Director of Church Extension

Daniel G. Ziegler

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF CHURCH PLANTING

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24 NASB).

                  Many years ago, I chose Acts 20:24 as my life verse in the ministry of Jesus Christ. For the past 25 years as Executive Director of the Church Extension Department, I have carried this verse with me.

                  It was after about 25 years in the ministry, that the Apostle Paul spoke solemnly with the elders of the church in Ephesus. It was a turning point in his life and work. He was going to Jerusalem for the happy purpose of delivering a large and loving sum from the churches in Greece to distressed brothers and sisters who had great need.

                  Like his Lord before him, Paul had “resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 NASB). Paul did this because he had a clear direction from the Lord … “compelled by the Spirit,” as he expressed it (Acts 20:22 NIV). He did not know what would happen to him at Jerusalem (v.22), but he could surmise, based on the Holy Spirit’s warning to him, “that in every city … prison and hardships are facing me” (v 23).

                  Behind the Apostle’s hard-rock adamancy to carry out his Lord’s will, was the attitude that he expressed to the Ephesian elders, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” He also stated that he would never see them again (v. 25), but, as he had already declared, he was sure that after he had been to Jerusalem, he “must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21 NASB).

                  When he arrived in Rome, the Apostle found that he was able to proclaim and teach the Gospel freely for two years. “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31 NIV) — despite the fact that he was a prisoner under guard.

                  From his Roman imprisonment, Paul pens a word to the Philippians that reveals why a prisoner and soon-to-be martyr can be a winner, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14 NIV).

WHAT LIES BEHIND

                  1968-1993 has been a good and productive growth period for the Bible Fellowship Church. Assuming that our total membership increased in the past year the same number as last, our 25-year increase of 2,261 members was the highest in any quarter century (next highest was 1918-1943, 2,038). Growth in the previous quarter century was 476.

                  Percentage of growth is a better basis of comparison. The recent 25 years saw membership rise 50%. Raw numbers and percentages for the other quarter centuries are:

                                                        Number        Percentage Increase

                  1943 – 68                           476                           12%

                  1918 – 43                        2,038                          102%

                  1893 – 1918                    1,381                          223%

                  1868 – 93                          619                         210%

         Right now there are 19 BFC congregations that are meeting that were not in existence in 1968, the net product to our church-starting labors through the 25 years. In this time, 16 missions have been able to complete their organization and become recognized as particular churches: Bangor PA, Camden DE, Edison NJ, Englishtown NJ, Finesville NJ, Holmes, NY, Howell NJ, Kutztown PA, Mt. Pocono PA, Newark DE, New Fairfield CT, Oley PA, Poughquag NY, Red Hill (Upper Perkiomen) PA, Walnutport PA, Wappinger Falls NY. Three of these have since died, leaving a net of 13.

         Of the churches that existed prior to 1968, a good number have had outstanding growth. The top ten, in number and percentage are:

Number

1.      Sunbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189

2.      Lancaster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

3.      Allentown, Ceder Crest. . . . . . . . 153

4.      Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

5.      Stroudsburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

6.      Ephrata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

7.      Emmaus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

8.      Graterford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

9.      Lebanon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 (tie)

         Mt. Carmel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 (tie)

Percentage

1.      Stroudsburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410%

2.      Ephrata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219%

3.      Lancaster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202%

4.      Paradise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177%

5.      Lebanon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144% (tie)

         Sinking Spring. . . . . . . . . .144% (tie)

7.      Graterford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120%

8.      Sunbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88%

9.      Mt. Carmel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84%

10.    Harleysville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81%

         Among the 39 “older” churches (that were here in 1968 and survived through 1993), 29 grew (from 1 member to 189) and 10 declined (from -2 to -49 members).

         The Missionary Church met in July 1993 in Lincoln, NE for its General Conference. That denomination is comprised, in part, of churches that, prior to 1952, made up—along with us, the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. In an address to the conference about the vision of the Missionary Church, President John P. Moran called for a redoubled effort to plant new churches. He noted that since 1959, the Missionary Church had started 52 new churches, 47 of which continue to the present. “Most of them are growing well and some have become very strong. Nine are Hispanic, two are Korean, one is Jamaican and one Brazilian” (Emphasis Magazine, September/October, 1993, p.6).

         Dr. Moran went on to state, “Here is a great concern — during the same four-and-one half years that the denomination brought 52 new churches into being, we closed 31 established churches (two withdrew)” (p. 7).

         Denominations that do not maintain aggressive new church formation programs are bound to decline — to lose in both the number of congregations and members. The giant Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States and the only mainline denomination that is growing, has a very active church planting program. It takes a herculean effort to form enough new congregations to keep that denomination growing because so many established churches die each year. (cf. Christianity Today, March 8, 1993, p.57). It is reported that all of the net growth of the SBC in recent years in the U.S. is attributable to the “people group” or ethnic churches that have been planted across this land.

         Some churches will, it seems, inevitably stagnate and decline (as 25% of our churches did since 1968) and some will cease to be. Between 1968 and 1993, we saw 19 congregations close. Four of those came through mergers. A merger always nets the loss of at least one congregation; rarely does a merged church grow to exceed the aggregate size of the partners to the merger, often after a shake-out period the remaining church is no greater than the stronger of the combining congregations. Of the 19 deaths, five had been particular churches, the rest were missions.

         Additionally, three more churches died. They were declining congregations that came and asked the Board of Church Extension to receive them as missions and seek to reorganize them. One (Walnutport) has been returned to status as a church. The others (Staten Island and Scranton) are in process.

         681 members (30% of the membership increase since 1968) are in the new churches of the quarter century. Another 1,051 are attributable to the other “younger” churches that started since 1950. Together, these churches account for 77% of the growth of the period. If we add the growth of Sunbury, Reading, Stroudsburg and Graterford to that of the young churches, all the growth of 20 other churches was offset by deaths and declines of other congregations.

         The “bottom line” is that there are 59 worshiping congregations in the Bible Fellowship Church today, 14 more than there were 25 years ago, with a total of 2,261 more members than there were then. For that, we may give thanks to the Lord.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

         A guiding principle of the Apostle Paul’s life was pleasing the Lord. He wrote to Timothy urging him to be “like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:3). The soldier disciplines himself because “he wants to please his commanding officer” (4. 4). Paul prayed for the Colossian Christians, “… in order that you may … please [the Lord] in every way” (Colossians 1:10). And he instructed the Thessalonian disciples “how to live in order to please God ….” (I Thessalonians 4:1)

         Now we cannot please our Lord by basking in or resting on what we have done in the past. The pertinent questions we need to hear from Him are, “What have you done for me lately?” and “What will you do for Me?”

         We do not forget the lessons we have learned in our service. We shall put those to work today and tomorrow, also. Those who will not learn from history’s mistakes are doomed to repeat them. But as for expecting to please our Master by what we have done rather than applying ourselves to what we need to do today and tomorrow, Paul would advise us to forget it. So he writes about “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead….” (Philippians 3:13).

         I sense a growing concern and consensus among us that we ought significantly to step up our church planting efforts. Factors in this surely include the “2000 and Beyond” emphasis in mission planning, making that dual century/millennium year a focus for evangelistic strategy and goals. And we feel a great need for revival in the American church. Nor do we exclude or excuse our own hearts and our churches from that need. We see a serious, precipitous moral decline in America and our hearts cry out for a spiritual awakening in our land. We see, and are part of, a ground swell of prayer for such a moving of the Holy Spirit in North America. We see an increasing conviction about and commitment to the proposition that our Church must do much more to find, engage, evangelize, and plant churches among the many ethnic people groups who constitute the fastest growing segment of the American populace.

         That these concerns are growing is shown in increased financial support for the Church Extension Department and its work of forming new churches. This year, after several years of budget shortfall, our gift income budget was met and surpassed. That this is a “grass roots” concern is shown in a support increase, over last year, of $1,699 from individuals and $24,027 from the churches.

         This growing support has allowed us to provide a modest line in our 1993-94 budget for starting a new mission. Please pray with us about this — for the Lord’s direction and provision of a harvester (Matthew 9:38). The churches are saving and sending more seed (see my report to the 109th Annual Conference, 1992 YEARBOOK, pages 87-99). We may confidently predict that there will be increased reaping because of this broader seed sowing.

         During the lean recession years when giving fell short of needs, we were helped by an Emergency Loan Fund, so that we did not need to cut salary packages or close congregations. But we depleted that fund. This year we were able to pay back $8,000, $3,282 of which was a principal payment. We plan to continue to repay that fund with interest so that the help will again be there in the future when it is needed.

         WIDER HORIZONS, our plan for growth and expansion during the l985-2000 years received pro forma approval by the Conference, but was never really owned, and it has been, for the most part, a “dud.” Perhaps the spirit of WIDER HORIZONS is rekindling and may become a real factor in our growth in the seven remaining WIDER HORIZONS years.

         How might that happen? Permit me to sketch out some ideas. I hope they will stimulate faith, hope, vision and work for significant — even glorious — growth of our churches and Church.

         Let the churches which are strong and growing mount serious assessments and plans for the formation, in the near future, of daughter churches. The year 2000 is close at hand. When will your church birth a new congregation?

         Let Bible Fellowship Churches pray for church planting laborers and challenge their young men to consider God’s calling to the Christian ministry — to becoming organizing pastors of new congregations in spiritually needy North America. And let churches call forth young families, vibrant singles and vital and vigorous retirees to “sign up” to be helpers in new church formations — to migrate and be part of that kind of missionary work.

         We will actively pursue plans and goals for the formation of new ethnic Bible Fellowship Churches in the greater Philadelphia area through a working agreement with the Center for Urban Theological Studies. With the impetus of our Intercultural Ministries Study Committee, this project will be managed jointly by the Board of Missions and the Board of Church Extension. It should lead to the formation of at least five or six new ethnic congregations within the next seven years. While that is happening, we shall also be aware of, pray for and reach out to other people groups in other areas — Asian Indians in Piscataway and Edison, NJ; Portuguese speakers in Newark, Harrison, Kearny and Elizabeth, NJ; Haitians in Newark and Brooklyn; Hispanics in many communities; Russians in Northeast Philadelphia and Brighton Beach, NY — to name just a few. We shall yearn for them, pray for them, seek to evangelize them and make them disciples of the Lord Jesus. Further, we shall accept and love them as brothers and sisters in the Bible Fellowship Church.

         I have a strong burden for the New England states. For the purpose of church planting strategy and on the basis of historic and cultural connection, I consider “New England” everything from the Hudson River east through Maine. This section of the US is easily accessible to us. It is our nearest neighbor section of the country both geographically and culturally. It has proven to be good soil for the formation of our new churches.

         I have the faith and vision to see a total of 20 Bible Fellowship Churches in New England by 2000 (there are six now). Can you believe and see them?

         New missions may be added at any time, one by one, to our existing Mid-Hudson and New England teams. One target community has already been formally recognized by the Board of Church Extension — Beacon, NY (population 13,000). The Mid-Hudson team is poised to receive a new member. Now is the time for Beacon, while there is great need, wide-spread distress and economic dislocation due to the downsizing of IBM. Christ through the Gospel meets people in distress. But “how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14,15) Who will go to Beacon? And who will send them?

         Valley Church in Poughquag, NY was the first of the Mid-Hudson churches started 20 years ago through adult Bible studies in homes. Before we would open the Scriptures we would have a time of prayer. One evening, Marge Sprenger told us of a relative of hers who lived in Amenia. This woman very much wanted to be involved in a Bible study, but there was none in or near Amenia. “Pray for Amenia!” Marge implored. Through all of these years, I have prayed for Amenia; and to the best of my knowledge, there is still no Gospel witness in that area.

         Amenia is a charming, old-fashioned small town in beautiful Northeast Dutchess County, the center of a farming area with some 6,000-8,000 people. Who will go to Amenia to proclaim the Gospel, teach the Scriptures and plant the church? Who will send them?

         Further north, in Columbia County, are the historic and picturesque towns of Chatham and Kinderhook. About eight or nine years ago the Child Evangelism Fellowship director told us how the children in Chatham were involved in Good New Clubs with responsiveness. When the children would ask Jesus to be their Savior, there was no evangelical church in or near Chatham to which the children and their families could be referred. Chatham needed a church, and, to the best of my knowledge, still does. Who will go to Chatham to start that church? And who will send them?

         Our New England team is reaching the towns of Spencer, Dudley and Webster, MA and Thompson, CT. The organizing pastors there are bivocational. We have identified at least six potential new-church targets in the tri-state area.

         The south side of Worcester, MA (population 162,000) is densely populated and has few if any Gospel preaching churches. Worcester is home to eight institutions of higher education. Who will obey Christ and take His Good News to Worcester? Who will send them?

         Woonsocket, RI (46,000) is an attractive older city whose people are predominantly French Catholic. As far as we know, the only evangelical presence in Woonsocket is a small downtown church. Who will go to needy Woonsocket? And who will send them?

         Milford, MA (23,000) is a classic old mill town. At most, there are two or three evangelical churches there. Who will arise and go to Milford? Who will send them?

         Putnam, Dayville and Danielson, CT are smaller mill towns of 5,000-7,000 population along the I-395 corridor in the northeastern corner of the Nutmeg State. They need biblical churches just like Bible Fellowship Churches. Who will go and establish those churches? And who will send them?

         All of these tri-state opportunities might best be met by bivocational pastors. Partial support packages can be designed. And you will not be there alone. You will be part of a team of planters. If you think the Lord might use you there, contact me and let’s talk about it.

         “Telemarketing” campaigns have proved to be effective and fruitful methodologies for us in starting churches. As time goes by, however, they may become less productive. Because telemarketing is so pervasively and persistently used, there may well be a rising resentment and resistance to the ubiquitous solicitation and sales calls. Further, as we move deeper into the post-Christian era in the United States, there will likely be less of a conscience or feeling in people that “we ought to be going to church.” While telemarketing is still viable, we should try to make the most of it. Success may depend on larger target areas where great numbers of calls may be made. Small to medium sized cities with their suburbs may form the most likely localities for new church starts through telemarketing.

         It is probable, furthermore, that such cities are underchurched and relatively unevangelized, for evangelical protestant churches have moved out of the cities in large number, many of those who remained have disbanded and others are ineffectual as bases for aggressive and winning evangelism and disciple making. There may be few more needy, reasonable or responsible prospective sites for church formation than America’s smaller cities.

         It was in “the wee small hours” of an April night in 1973 that I sat alone in the darkened lounge of a men’s residence hall at Nyack College. My four colleagues from the New Jersey TIE team and I were in Nyack for the annual church growth conference. We would listen to presentations by Arthur Glasser, Donald McGavran, Allen Tippett, Peter Wagner, Chuck Kraft and Ralph Winter, interspersed with church growth case studies and augmented by networking with church planters, missionaries, planners and administrators from all over the eastern United States. The experience was so instructive and stimulating that, being a “night person” anyway, I would find my mind racing, reviewing what I’d heard, interacting with it and spinning off on numerous related tangents. Sleep was far from me, so I had decided to move to the lounge.

         The quietness was so deep I could feel it as I sat there — musing, praying and thinking — on a large overstuffed couch right at the center of the huge picture windows that looked out to the east. Below me stretched the wide bay of the Hudson River called the Tappan Zee. On the opposite shore, from north to south I could see the lights of Croton-on-Hudson Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, North Tarrytown, Tarrytown, Irvington and Dobbs Ferry.

         Directly in front of me, the three-mile long New York Thruway Bridge stretched across the dark water with a graceful curve at each end. The mercury vapor lights on either side of the roadway looked like a magnificent double strand of blue-green pearls. Atop the superstructure of the span, two-thirds of the way across the bay, two red lights blinked on and off at regular intervals. It was in the depth of the oil supply crisis, when hardly anyone was traveling at night, so only occasionally would I see the white headlights or red tails of a car making its way across the bridge.

         My thoughts and prayers of thanksgiving in that time of communion with my Lord were for our exciting Bible studies up the river in Dutchess County. Those wonderful people were avid students of the Scriptures and were growing in grace beautifully. They were reaching out with the Gospel to family, friends and neighbors and would become, as I was hoping, the nucleus of our first church in upstate New York.

         Then as now and all through these two-and-one-half decades I have sought the Lord’s direction and the Spirit’s power for our plans, strategies and methods of church planting. And I have to believe that in some way or other the Father answers these prayers. Usually I expect to find the answer in circumstances or the group decisions that godly believers make after they pray and deliberate, using their renewed minds.

         As I was quiet before the Lord in the middle of that night at Nyack, I was surprised to hear in my mind, clearly and almost as though it were audible, “Plant churches up the Hudson Valley.” I accepted that as a prompt or directive of the Spirit of God and from that day till now I have sought to do it. The Lord has given us a fine cluster of churches that has significantly impacted the Mid-Hudson Valley in Dutchess and Putnam Counties. The Mid-Hudson team of pastors is probably the longest standing regularly meeting ad hoc group within the BFC. It is now in its 17th year.

         I am trying to initiate more new congregations in that Mid-Hudson area as I write this report. I also believe it is time for us to press on into the Upper Hudson Valley. I have a plan, which is at present only mine; it has not yet been approved by the Board of Church Extension.

         About 65-80 miles north of Wappinger Falls there are three small cities that might be the sites where churches may be planted by a new team of organizing pastors. Troy, NY (Population 57,000) was the first center of the steel industry in the US. It was a meat packing center, later the leading center for the manufacture of men’s shirts and collars, and the home of Sam Wilson, the original “Uncle Sam.” Troy is the seat of Rensselaer County, the home to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Russell Sage College, and it aspires to be a leader in the east for high tech industry.

         Pittsfield, MA (52,000) is a typical old industrial city. It is the seat of Berkshire County. Nearby is Tanglewood, the Berkshire Mountain summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. General Electric Company has several large plants at Pittsfield. GE’s current downsizing has some adverse effects on the city. It is also a center for paper manufacture.

         Somewhat south of the other two is the Hudson-Catskill area, with some 13,000 people. All three target areas appear to have few evangelical churches.

         Recent experience at Edison, NJ and Upper Perkiomen, PA leads us to believe that with well-conceived strategies and plans, carefully and consistently executed under the direction of a multiple staff, barriers and plateaus may be surmounted and larger congregations may be formed more rapidly than we used to think possible.

         Simultaneous starts in the three target areas would be called for by teams of two organizing pastors in each city, possibly a veteran and a promising, energetic young man. They would begin by surveying and studying the area and its people, then devising and defining clear visionary plans as to how to proceed. Core group formation would be followed by a phone campaign designed to gather a large number of people. The public meeting should be “seeker friendly,” contextualized to contemporary, unchurched Americans, so as to present the Good News in ways which they would understand and through which they would be invited to trust our Savior. A quality program of teaching and disciple building, possibly using a small group format, would seek to build mature, outgoing believers who could continually impact the area for Christ.

         Will there be ministers and, hopefully, laymen who will be open to moving to these cities as missionaries to pagan America? Would we be able to gather rapidly the funding to launch these churches simultaneously in the near future?

         When the cluster forms, it could be a base for reaching out to other nearby cities such as Albany (102,000), Schenectady (68,000), Amsterdam (23,000), Saratoga Springs (24,000), and Glens Falls, NY (16,000); North Adams, MA (18,000) and Bennington, VT (9,000).

         About a year ago I was headed for a New England Team meeting in Spencer, MA. I was driving east on I-84, which takes me through the cities of Waterbury and Hartford, CT. As I usually do as I pass through these cities, I prayed for them, for the salvation of lost souls there and for the possibility that we might plant churches in these spiritually-barren places. An idea suddenly formed in my mind. It might be a way to penetrate Connecticut.

         The four largest cities in the state are located on two major Interstates, I-84 and I-95. They are Bridgeport (143,000), Hartford (136,000), New Haven (126,000) and Waterbury (103,000). Each of these is within an hour’s travel via expressways from the others.

         The team for simultaneous church plants would include an organizing pastor and a couple or two individuals who could be good coaches for boys and girls sports teams, possibly in three different sports. The design would be to run a teaching and competitive sports program that would span most of the year. In a large city, only athletes with superior ability stand a chance of being on the varsity teams of the high schools. Many others could be excellent players if given the opportunity to develop and compete. This would create an open door for the Gospel — the youths would jump at the chance to be involved; their parents would be grateful that someone would care about their children and run wholesome programs for them.

         The teams would travel to each others’ cities to compete in a league. A team bus would be an essential need for each of these missions. The vehicles would double as transport to the congregation’s meetings and activities (many city dwellers do not own autos and public transportation is usually deplorable on Sunday mornings.)

         One caution about this model: the organizing pastor would have to commit the whole sports program to the coaches. He would need to devote all of his time and energy to pastoring, evangelizing, discipling and forming the church.

         If the strategy spreads, the league could be expanded as new church plants and sports programs are added in such places as Danbury (60,000), Bristol (57,000), Meriden (57,000), New Britain (74,000), Norwich (38,000), Torrington (31,000), Stamford (102,000) and New London (29,000).

         This would be significant penetration by the Church of a state where it and its message are desperately needed. Could we raise up the pastors and coaches to lead such a program? Would our churches and people care enough and be motivated enough to support it?

         The historic Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire presents us with a string of great cities, mainstays in the industrial revolution in America, that could be ideal for our small-city strategy. And I can assure you that all of them are spiritually needy and severely underchurched. The cities are: Newburyport (16,000), where George Whitefield died and is buried, Amesbury (13,000), Haverhill (47,000), Lawrence (63,000) and Lowell (92,999) in MA; and Nashua (68,000), Manchester (91,000) and Concord (30,000) in NH.

         Another New England corridor with similar possibilities is the Connecticut River/I-95 route through Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont-New Hampshire, where the river defines the boundary between the two states. In addition to Hartford, other Connecticut cities might include Middletown (39,000), and historic Wethersfield (26,000) to the south, Windsor (18,000) and Windsor Locks (12,000) to the north; Springfield (152,000), Holeyoke (45,000), and Northampton, MA (29,000), locale of the major life ministry of Jonathan Edwards; Greenfield, MA (14,000); Brattleboro, VT (9,000) and White River Junction, VT/Hanover, NH (10,000).

         Another highway for the Gospel could be Route 1 along the magnificent rock-bound ocean coast of Maine in cities and towns from Kittery to Bar Harbor. Who would want to go for the Gospel’s sake to Maine? Who will send them there?

         But, you say, you talked about 20 New England churches by 2000 and then you cited more than 50 different cities! Yes, I did! Do you think we could possibly undertake all of that? Probably not, but if we were unitedly to stand on tip toes and stretch out “straining toward what is ahead,” we could likely enjoy at least 14 more New England missions opening by 2000 and have at least a toe hold in all six New England states. And I believe that would be exciting.

         But, you say, should we put all of our eggs in the New England basket? And, as a loyal Pennsylvanian, can’t we plan for some new churches in our state, too?

         Of course we can. Let me suggest that we return to the approach used by our BFC predecessors in the first four decades of the 20th century. How did our forebears get off the farm and out of the rural villages in which they had grown up? They targeted all of the cities in eastern Pennsylvania and planted enduring churches in most of them.

         In view of the fact that most of the heartland of the Keystone State is economically depressed and declining in population (much farmland is reverting to woodland), I have often wondered how we might be able to press out westward to plant churches. I think the small-city strategy may be the answer.

         There are 24 cities in Pennsylvania with populations of 20,000 or more that do not have a Bible Fellowship Church within them. Some that might be targeted for church plants may include Chester (46,000), Upper Darby (84,000), Warminster (36,000) Wilkes-Barre (52,000), Easton (26,000), Norristown (35,000), Pottstown (23,000), Hazleton (27,000), Williamsport (33,000), State College (36,000), Altoona (57,000), New Castle (34,000), Johnstown (35,000), McKeesport (31,000), Erie (119,000) and Pittsburgh (424,000). For reasons cited above, many of these are short of credible and lively evangelical churches and are in grave need of Gospel witnesses. Careful surveys and demographic studies would help us to discern where the greatest need and opportunity lie. In addition, there are 54 towns and cities of between 10,000 and 20,000 persons scattered throughout the Commonwealth, many of which are truly lacking the Bread of Life and the Living Water. Who will go as ambassadors of Christ to needy communities in the Keystone State? Who will give to send them there?

         If we can successfully penetrate western Pennsylvania and establish some churches there, we may then think how we might march farther west to plant churches. A strategy might be to target major metropolitan areas such as Buffalo, NY; Cleveland and Columbus, OH; Detroit, MI and Indianapolis, IN. A substantial ministry team could go to the metropolitan area to plant the first Bible Fellowship Church there. From the start, the objective would be a cluster of three or more churches in the greater area centered in the major cities. Who will be the pioneer penetrators of the BFC in these new target area? Who will band together to send them there?

         We should also start to work on a strategy to move into the Sun Belt to proclaim the Gospel and establish churches. I suggest that we might begin in several areas in the Carolinas and Florida where there are substantial numbers of “Yankee” transplants and where there is a demonstrable need for new evangelical churches. There are some localities in those states where BFC people have moved or will tend to relocate. Who will go? Who will help to send?

         An advantage of targeting cities is that it should enhance and accelerate ministry to the various ethnic people groups among us in North America. They tend to gravitate to the cities. In some localities we shall discover the large presence, and make them our objective. In others, wholesome, well-nurtured disciples will reach out to, and welcome, all peoples. Multiverse congregations will form in some cities, in others the young churches will evangelize the people groups and help them to form homogeneous-unit churches, perhaps sharing the same facilities. In any case, the young churches are likely to model better ways for all of us.

         I have not set forth these opportunities to overwhelm and frustrate my readers! And I do not mean to convey that we may arbitrarily pick and choose which of them, if any, we shall seek to fulfill. The Board of Church Extension is willing and able, by God’s help, to prioritize and to choose where the next new churches should be started. Into that choosing process, we do welcome your input.

         I have set forth these matters to demonstrate that we are surrounded by great spiritual need in America, to raise consciousness and to summon forth vision; to help us to see what we can and should do.

         We have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). We have received the Holy Spirit in order that we should be Jesus’ witnesses (Acts 1:8), and we dare not exclude our “Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria” from that witness. We have received the Gospel as a charge, with the responsibility to deliver it to all (Matthew 28:19,20), and thus we are under obligation to all (Romans 1:14). The Bible knows nothing of evangelism apart from the church. We are summoned to be builders of His church with the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 3:10-15). Our compliance with these commands and directives should be freely given from our heart and not by compulsion, except as “Christ’s love compels us” (II Corinthians 5:14). Oh that all persons should have the opportunity and privilege of the benefits and blessings of being part of the Body of Christ. We must do all we can toward that end.

         I grieve over the lost vision for WIDER HORIZONS, but I cherish the hope that the Spirit of God will yet rekindle that flame in our hearts. I long to see our hearts and our churches revived in a new burst of love for Christ and for our lost fellow humans. I pray for a real spiritual awakening in us, and that will bring hosts of Americans into Christ’s Church. I pray, “O rend the heavens, come quickly down, and make a thousand hearts Thine own” (William Cowper). I still pray that there will be 55 more Bible Fellowship Churches in 2000 than there were in 1984. I still ask the Lord that at the close of the year 2000, should He tarry, there will be at least 14,293 members in my denomination. And I know that it could happen; if our God chooses to answer that prayer, it could happen in a few days through God’s mighty saving grace, “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:38). Are we willing to return again to the vision of WIDER HORIZONS, only this time, really to mean it, sincerely to own it and then with dedication and zeal to plan and pray and labor and love so that, by faith, the vision will become reality?

WHAT LIES BETWEEN

         I have looked back over a quarter century of service in extending the Church to try to learn the lessons from our successes and our failures and to give thanks and praise to God for victories won. But I have chosen, as did the Apostle Paul, to “forget what is behind” because the life and walk with Christ must be alive and active now, TODAY! I do not place my confidence in old things that are long past. So I have chosen to ask myself and my readers two questions.

         1. What will we do for Christ? I have sought to challenge and to stimulate my Church forthrightly and honestly to face and answer this question. Quick answers, that are lightly given and then soon forgotten and forsaken, will not do, for “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

         We must carefully, clearly and with faith answer this question and our answer must be clear and specific. Then, to carry it out we must formulate clear plans and goals. To plan to do no more than we have already been doing can hardly be worthy of our Lord, who gave Himself for us.

         In a helpful recent book on practical ecclesiology titled God’s Missionary People, Charles Van Engen writes about goal setting.

The church needs to set priorities in the midst of the Church-kingdom-world interaction, and follow them with a series of goals, translated into plans of action for all the people of God. Then the Church as mission will begin to reach out to the world to find there that what it does in the world it in fact does “unto Me,” unto its Savior and Lord……..

It must create concrete, workable, time-lined and prayerful plans of action whereby the people of God can become truly the “salt of the earth” in our world and in our generation. Without such careful and intentional planning, missionary congregations never emerge and are never build up to become God’s people in mission in the world. (P. 145, italics the author’s)

         When godly, sincere and specific answers have been given, it remains for us to follow the example of the Apostle Paul of resoluteness in carrying out the Lord’s will as we understand it and as we have articulated it in our priorities, goals and plans, “straining toward what is ahead.”

         We have considered “what is behind” and “what is ahead,” but between these times there is today, the here and now, when we face the other question:

         2. What have you done for Christ lately? It is here that we briefly record and assess what we have done in the year just closed.

         There are 14 congregations that comprise the Church Extension Department. Four of them have already been recognized as particular churches and are members of this Conference.

         The church at Walnutport, PA will celebrate its centennial next year. It is gaining strength and credibility as a church. After four-and-one-half years as pastor at Walnutport, Larry M. Smith, resigned in July. He saw the need to be closer to his widowed mother (he is her only child) and he has taken a position as an institutional chaplain at Geisinger Hospital in Danville. He did a fine work as pastor at Walnutport, during which the church grew and progressed solidly. I look forward to the time when he will return to serve with the Department.

         Calvary Church is searching for a successor pastor.

         The church in Ocean County, NJ continues to grow and solidify. An effective Vacation Bible School was held during the summer, with youths from Calvary Church in Sinking Spring helping to teach and run the program.

         With help from its members and others from outside the local area, including youths from Grace Church in Quakertown, a survey was made of nearly 1,000 homes near the church’s meeting place, the Ocean County Boy Scout Council Building in Manchester Township. Some contacts from the survey and others from the community have recently begun to attend worship. Worship attendance has averaged about 60 in recent weeks. Dean A. Stortz is pastor at Ocean County.

         Christ Church of Edison, NJ continues to grow and solidify. Average attendance at worship is about 150. The recent ruling by the US Supreme Court recognizing that churches should be treated on a parity with other non-religious community groups in their use of public school buildings has helped the Edison church by easing the uncertainty of the congregation’s meeting at the Washington School. Dennis M. Cahill and Richard D. Ravis comprise the pastoral staff at Edison. The church sharply reduced its appropriation this year.

         Faith Church at Holmes, NY is pastored by Robert S. Commerford. The church is enjoying a steady flow of visitors on most Lord’s Days. The parking lot was recently paved, and the church is redecorating the interior and painting the exterior of its fine building. For 1993-94, Faith Church has requested that its appropriation be reduced 56% to just $200/month.

         The Upper Perkiomen Valley mission, known as Community Bible Fellowship Church, meets in its own building in Red Hill, PA. Ron Denlinger and D. Thomas Phillips serve as pastors. The congregation met in its spacious building for the first time on October 18, 1992 and dedicated it to the Lord on Sunday afternoon, November 15, before a nearly full house.

         During the year, the congregation began to form its charter membership roll and elected elders and deacons. The officers were installed on June 20. The congregation is presented to the 110th Annual Conference for recognition as a particular church and reception into Annual Conference membership. This recognition will come just 26 days into its third year after its first Lord’s Day public worship on September 22, 1991.

         Community Church enjoyed a fine Vacation Bible School in August with attendance of 150 children, double that of the previous year.

         We have three organized missions — that is, they have begun their membership rolls but have not yet been able to elect local elders.

         The mission in Newark, NJ has been going for 18 years under the pastoral leadership of Delbert R. Baker, a bona fide urban specialist. It has a well-defined program and presence in the city. Its ministry embodies a clear focus on overt, aggressive evangelism, sensitive, purposeful disciple building and compassionate, constructive diaconal ministry to the needy. Most of the members of the congregation have been brought to Christ through this ministry.

         Organizational progress of the Newark mission has been difficult, especially in the matter of congregational leadership (elders). It looks to this observer as if we are clearly moving toward the objective of choosing elders.

         Growth of the congregation is being impeded by an undersized church building. Intensive prayer coupled by a thorough search for a larger facility has been going on for several years. We hope a God-designed solution to this problem will soon be realized.

         In Staten Island, NY, a growing and vital congregation is taking shape. Ralph E. Ritter is the organizing pastor. The personnel of the congregation, as in Newark, reflects a diverse neighborhood. Well conceived and executed teaching and discipling programs for all ages are bearing fruit.

         The growing and exciting “hands on” ministry of work teams from established churches, which is taking place on many of our fields, has been especially dramatic and transforming at Staten Island. Groups from the churches in Harleysville, Sunbury, Spring City and Coopersburg have “worked their magic” on the buildings and grounds. This summer a team of young people from Emmaus, under the direction of Pastor and Mrs. David Schoen, gave an intensive week of street ministry, featuring puppets, Vacation Bible School and evening film presentations with significant impact.

         The growth of the mission and its programs has mandated the return of the Christian education building to its intended usage. It had been rented as a residence for years. It is presently undergoing extensive renovation and redecoration. Its use will enable the congregation to grow in effectiveness of ministry and in number.

         Our newest organized mission is Calvary Church in Scranton, PA. This struggling congregation has been in decline, but has “hung on” in a needy place. On February 10, the members voted to request that the Department receive them as a mission and help them to reorganize.

         An assessment of the prospects for this work revealed a suitable plant in the Hill section of the city. The neighborhood is heavily populated and stable, with well-kept homes. An increasing number of young families is settling into the gracious and attractively-priced housing there. The need for an evangelical church on the hill is manifest.

         With the concurrence and counsel of the Board of Directors and the Ministerial Relations Committee, the Board of Church Extension resolved to accept Calvary Church as a mission. Roger L. Reitz, whose prior effective ministry at Catasauqua and Emmanuel Church in Philadelphia commended him for the Scranton situation, accepted the Board’s call and began his ministry on August 1. Already there are positive statistical indications of effectiveness.

         Our assumption of this work at Scranton has created a need for new designated gift income. The first year commitment for appropriations is about $17,000. Of this, we estimate about $6,000-$7,000 annually in designated support for the Reitz family will continue, leaving a need for an added $10,000-$11,000. We ask the churches to bear this need in mind and to help us to meet this need as they are able.

         We have five unorganized missions, that is congregations that have not yet begun formation of their charter membership rolls. The Somers Point, NJ mission was met by an assessment committee over a year ago. It gave evidence then of having eight to ten committed families ready to accept membership. Subsequently, however, several of these either moved away or wavered in their commitment. Consequently, the membership process has been postponed.

         Upon the departure of Pastor Reitz for Scranton, a search has begun for his successor. We still believe in the need for this ministry in the Atlantic County area and we look to the Lord to bring it to completion. Because the Reitz family has taken some personal support with them to Scranton, there will be need of some $7,000-$8,000 in new designated offering to meet the needs of this church plant in the shore area.

         Similarly, at Spencer, MA an assessment committee met the congregation and found that there were eight to ten professed committed families. The committee approved the formation of the membership roll, but expressed concern over evidence that they found in the in-depth process that the group appeared to be rather deeply divided in its assumptions and expectations for what the church should be.

         As time passed, the polarization grew and before the membership process was consummated, a large number withdrew. A few remain faithful, standing with Pastor Chris Morrison in trying to start over almost from “go.”

         On January 13, the Bible Fellowship Church took title to the former Stage Coach restaurant building in Thompson, CT to serve as a home for our mission which serves that community along with Webster and Dudley, MA. Months of hard work by the people of the mission and helpers from afar prepared the premises to be a house of worship. The congregation began to use the building in May, and following a mini-phonathon, had the grand opening on June 6, with an attendance of about 40. Present average attendance is in the 30s. A dedication service is being planned for the near future.

         The number of committed families is nearing ten. The Board of Church Extension named an assessment committee for Thompson on September 10. Dennis W. Spinney is the founding/organizing pastor.

         The Pleasant Valley, NY mission has been growing and may be nearing the organized mission stage. After 29 years of employment at IBM, Pastor David R. Way accepted a company buy-out and retired as of April 1. He has delighted in being able to give his full time to the pastorate, and the results of his labors show in the statistics.

         Next April 1, 1994, when his full salary arrangement with IBM ceases, there will be need for $710/month in new designated support to keep Brother Way in the full-time work of the Gospel.

         During the year, a new mission was opened in the Upper Pocono area of Pennsylvania near the confluence of Interstates 84 and 380, under the pastoral leadership of John C. Vandegriff, Jr. The group has been meeting weekly on Thursday evenings for worship and Bible study. In this phase, the work is fully supported internally without need for funds from the Board.

         Pastors Vandegriff, Upper Pocono and Reitz, Scranton with the Director form a new church planting team. This may provide opportunity for other future new starts in the Pocono-Luzerne, Lackawanna area, which may join the team one by one.

         A brand new, yet old, mission is in process of formation in the Middletown-Red Bank area of eastern Monmouth County, NJ. When the Englishtown, NJ church was no longer able to elect elders and to function as a church, the congregation voted to disband and turn the work over to the Board of Directors. In turn, that Board has asked the Board of Church Extension to accept the work as a mission.

         The Board has called John C. Vandegriff, Jr. as lead pastor for this congregation which will be his primary focus for ministry as he also continues with the Upper Pocono mission. A second pastor will join the leadership team soon.

         The concept for this continuation-in-relocation of Grace Church, Englishtown is to begin with an initial core group which will meet on a weekday evening for worship and edification through teaching of the Scriptures. Sunday meetings will be “seeker friendly,” making use of contemporary music, drama and the arts , along with “how to” preaching, applying the Gospel and the Scriptures to the unchurched where they live today and in words and style which they can understand. Small caring groups and quality children’s ministry are also part of the plans for this church.

         Initial support for this work, which will be known as Twin Rivers Community Church (the Navasink and Shrewsbury Rivers define boundaries of its target area) will come from assets of the Englishtown church and designated giving. We do not anticipate a need for general fund appropriations from the Board.

         During the year, surveys have been conducted in Monmouth, Salem and Cumberland Counties, NJ, Chester and Northampton Counties, PA and Scranton, PA. Areas under some consideration for new missions include Southern New Jersey, Hellertown and the Downingtown area of Pennsylvania.

THE UPWARD CALL

         A driving force and motivation for the Apostle Paul in his church planting work was Christ’s heavenward call and the prize to which he looked forward after he had completed his race. Spurred on by that hope, he wrote, “I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I [discipline myself] … so that I … will not be disqualified for the prize” (I Corinthians 9:26,27). Facing his martyrdom, he wrote, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (II Timothy 4:8). That can include us, too. Let’s do it!