DO WE HAVE A STAKE IN PHILLY?

Last Friday and this past Monday evenings, I was able to join two of our Philadelphia churches. One was for a cool coffee house and the other for a message and prayer. Thirty to fifty from children to grandparents attended the one and tweleve dear, committed disciples the other.
One was composed of more fringe and new people and the other by a faithful, fervent core. Both are located - from the persective of an outsider - in the fourth of perhaps five rings of residence in Philadelphia: still urban, yet somewhere in the middle class. Both are located in one of the major cities in the northern Atlantic - "our neck of the woods."
I have an answer to my question in the title. It is yes. One reason the answer is yes relates to what was once said in one of our more rural churches, "God loves people - Cities have lots of people - God loves cities a lot!"
Another reason is that we have five works in Philadelphia, led by and composed of people like the rest of us, believing and teaching what we believe and teach. We have high stakes in Philadelphia.
Please join me in praying how we and you can step up our and your involvement in Philadelphia, and in other major cities in the northern Atlantic, too. God has called them to do the work, but we should bear our part of the burden (consider Galatians 6:2). Please pray, too, for the Crossroads Community Church-Northeast, led by Jim Brown with Dan Browning, and for First Grace Brethren Church, led by Shawn Kidder, both meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

WHITE UNTO HARVEST

Since blogging last time, I've been priviledged to visit two more of our NAF churches. Last week, Tuesday evening was invested with the Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church in Bethelehem, PA, near Allentown. One of the church leaders, Dale Weaver, led the discussion of the Revelation.
Several were in attendance, including Pastor Larry Humberd and an elder, which began with a fellowship meal together. The church there is placed by the Lord in the midst of a great mission field, and they are taking steps to move out into it. Pray for the Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church, led by Larry Humberd!

Earlier this week I had the joy of challenging the Monday evening gathering in Philadelphia, PA called the Comly Street Chapel. The Lord burdened Mark Rowe with the continuing ministry opportunity in the Wissinoming area, so the doors have remained open.
The numbers were small, but the Lord is honoring Mark's desire and continuing the work begun there. Among others, two young boys were eager learners with open Bibles, and visiting brothers from another MetroGrace work and from Indiana assisted as we worshiped the Lord together. We are confident that Christ is building His church in this neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Pray for the Comly Street Chapel, led by Mark Rowe.

FAITHFUL

That's the word that comes to mind as I reflect back on my visit yesterday evening with Grace Church in Skippach Township, PA. My younger son, Samuel, and I joined the weekly Bible study in the home of Spencer, originally from our church in Simi Valley, CA. In the living room of his home we had house church last night.

Kenn Cosgrove, with his wife Gail, have labored in this part of the Lord's vineyard for over two decades. Much seed has been sown, and some harvest has taken place. Their trust is in the word of the Lord, Who says it "shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it forth" (Isaiah 55:11).

With leadership and vision, the increase will come. Pray for Grace Church in Skippach Township, PA, led by Kenn Cosgrove.

DEFINING "CHURCH"

It is always encouraging to find out that people are reading and paying attention. Last month I wrote in my NAF moderator's eletter that I will be working over and communicating with the readers about how we define, or decide that we have a, “church.” My observation from our regional, national and international fellowships is that there is a lot of variety in how people, both leaders and followers, in our NAF churches are defining and deciding about “church.”

There was response to this issue. Certainly the email from Jerry Young, former long-time pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, PA was helpful. Jerry wrote that he served as chair of the FGBC (Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) strategy committee of 1990, which presented a report entitled, “Elements of a Grace Brethren Church” which was approved by the delegates of the national annual conference that year.

It reads as follows:
"A Grace Brethren Church is a local assembly of believers in Jesus Christ who are affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, or its counterpart Fellowship in other nations, and are committed to:
1. One another as a spiritual family;
2. The Statement of Faith as a summary of our biblical belief and practice;
3. The practice of triune-immersion baptism and three-fold communion;
4. Oversight by an elder (or elders) who fulfill(s) scriptural qualifications; and
5. The observance of regular worship services.
The purpose of a local church is the worship of God, the edification and fellowship of believers, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission."
1991 Brethren Annual, page 16

So, as we respond to the challenge of every NAF church bringing a daughter church to our regional conference next year, this statement helps us understand both the mother and daughter churches involved. Jerry added, “To the best of my knowledge, this definition has never been officially altered by later conferences.”

What are your thoughts as we press on in discipling the nations?

CHURCH AT AMERICA'S FAVORITE PASTIME?

What a surprise it was for me to arrive last week at the Limeport, PA baseball field, where a fledgling group is meeting under the leadership of Dick Keller. The surprise was not the group, but where they meet. It really is at the baseball stadium in this beautiful neck of the woods in southern Lehigh County.

It is an easily identifiable and accessible location for the Family Life Fellowship, easy for Sini,the manager of the nearby deli to join us for the Bible discussion. Dick and his wife, Rose, have been faithfully laboring there for over a year, and have high hopes for what God will do in and through them. Recently, they have been especially encouraged by the cooperative ministry with an NAF church, Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church from nearby Bethelehem/Allentown.

Pray for Family Life Fellowship, led by Dick Keller.

ADOPTING CHURCHES

Recently I have had the priviledge to visit two of our NAF churches which have been adopted by other NAF churches. In both churches I have sensed a real joy in the adoption and renewed vision for what God will accomplish in these works.

I met Al Kidder at the facility of the Suburban Grace Brethren Church in Hatboro, PA. Two dear sisters in Christ were waiting with Al and his wife, Susie. The small fellowship reminisced on the faithfulness of God to this church through the years, even in the helping of a new church in nearby Telford. Now that church, Penn Valley Grace, was preparing to adopt the church in Hatboro, which had helped them originally to get their start. How wonderful and mysterious the ways of our mighty Savior and Head of the church, Jesus Christ.
Pray for the church in Hatboro, PA during this time of transition, and for Al and Sue Kidder as they tranisition to new ministry for them as well!

Earlier this week I traveled down into Lancaster county with our evangelist at New Beginnings, Joe Couch, to meet with the church on Rohrestown Road, Lancaster Grace (adopted by Grace Church at Willow Valley, Lancaster, PA). Galen Wiley and his wife, Elsie, were there with others to greet us. Soon others joined us for their prayer meeting time.
It was my joy to again cast the challenge and vision for an explosion of church planting throughout the northern Atlantic region. We reviewed from the book of Acts the dynamic strategy of those who received the great commission from the Lord Himself and from those who heard it from Him: worshipping, sending, evangelizing, discipling, appointing, commending and reminding (see original posting). I closed with my conference challenge to the gathered NAF churches: Bring back a daughter church to conference in 2008!

Evangelist Joe then taught and exhorted the gathered church to evangelize. The law of God functions as the sinner's "tutor," bringing him or her to conviction of sin (Galatians 3:24), then the gospel is truly good news to the humbled sinner: law to the proud, grace to the humble. Animated conversation followed, as many sought Joe's advice and to learn from his experience.
Pray for Lancaster Grace, led by Galen Wiley, as they respond to the Spirit's moving toward bold evangelism.

NAF ON THE MOVE!

Thank you for praying for us as your NAF executive team met at the Penn Valley Church April 30 for our quarterly meeting. God gave us a great time of prayer together as we considered how He would have us move forward during the year. Let me briefly update you on what we discussed and accomplished during our time:

> Heard from Willis Frank, our secretary/treasurer, that we more than covered our expenses for the annual meeting and celebration March 18 in Telford at Penn Valley Church.

> Reviewed our purpose as a regional fellowship of churches: To encourage and unite NAF churches in obeying Christ's command: Make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:16-20).

> Reviewed our individual responsibilities on the team, and gave our vision and goals for the year.

> Heard some exciting plans from Dan Travis, moderator-elect, for next year's celebration.

> Heard some a big vision for the following year from Steve Galegor, 2nd moderator.

> Discussed briefly my challenge for the year: Each NAF church bring a daughter church to conference next year. I will be working over and communicating regarding two matters: (1) the application process to become an NAF church and (2) how do we define or decide that we have a "church."

> Chris Skowronek (Centerpoint Community Church, Berlin, CT) has agreed to head a task force which will explore aggressive and visionary church planting in New England.

> We will meet next July 16 @ 10:00 a.m. in Myerstown, PA in the facilities of New Beginnings GBC.

Let’s keep praying and working.

Yours for discipling the nations from the northern Atlantic, Dan Jackson, Moderator