized by a loss of awe for God. We have the great privilege to “build the Body of Christ through extending the Bible Fellowship Church in the world by means of evangelistic church planting.” As individuals are saved and churches are planted, people will grow to maturity, living with an appropriate awe of God and influencing our world for righteousness.
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.
David E. Gundrum, Executive Director, Mark L. Morrison, Assistant Director and Lisa Christensen, Administrative Assistant; form an effective and efficient team in the office. The Board recognizes the immense value of each of these individuals and the specific roles they fulfill with excellence and diligence. William Singletary, long-time Board member and treasurer of Church Extension Ministries, and Carol Z. Snyder, who works on various publications and communications, provide invaluable support behind the scenes. Raymond R. and Louise Bertolet continue on special assignments within the department. Ray has devoted significant time during this year at our Cape May County, NJ, Mission Church. Richard E. Taylor, Chairman of the Board of Church Extension Ministries, provides exemplary leadership in the board meetings, both administratively and with respect to his passion for church planting.
The Personnel Committee is very active in meeting with and providing direction for each church planter. Timothy M. Zuck was called as Church Planter of the Hellertown, PA, Mission Church. Aaron J. Susek was called as Church Planter of the Adams County, PA, Mission Church and Daniel L. Williams was called as Church Planter of the Woodbury Heights, NJ, Mission Church. The Board urges Annual Conference and the churches to pray for the success of these church plants and the new men called to serve in them. Frank E. Lenahan resigned as Church Planter of the Cape May County, NJ, Mission Church. The Chesapeake, VA, Mission Church, where Willis I. Dowling served as church planter, has been closed. It is a sobering decision to close a mission church and great prayer and care are taken in considering numerous factors. The Board does not take the significance of these decisions lightly and rests in the Lord’s sovereign direction in these matters. Byron Widger has stepped down from serving on the Board and we are grateful for his years of excellent service.
A new mission church was opened in Hanover Township, PA, with Mark E. Barninger being called as Church Planter. This is a joint effort of the Harrisburg, PA, BFC and the Board of Church Extension Ministries. Significant ground work was laid in Milford, DE, culminating in a public informational meeting this year. We continue to pray for God’s timing and direction with respect to a church plant in Milford, DE. The Adams County, PA, Mission Church was able to purchase property that includes an existing church building. They have recently begun meeting in their new facility.
Several Aquila and Priscilla teams continue to provide encouragement and support. Harry and Sandra Workman continue to assist in Long Neck, DE, and also have assisted in surveying and planting seeds in Milford, DE. Jason and Joanne Englehart are serving in the La Roca Mission Church in Reading, PA, and Russell and Eleanor Ruch continue to serve at the Hellertown, PA, Mission Church. Doug and Kashie Boyd and Mark Bickel have assisted at Cape May, NJ, during this year. Clyde and Carol Snyder continue to assist at Adams County, PA, and Neil and Lisa Christensen have begun assisting at El Faro in Allentown, PA. 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?
In November, a team representing Annual Conference and the Joint Committee on Ethnic Church Planting visited with our brothers and sisters at the Iglesia Biblica La Roca in Merida, Mexico. A charter was presented to them as they celebrated becoming a Particular Bible Fellowship Church. Two members of the Board of Church Extension were a part of that team: Alfred G. Roberts and William G. Schlonecker.
The newly formed Endowment Development Committee continues to formulate a strategic financial plan to supplement the Church Extension Ministries’ strategic plan of planting churches for years to come. Board member Robert W. Davies has formed a capable team to develop this increasingly important area. As costs to plant a church increase and our national economy quivers, we must be purposeful in stewardship, establishing financial stability and the resources necessary to continue to move forward appropriately.
The Board is deeply appreciative of the prayers and financial support of so many of our churches and individuals. The challenge before us is great but the opportunities have never been greater. The future of the BFC is directly related to the success of our mission to expand the BFC through evangelistic church planting. To that end, it is crucial that all of us consider not merely standing firm in our support, but even boldly increasing by faith. God is delighted to move when His people respond in faith, even against what makes sense from a human perspective. 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. Please consider making a personal contact with at least one of these dear church planters and their families through the year. Even better, consider “adopting” one of them to pray and care for through the year. 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, PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron J. Susek
Brooklyn, NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ralph E. Ritter
Cape May County, NJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be called
Hanover Township, PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark E. Barninger
Hellertown, PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timothy M. Zuck
Reading, PA (La Roca). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlos Rodriguez
South Allentown, PA (El Faro). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elliot H. Ramos
Woodbury Heights, NJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel L. Williams
(formerly Mantua, NJ)
Board of Church Extension Ministries: Richard E. Taylor, Chairman; Carl K. Spackman, Vice Chairman; William R. Singletary, Treasurer; William G. Schlonecker, Secretary; Robert W. Davies, Kenneth D. Keeler, Alfred G. Roberts, Robert A. Sloan, Clyde W. Snyder, Robert H. Zentz, David E. Gundrum, Executive Director.