Report of the Board of Church Extension
The Board of Church Extension met four times during the past year to oversee the work of planting churches to the glory of God. In addition to these meetings, committees of the Board met numerous times to facilitate the work of the Board. We express gratitude to the Lord for His gracious provision on our behalf and for His faithfulness to the men and the congregations they serve.
This year has been typical in many ways, with triumphs as well as setbacks. In all of these, we are reminded of our dependence upon the Lord. One cause for rejoicing is that the budget expectations of last year were exceeded. The giving by individuals and churches has been most encouraging, especially in light of the financial concerns of recent years. A word of appreciation is due Carol Snyder, Director of Development. In her tenure, she has been the source of steady information that keeps people aware of what God is doing through the men of the Church Extension Department. Many have expressed appreciation for the prayer packets, prayer calendars, letters and “It Happened Like This” updates. Now is not the time to become complacent, however, as financial restraints remain an obstacle to planting new churches and to adequately providing for the men who serve in the Department. Several men are forced to work full-time in secular employment to meet the needs of their families, bringing a measure of frustration in not being able to give adequate time and energy to the task of church planting. The Board asks you to continue to pray for God’s provision through His people and churches.
The development of mission churches is a joy to behold. The Upper Perkiomen Valley, Pennsylvania Mission has experienced significant growth and has elected elders and deacons. An assessment committee, upon evaluation, has enthusiastically recommended its recognition as a particular church at this year’s conference. The Dudley, Massachusetts Mission, under the direction of Dennis W. Spinney, has purchased property in nearby Thompson, Connecticut and is now meeting in a renovated restaurant building on the property. Several work teams from other Bible Fellowship Churches assisted in the renovation. An assessment committee has been established to evaluate and oversee the progress of the Thompson, Connecticut congregation. Several of the Mission congregations have experienced growth in numbers, spiritual depth, and leadership potential in the past year.
During the year, the Board of Directors requested that the Board of Church Extension assume care and oversight of the congregations at Scranton, Pennsylvania and Englishtown, New Jersey. The Board asks for your prayers and support in nurturing these congregations to re-form as fully organized churches. Roger L. Reitz has accepted a call to serve as organizing pastor of the Scranton, Pennsylvania Mission. This Board has approved the re-formation of the Englishtown, New Jersey Mission under the name Upper Monmouth Mission, and has called John C. Vandegriff, Jr. to be its organizing pastor. Seeds exist for a new Mission in the Upper Pocono Mountain, Pennsylvania area, with John C. Vandegriff lending part-time help in a Bible study.
Larry M. Smith resigned from the pastorate at Walnutport, Pennsylvania to assume a chaplaincy position in a hospital.
The following is a list of the ministries of the Board of Church Extension and the church planters serving in those ministries:
Edison, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis M. Cahill
Richard B. Ravis
Englishtown (Upper Monmouth), New Jersey. . . . . . .John C. Vandegriff, Jr.
Holmes, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert S. Commerford
Newark, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Delbert R. Baker, II
Ocean County, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dean A. Stortz
Pleasant Valley, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David R. Way
Scranton, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Roger L. Reitz
Somers Point, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To be filled
Spencer, Massachusetts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christopher J. Morrison
Staten Island, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ralph E. Ritter
Thompson, Connecticut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dennis W. Spinney
Upper Perkiomen Valley, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . Ronald K. Denlinger
D. Thomas Phillips
Walnutport, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .To be filled
The Board of Church Extension recommends the following resolutions be adopted:
WHEREAS, the Board of Church Extension is of the opinion that the Upper Perkiomen Valley, Pennsylvania Mission meets the qualifications of a church as specified in Article 18 of the FAITH & ORDER of the Bible Fellowship Church, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Upper Perkiomen Valley, Pennsylvania Mission be recognized as a church, and that its delegate be received into membership of the 110th Annual Conference of the Bible Fellowship Church.
WHEREAS, the congregation of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of Scranton, Pennsylvania has, on February 10, 1993, requested that the Board of Church Extension receive it as a Mission and assist it to reorganize and re-form as a particular church, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Church Extension declared its willingness to accept Calvary Church of Scranton as a Mission, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors and the Ministerial Relations Committee, recognizing the urgency of acting to help Calvary Church, have approved the request of Calvary Church and recommended that the Board of Church Extension receive Calvary Church as a Mission, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Church Extension has received Calvary Church of Scranton, Pennsylvania as a Mission, has taken oversight of the Scranton Mission and has called a pastor for the Mission under the rules that govern pulpit supply, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the 110th Annual Conference ratify the decisions of the Board of Directors, the Ministerial Relations Committee and the Board of Church Extension and recognize the congregation known as Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of Scranton, Pennsylvania as a Mission under jurisdiction of the Board of Church Extension.
WHEREAS, the Grace Bible Fellowship Church of Englishtown has, during the year, become incapable of electing elders and continuing as a particular church, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors assumed oversight of the Englishtown congregation under Article VII, Miscellaneous By-Laws of the “By-Laws for Particular Churches,” page 101, FAITH & ORDER, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has requested that the Board of Church Extension accept Grace Church as a Mission, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Church Extension has indicated its willingness to receive Grace Bible Fellowship Church of Englishtown, New Jersey as a Mission and to seek to reorganize it as a particular church in northern Monmouth County, New Jersey, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the 110th Annual Conference recognize the congregation known as Grace Bible Fellowship Church of Englishtown, New Jersey as a Mission under the jurisdiction of the Board of Church Extension, and further
RESOLVED, that this Annual Conference recognize the Board of Church Extension, or whomever said Board shall designate as corporate officers of the New Jersey Corporation known as Grace Bible Fellowship Church.
Board of Church Extension: Dana E. Weller, Chairman; Robert W. Smock, Vice Chairman; Daniel G. Ziegler, Executive Director; William G. Schlonecker, Secretary; William R. Singletary, Treasurer; David S. Focht, Jr., Alfred G. Roberts, Clyde W. Snyder, Richard E. Taylor, John C. Vandegriff, Robert H. Zentz