2011 Report of Conference Reporter
It can rightly be said that the Bible Fellowship Church has essentially been built on prayer, and prayer was the focus of the 128th BFC Conference. OK, it’s certainly true that every BFC Conference has featured prayer in every session, dating back to our very roots. This year’s conference went a huge step further, though, by inviting Daniel Henderson of Strategic Renewal Ministries to address the pastors, delegates and guests on what it means to “ignite the heart of the church through personal renewal, congregational revival and leadership restoration for the glory of Jesus Christ.”
BFC Executive Director David T. Allen opened conference on Monday night with a message entitled, “Built on a Foundation of Prayer.” The topical message, which was part history lesson, part pep talk, reminded us that movements without prayer are doomed to prayer while movements that are built upon prayer have God’s blessing. “May it be prayer that carries us forward as we live through today and move toward tomorrow,” Brother Allen concluded. In His role as guest teacher, Henderson challenged pastors and delegates through four sessions spread throughout the conference – two each on Tuesday and Wednesday. Strategic Renewal is a ministry that exists to ignite the heart of the church through personal renewal, congregational revival and leadership restoration for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Henderson’s vision is as follows: “Pastor-led, local church-oriented movements of Christ-exalting, worship-led prayer – leading to a full-scale revival, supernatural evangelism and cultural transformation.” His central theme was the absolute necessity of worship-based prayer (as opposed to a request-based approach to prayer), one which focuses the attentions of believers on God, not on self. Henderson defined the differences between the two prayer foci thusly: A request-based approach to prayer simply seeks God’s hand – what He can do for us – while a worship-based approach to prayer seeks God’s face – the beauty of who He is.
The recognition of two new particular churches in Hellertown, PA (Saucon Community) and Woodbury Heights, NJ (New Beginnings) highlighted Monday’s opening night of Conference. Church Extension Director David Gundrum likened the recognition of both churches – who were “voted in” by identical and unanimous 91-0 votes – to high school students who are preparing for their commencement exercises. “There are two churches tonight that are going to receive their diplomas,” Gundrum said. “They’re here to graduate. They’re here to walk.”
One of Monday evening’s connective threads focused on the support both new churches received from existing BFC congregations. Saucon Community was birthed out of our Coopersburg congregation while Woodbury Heights, which started in a garage in Mantua, NJ, received considerable assistance from Grace BFC in Wallingford.
“No one person can take credit for this work,” noted Saucon Community pastor Tim Zuck, speaking for his own congregation but certainly making a statement that is true for both. “The work in Hellertown has been a team effort, a partnership of persons and churches.”
During its existence, Saucon Community has encountered several ebb-and-flow periods, but the church’s growth is proof of God’s guiding hand. “This is just the triumph of God’s grace,” Zuck said. “His grace is the undeniable reason for this church’s existence.”
Likewise, New Beginnings has witnessed God’s sustaining hand throughout its existence as the church survived the deaths of its founding pastor and one of its key elders. Harry Nessler, elder and delegate, noted, “We’re ecstatic to be here tonight, in this position. None of us saw this coming…God did it all. “He continues to do amazing things every day in Woodbury Heights,” Nessler concluded.
“We’re grateful to be part of the Bible Fellowship Church,” explained New Beginnings pastor Dan Williams. “We are not just excited to be New Beginnings. We’re excited to be New Beginnings Bible Fellowship Church.”
While much of Tuesday’s time was devoted to the necessary business of the Bible Fellowship Church – reports and finances – Tuesday night’s ordination ceremony brought several guests to Pinebrook as eight men were either ordained or had previous ordinations recognized.
“I am grateful that God led me to the BFC four years ago,” noted Joshua D. Edwards, who has been serving as youth pastor at Bethel BFC in Emmaus. “I am thankful to my God, who, as Paul said, has given me strength and has counted me faithful and has placed me in His service.” Marcos Ramirez Montalvo, serving in Merida, Mexico, thanked his Bible Fellowship Church brothers for extending their welcome across national borders. “Gentlemen, thanks for opening your doors and allowing me to be part of you.”
Brother Ramirez Montalvo, by the way, had the blessing of several “guests” by way of a first-ever live streaming of BFC Conference. Yes, the Bible Fellowship Church has gone high-tech, allowing interested parties from hundreds of miles away – missionaries in the field as well as members of the church in Merida – to watch the proceedings.
Others who were ordained included David J. Peters, Michael D. Roberts, Aaron J. Susek and Timothy M. Zuck, while Mark R. Orton and James Arcieri had previous ordinations recognized. Arcieri’s path to the BFC was especially winding and included service in several denominations. That may explain why his two sons, attending college in Virginia, did not attend Tuesday night’s service. “They’ve seen this before,” he said. “This is the third time I’ve been `revved up,’ so to speak.”
While the list of ordained men in the BFC grew by eight, the passing of five faithful servants was also noted at this year’s conference as respects were paid to the late James Beil, Larry Bennett, Walter Frank, Harvey Fritz and David E. Thomann. The many positive qualities of each man were recalled, with David A. Thomann offering this assessment of his father. “While Dad was not a great preacher, he was a great pastor. He loved people, and they loved him back. And the first time you met him, you would know exactly where he stood with the Lord because he wanted to know where you stood with the Lord. “Dad was a faithful servant, but the best thing about him was that he was Dad.”
Musical worship was led by Brother Rick Paashaus. Monday night’s worship time featured an ensemble from Calvary BFC in Coopersburg while a team of pastors provided backing in other sessions. Music ranged from traditional hymns to contemporary pieces by modern hymn writers like Bob Kauflin, Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.
A special standing ovation at this year’s Conference was given to R.C. Reichenbach, who presented his last report as secretary of the Beneficiary Society – after 55 years of faithful service. “I think I’ve paid my dues,” Brother Reichenbach said. Donald Kuntzman was elected as his successor.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronald L. Kohl
Conference Reporter
128th Annual Conference