Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1997 - Rparchives.org

16 MINUTES OF THE 1997 SYNOD OF THE
coming to serve as their new pastor, they thank God for His continual mercy
keeping them as a body intact. God has truly been good. Their numbers have
remained consistent and many of them have seen how God has used them, blessed
them, and caused them to grow in maturity. They are pleased to have had Lilly
Roche rejoin their church family after moving back into the area. They are also
excited to have Matilde Wong and Francis Chao join their congregation. Both are
involved in Bible study and are faithful to the worship of the Lord. They continue
to see how God provides a variety of cultures in their midst. They are truly a
diverse body of believers, yet knitted together by the same Spirit. Through the
challenges, many of them have found where their gifts are. Many of them have
been blessed as other faithful members have met needs in teaching, in the
diaconate, and in encouraging one another in the Lord. They look forward to even
greater things taking place as their new pastor arrives in April. God has already
provided graciously in giving housing for the pastor in close proximity to the
Church. Pray for them as they seek to establish a greater presence in the
community of Ridgefield Park and as they seek to grow in His grace.
The White Lake congregation is served by Pastor David Coon. The congregation
gives thanks to their Gracious God for continuing to renew and nurture life within
their congregation. They added siding to the exterior of the church building and
plan for more of the building to be handicap-accessible. They elected two new
deacons this year. One of their former Datop residents has settled in their area.
The Lord is building a greater sense of community, including plans for another
congregational retreat at the camp this summer. Please pray with them that the
Husbandman will cause them to be more effective.
Atlantic Presbytery maintains the ministerial credentials of five teaching elders
who are not currently serving as pastors of congregations:
1. Philip Coon, retired and residing in Gettysburg, PA.
2. William Cornell, currently working as a professional truck driver, serves as
member of the Broomall Session and preaches occasionally upon request rendering
pastoral services for RP congregations in the presbytery and for the Presbyterian
Reformed Church in Bethesda, MD. Bill also assists at a truckstop chapel in Elkton,
MD.
3. Thomas Houston teaches high school Spanish in the Lancaster area. He
preaches occasionally upon request and remains a member of the Lancaster mission
church.
4. James P. Kern has resigned from the pastorate of the Cambridge RPC as of
this meeting of Presbytery, and plans to remain in the area for the time being.
5. Jonathan Leach serves as Chaplaincy Program Director at White Haven
Center, a residential care facility operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Jonathan also serves as chaplain in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard,
preaches monthly for the Hazleton congregation and is a member of the session.