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SUMMER <strong>2016</strong> | USPS 165-700
Pennsylvania-Delaware Ministry <strong>Network</strong><br />
4651 Westport Drive<br />
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055<br />
Read online: penndel.org/connexions<br />
Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen R. Tourville<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Editor: . . . . .Donald J. Immel<br />
Managing Editor: . . . . . Carole Bongiorno<br />
Volume 62 Number 2 - (USPS 165-700) is the official periodical<br />
published quarterly by the Pennsylvaina-Delaware District Council of<br />
the Assemblies of God. Periodical postage paid at Mechanicsburg,<br />
Pennsylvania. Circulation Stands at Approximately 7,500<br />
POSTMASTER:<br />
Send address changes to:<br />
Pennsylvania-Delaware District Council<br />
4651 Westport Drive<br />
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-4887<br />
Executive Presbytery<br />
Superintendent . . . . . . . . .Stephen R. Tourville<br />
Assistant Superintendent . . . Bryan Koch<br />
Secretary/Treasurer . . . . . . Donald J. Immel<br />
Timothy Bunney Southwest Suburban - SWS<br />
Christopher Clark North Central West - NCW<br />
Roland Coon Delaware - DEL<br />
Steven DeFrain East Central - EC<br />
Jeffrey Kettering South Central - SC<br />
Jeff Marshall Southwest Metro - SWM<br />
Robert Novak Greater Philadelphia Area - GPA<br />
James Pentz North Central - NC<br />
Randall Rhoads South Central East - SCE<br />
Walter Smith South Central West - SCW<br />
Allan Thorpe Northwest - NW<br />
David Twiss Northeast - NE<br />
General Presbyters<br />
Stephen R. Tourville<br />
Donald J. Immel<br />
Bryan Koch<br />
Honorary General Presbyter<br />
Philip Bongiorno<br />
PennDel Superintendent Emeritus<br />
WE’RE BETTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
Dr. Stephen R. Tourville, Superintendent<br />
CARRYING THE VISION. ...................... 4-5<br />
Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent<br />
PENNDEL AND THE AG IN PERSPECTIVE ...... 6-9<br />
Donald J. Immel<br />
A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP . ................ 10-11<br />
Donald J. Immel, Secretary / Treasurer<br />
PENNDEL MINISTRY NETWORK:<br />
100 YEARS IN THE MAKING. ................. 12-17<br />
A CENTURY OF GROWTH AND<br />
DEVELOPMENT IN THE PENNDEL<br />
MINISTRY NETWORK. ....................... 18-19<br />
Church Planting, Tom Rees. ..................20-21<br />
Assistant Superintendent, Bryan Koch. ....... 22-23<br />
World Missions, Donald J. Immel. ............ 24-25<br />
Christian Education, George Krebs. .......... 26-27<br />
University of Valley Forge, Dr. Don Meyer ..... 28-29<br />
Youth Ministries, Doug Sayers. ............... 30-31<br />
Women of Purpose, Ruth Puleo. ............. 32-34<br />
Girls Ministries, Sharon Poole. .................. 35<br />
Royal Rangers, Greg Scott. .................. 36-37<br />
HonorBound, Tom Rees. ....................... 37<br />
PennDel <strong>Centennial</strong> Churches. ............... 38-39<br />
TOGETHER<br />
DISTRICT<br />
COUNCIL<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 3
Superintendent<br />
DR. STEPHEN R. TOURVILLE<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT<br />
“WRITE DOWN THE REVELATION (VISION)<br />
AND MAKE IT PLAIN ON TABLETS SO THAT A<br />
HERALD MAY RUN WITH IT.” HABAKKUK 2:2 (NIV)<br />
CARRYING<br />
Celebrating our 100th District Council is both exciting and sobering. Exciting<br />
because we look back on the last century, and we celebrate the great things God<br />
has done through our fellowship. We are Carrying the Vision.<br />
In the words of our presbyter from the Northeast Section, Pastor David Twiss who writes<br />
about the memories of the past:<br />
Could it be the sounds of the Jericho brass reverberating off the ceiling of the Cow Palace<br />
or the harmonies of the Couriers springing from the walls and hallways of the Zembo<br />
Mosque? Is it the sounds of “Let Thy Mantle Fall on Me” and the laying on of hands by<br />
the brethren in scores of churches throughout PA and DE? Is the financial and leadership<br />
savvy of Philip Bongiorno or the heart of a Harold Crosby or Clayton Sheridan? Could it<br />
be the explosive miracles of a Smith Wigglesworth, the fire of Steve Hill, or the spectacle<br />
of the healing services of Katherine Kuhlman? Is it just glimpses of the silken preaching<br />
of David Laquintano, or the Pentecostal fire of the likes of Thomas Trask and J. Roswell<br />
Flower? Is it starting a bus ministry, sidewalk Sunday School, Kids’ Crusade, Judgment<br />
House, Christmas pageant, Easter drama, Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Flames, Royal Rangers<br />
or Girls Ministries? Is it launching small groups, a food pantry, or any other “you name it”<br />
that has been accomplished in ministry over these past 100 years?<br />
No, we are Carrying the Vision, not simply a memory. Memory is part of vision, but vision<br />
goes beyond where memory stops. Vision takes you where you have never gone before.<br />
The celebration is not only exciting but also it is sobering. We realize there is a great<br />
challenge that still lies before us. I am reminded of the words of Rev. Loren Triplett, the<br />
former director of the Assemblies of God World Missons, who said, “You don’t measure<br />
yourself by your success, you measure yourself against the unfinished task.” While we<br />
are grateful for the thousands of individuals and the hundreds of churches God has<br />
4 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
THE VISION<br />
raised up through our network, the laborers are still too<br />
few because the harvest is still so great.<br />
What will it take to make a difference in the “unfinished<br />
task?” I am convinced it is about “Carrying the Vision.”<br />
My generation and those who have preceded me have<br />
seen many changes through the years. We have gone<br />
from store fronts and tent meetings to beautiful facilities,<br />
padded pews and megachurches and at the same time<br />
continued to embrace those store front opportunities<br />
and simple venues in order to reach “the one.” We have<br />
transitioned in many of our dress codes, developed<br />
many programs for evangelism, accepted some forms of<br />
entertainment as being permissible, and have become<br />
respectable in the religious world – even envied by some.<br />
Before World War II, ours was a pacifist movement,<br />
but that all changed with the “just war” concept to<br />
counteract Nazism. Although missions continues to be a<br />
prime directive, many individuals and churches not only<br />
send missionaries, they also go as missionaries to the far<br />
regions of the world.<br />
Lest anyone wrongly surmise that the challenges are<br />
behind us, the future holds many opportunities for the<br />
church to hold high the values and ideals of the Word<br />
of God. From the cultural acceptance of gay marriage,<br />
to evangelistic atheism and from the questions of<br />
appropriate levels of political involvement to the ethical<br />
questions raised by scientific advances related to the<br />
sanctity of human life, along with non-Pentecostal<br />
influences that present challenges to both doctrinal and<br />
governance uniformity, the future generation will deal<br />
with the vital issues that provide the opportunity of<br />
honoring God’s Word and continue to walk in His favor.<br />
The vision has been and continues to be to change the<br />
world one person at a time.<br />
The admonition of the Apostle Paul to his young protégé<br />
seems appropriate in this context “Watch your life and<br />
doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you<br />
will save both yourself and your hearers.” I Timothy 4:16<br />
(NIV) Every generation is challenged with the words of<br />
the Lord to “Write down the vision and make it plain on<br />
tablets so that a herald may run with it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)<br />
May our memories of the past prepare us to press for<br />
the vision of the future that God desires us to fulfill!!<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 5
General Superintendent<br />
DR. GEORGE O. WOOD<br />
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD<br />
PENNDEL AND THE<br />
Small beginnings have produced much growth. The Assemblies of God<br />
came into being as a result of a small convention in Hot Springs, Arkansas,<br />
April 2-12, 1914. At this gathering, some one hundred twenty pastors and<br />
evangelists registered as delegates representing twenty states and several<br />
foreign lands. In all, about 300 men, women, and children participated in the<br />
founding convention. And now, more than 100 years later, the Assemblies of<br />
God has become one of the largest families of Christian churches in the world.<br />
6 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
Left: Alice R.<br />
Flower 1910<br />
Right: Azusa<br />
Street Mission,<br />
Los Angeles, CA<br />
AG IN PERSPECTIVE<br />
A number of factors led up to the founding of the<br />
Assemblies of God. Before the closing of the frontier,<br />
a series of revivals had refreshed the land under such<br />
preachers as Barton Stone at Cane Ridge and Charles<br />
G. Finney. This culminated in the last great nationwide<br />
revival which occurred on the eve of the Civil War in<br />
1858-59, a revival sometimes called the great “Prayer<br />
Meeting Revival.”<br />
Sometime after the Civil War, the freshness of a vital<br />
experience with Christ was exchanged for a “culturereligion.”<br />
A mood of self-satisfaction and complacency<br />
began to replace the earnestness and prayerfulness of<br />
earlier years in many churches across the land.<br />
As social unrest challenged the tranquility of American<br />
domestic life, a series of devastating ideas weakened the<br />
American churches: Biblical criticism, liberal theology,<br />
Darwin’s The Origin of Species published in 1859, and the<br />
rise of the social gospel in which education and social<br />
activism were to displace the old-fashioned mourner’s<br />
bench.<br />
SHAPING THE COMING PENTECOSTAL<br />
REVIVAL<br />
Two parallel, sometimes overlapping, movements—<br />
Fundamentalism and the Holiness revival—developed in<br />
opposition to what was felt to be an alarming trend in the<br />
larger church world. Each of these conservative reactions<br />
was to have a significant influence on the shaping of the<br />
coming Pentecostal revival and the Assemblies of God.<br />
FUNDAMENTALISM. Fundamentalists stressed verbal<br />
and inerrant inspiration of the Bible, which was seen as<br />
the final and complete authority for faith and practice.<br />
Contributions to the shaping of Assemblies of God<br />
theology were its views on Scripture, on the person<br />
and work of Christ, on the shaping of its doctrine of<br />
sanctification in distinction from their traditional Holiness<br />
view, and in its emphasis on the second coming of Christ.<br />
HOLINESS MOVEMENT. The Pentecostal movement owes<br />
much of its inspiration and formation to the Wesleyan<br />
Holiness revival of the 19th century. Its emphasis on<br />
spiritual experiences and its tradition of earnestly seeking<br />
God created a receptive mood for the Pentecostal<br />
revival. The methodologies of the camp meeting and the<br />
revival were eagerly adapted. From the Keswick wing<br />
(which emphasized the “enduement of power”) of the<br />
Holiness movement came the Bible institute program, the<br />
ecclesiology of the Assemblies of God, the missionary<br />
vision, the emphasis on divine healing, much of its early<br />
hymnology, and even a significant portion of its early<br />
leadership.<br />
As the spiritual tempo began to rise in the late 1800s,<br />
prayer bands met in various areas of the United States and<br />
in many places throughout the world. Bible conferences<br />
were held and much was written about conditions of the<br />
Christian church. God began to respond to these cries for<br />
revival and began to pour out His Spirit upon individuals<br />
and various groups of believers. Some of the great<br />
preachers who helped to usher in the Holiness movement<br />
and the rise of Pentecostalism include A. B. Simpson, R. A.<br />
Torrey, D. L. Moody, William Booth, and Maria Woodworth-<br />
Etter. In the late 1800s, there were isolated reports of a few<br />
individuals, such as William Jethro Walthall in Arkansas<br />
(1879), Daniel Awrey in Delaware, Ohio (1890), and Carl<br />
Hanson in Dalton, Minnesota (1899), experiencing the<br />
baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in<br />
tongues.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 7
ROOTS OF TWENTIETH CENTURY<br />
PENTECOSTALISM<br />
Pentecostalism as a movement traces its roots back to<br />
January 1, 1901, when God poured out His Spirit among a<br />
group of students at Charles Parham’s Bethel Bible College<br />
in Topeka, Kansas. Here it is reported that Agnes Ozman<br />
became the first of millions in the twentieth century to<br />
experience the Pentecostal baptism. In spite of strong<br />
opposition, this revival spirit moved through Kansas, into<br />
Missouri, southward to Texas, and finally to the West Coast.<br />
Here it broke out anew in 1906 in the Azusa Street Mission<br />
of Los Angeles, and from Azusa Street the Pentecostal<br />
message spread all around the world. Among the first to<br />
receive Pentecost in the Azusa Street mission was Mrs.<br />
Rachel Sizelove who later took the news to Springfield,<br />
Missouri, which is now the home of the Assemblies of God.<br />
Others experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in the<br />
Azusa Street revival included Elder C. H. Mason, founder of<br />
the Church of God in Christ; Pastor William Durham, of the<br />
old North Avenue Mission in Chicago, who a few years later<br />
spearheaded discussion of the “finished work of Christ”; G.<br />
B. Cashwell, of Dunn, North Carolina, who was instrumental<br />
in taking the message to the southeastern United States;<br />
and Elmer Fisher, founder of the Upper Room Mission in<br />
Los Angeles. Joseph Smale, T. B. Barratt, and others from<br />
overseas visited Azusa Street. Still others went out from<br />
Azusa Street as missionaries to Hong Kong, Korea, South<br />
Africa, Liberia, and many other places.<br />
To trace the stream of Pentecostal history in every<br />
direction from this point becomes virtually impossible<br />
because of its rapid spread. Nevertheless, in 1906-07, the<br />
revival broke out among students at the Christian and<br />
Missionary Alliance ministerial training school at Nyack,<br />
New York, and four early leaders of the Assemblies of God<br />
received the Holy Ghost: David McDowell, Frank M. Boyd,<br />
Gordon F. Bender, and William I. Evans. Pastor D. W. Kerr<br />
accepted the message at Beulah Park Camp Ground near<br />
Cleveland, Ohio, in 1907. That same year, Marie Burgess,<br />
later Mrs. Robert A. Brown, carried the message from<br />
Zion, Illinois, to New York City, where she and her husband<br />
pastored Glad Tidings Tabernacle, a strong missionary<br />
church in the Assemblies of God.<br />
In January, 1907, Glenn A. Cook held a revival in<br />
Indianapolis, where J. Roswell Flower, First General<br />
Secretary of the Assemblies of God, was converted.<br />
Alice Reynolds, later Mrs. J. Roswell Flower, received the<br />
baptism of the Holy Ghost at this time. Two years later, J.<br />
Roswell Flower gave up the study of law and, assisted by<br />
his fiancée, sponsored a camp meeting in Indianapolis. At<br />
this camp he, too, was filled with the Spirit.<br />
FORMING THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD<br />
Others had similar experiences as the Pentecostal fire<br />
began to spread. Eventually it seemed necessary to form<br />
an organization of like-minded Pentecostals under one<br />
Bible name for the purpose of spreading the gospel,<br />
training workers, and banding together to send out<br />
missionaries.<br />
At the close of<br />
1913, E. N. Bell’s<br />
Pentecostal<br />
paper, the Word<br />
and Witness,<br />
issued the now<br />
famous call for a<br />
general council<br />
of Pentecostal<br />
ministers to<br />
convene in<br />
Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the spring of 1914—the call that<br />
culminated in the founding of the Assemblies of God.<br />
In the fall of 1913, Howard A. Goss, then pastor at Hot<br />
Springs, had discussed such a gathering with E. N. Bell,<br />
editor of Word and Witness. Since Goss had a lease on<br />
the Hot Springs Grand Opera House, they decided to call<br />
for a council to meet there April 2-12, 1914. Carried on<br />
the front page of the December 20 issue of Word and<br />
8 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
DR. GEORGE O. WOOD \\ PENNDEL AND THE AG IN PERSPECTIVE<br />
Witness, the call was addressed to “The Pentecostal Saints<br />
and Churches of God in Christ,” and was signed by M. M.<br />
Pinson, Phoenix, Arizona; A. P. Collins, Fort Worth, Texas;<br />
H. A. Goss, Hot Springs, Arkansas; D. C. O. Opperman,<br />
Houston, Texas; and E. N. Bell, Malvern, Arkansas.<br />
Five of the basic reasons for calling the General Council<br />
were (1) to achieve better understanding and unity of<br />
doctrine, (2) to know how to conserve God’s work at<br />
home and abroad, (3) to consult on protection of funds<br />
for missionary endeavors, (4) to explore the possibilities<br />
of chartering churches under a legal name, and (5) to<br />
consider the establishment of a Bible training school with a<br />
literary division.<br />
THE BASIS OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD<br />
“Keep the<br />
unity of the<br />
Spirit in<br />
the bonds<br />
of peace…”<br />
At the first General Council, a “Preamble<br />
and Resolution on Constitution” was<br />
adopted which identified the new<br />
Fellowship as the General Council<br />
of the Assemblies of God. This<br />
voluntary cooperative organization<br />
was inaugurated for the purpose of<br />
following “Scriptural methods and order<br />
for worship, unity, fellowship, work and business for God,<br />
and disapprove of all unscriptural methods, doctrines,<br />
and conduct” in order to “keep the unity of the Spirit in<br />
the bonds of peace, until we all come into the unity of the<br />
faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God …” (Eph.<br />
4:17-32). The delegates also moved to consider the five<br />
purposes announced in the Convention Call in the Word<br />
and Witness.<br />
This basis of fellowship held the Assemblies of God<br />
together until the Statement of Fundamental Truths was<br />
adopted in 1916 and until the official constitution and<br />
bylaws were adopted in 1927. From those formative years,<br />
the Assemblies of God has developed a multitude of<br />
evangelistic programs and experienced an explosive rate<br />
of growth, reaching all segments of society both in the U.S.<br />
and abroad.<br />
While the Assemblies of God is growing in America,<br />
the real story is the ethnic transformation of the AG as<br />
our Fellowship is becoming more global, diverse, and<br />
growing. Over the years there has been a demographic<br />
US ASSEMBLIES OF GOD<br />
• 12,897 Churches<br />
• 37,068 Ministers<br />
• Over 3 Million Adherents<br />
• 67 Million Adherents<br />
Worldwide<br />
shift in the AG. Certain<br />
segments of the AG<br />
seem to be in spiritual<br />
and numeral decline,<br />
mirroring the general<br />
decline of Western<br />
culture and its rejection<br />
of biblical value. However, non-whites and immigrants are<br />
eagerly embracing a strong Pentecostal identity, bringing<br />
much growth in numbers in the AG. The founders of our<br />
Movement laid the foundation for this growth when at the<br />
second General Council in November 1914, they committed<br />
the fellowship to “the greatest evangelism that the world<br />
has ever seen.” Currently, as of the 2015 statistics, the<br />
Assemblies of God in the U.S. has 12,897 churches, 37,068<br />
ministers, and over 3 million adherents. Worldwide, the<br />
Assemblies of God has over 67 million adherents.<br />
FORMATION OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT<br />
COUNCIL<br />
This same religious fervor and growth as seen in the<br />
Assemblies of God as a whole, is also found in the<br />
formations of the Eastern District which is now known<br />
as the PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong>. David McDowell did<br />
not attend the historical gathering in Hot Springs, but<br />
afterwards, Chairman E. N. Bell, notified him of his election<br />
as a General Presbyter for the Eastern part of the United<br />
States, instructing him to organize an Eastern District.<br />
After much planning and debate, the Eastern District was<br />
formed at a convention held June, 14, 1917 at Glad Tidings<br />
Hall, New York City, with Robert Brown as the host pastor.<br />
At that time the district included all the churches affiliated<br />
with the AG in the region east of the Ohio River and above<br />
the Potomac River. Early superintendents included John<br />
Coxe (1917-1918), Robert A. Brown (1918-1922), Joseph<br />
Tunmore (1922-1930), J. Roswell Flower 1930-1936), Flem<br />
Van Meter (1936-1943), and Wesley R. Steelberg (1943).<br />
The New England District<br />
(which later was split into<br />
Northern New England and<br />
Southern New England)<br />
was formed out of the<br />
2015 PENNDEL<br />
MINISTRY NETWORK<br />
434 Churches<br />
1,173 Ministers<br />
Eastern District in 1919. In 1943 a vote was taken to divide<br />
the district again, and New York-New Jersey became a<br />
district of its own (later becoming separate districts of<br />
New York and New Jersey in 1954). A. Newton Chase<br />
became the superintendent of the Eastern District after the<br />
split in 1943. Chase served as superintendent for 16 years<br />
(1943-1959), followed by Russell Williams (1959-1978), and<br />
then Philip Bongiorno (1978-2002). In 1983 the district<br />
voted to change its name to the Pennsylvania-Delaware<br />
District, which became effective on July 1, 1983. Currently<br />
the district has 434 churches and 1,173 ministers as shown<br />
in the 2015 statistics. Stephen R. Tourville is now serving<br />
as District Superintendent since 2002. This year marks<br />
the 100th MinistrieSummit/District Council as PennDel<br />
begins a year of reflection, commitment, and renewal as it<br />
embarks on its second century of growth and ministry.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 9
written by Donald J. Immel<br />
CARRYING THE VISION<br />
A Legacy of Leadership<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS<br />
Leadership has always been an<br />
integral part of God’s plan. In the Old<br />
Testament we see men and women<br />
ordained by God to lead His people, Israel,<br />
and in the New Testament we see Jesus<br />
investing Himself in the Apostles to carry<br />
forward the task of building His church.<br />
The Apostles in turn invest themselves<br />
in growing leaders as can be seen in the<br />
relationship of Barnabas and Paul, Paul and<br />
Timothy, etc. These leaders would guide<br />
the church through its formative stages as<br />
new believers were added and discipled.<br />
When the General Council of the Assemblies<br />
of God was formed in the first quarter of<br />
the twentieth century, regional councils<br />
were developed under the General Council<br />
umbrella. David McDowell was chosen as the<br />
General Presbyter for the Northeast region<br />
and was asked to form a District Council<br />
east of Ohio and north of the Mason-Dixon<br />
Line. A call was extended to Pentecostal<br />
believers throughout the Northeast to meet<br />
at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in New York<br />
City in June 1917 for this purpose. Fifteen<br />
spirit-filled ministers met and signed the<br />
JOHN COXE (1917) ROBERT BROWN (1918-1922) JOSEPH TUNMORE (1922-1930) J. ROSWELL FLOWER<br />
(1930-1936)<br />
FLEMING VAN METER<br />
(1936-1943)<br />
JOHN COXE (1917) – served as the<br />
first District Superintendent for the newly<br />
formed “Eastern District.” The District was<br />
comprised of Pennsylvania and Delaware,<br />
New Jersey, New York, and the New<br />
England states. Coxe would serve only one<br />
year due in part to evangelistic meetings<br />
that he was holding in the mid-west.<br />
ROBERT BROWN (1918-1922) –<br />
Pastor of Glad Tidings in New York, was<br />
elected as the next “chairman” of the<br />
Eastern District. He would continue to<br />
pastor during his tenure of leadership,<br />
and would assist the fellowship in navigating<br />
the Oneness issue, sanctification<br />
as a second definite work, and women<br />
in ministry.<br />
10 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong><br />
JOSEPH TUNMORE (1922-1930)<br />
– after one year as both pastor and<br />
Superintendent, Joseph Tunmore was<br />
asked to do this work on a full time basis.<br />
Thus, Tunmore became the first full-time<br />
superintendent. Tunmore led the way<br />
for a basic constitution & bylaws to be<br />
adopted (written by J. Roswell Flower,<br />
and implemented before the General<br />
Council had such an instrument available).<br />
District “Home Missions” would begin<br />
under Tunmore, with the Great Depression<br />
posing challenges to the endeavor.<br />
Nevertheless, new churches were opened,<br />
and the work of the gospel continued.<br />
J. ROSWELL FLOWER (1930-<br />
1936) – having exceptional organizational<br />
abilities, would lead the District in establishing<br />
a campground and Bible school<br />
(Maranatha, 1931). Under his leadership,<br />
district departments for young people,<br />
Sunday School, and foreign missions were<br />
established. Additionally, six “zones”<br />
(sections) were defined, and Presbyters<br />
were appointed to lead in their respective<br />
areas. An assistant superintendent<br />
was elected to assist Flower in his duties<br />
(Flem Van Meter of Highway Tabernacle,<br />
Philadelphia). Flower was elected as<br />
Assistant General Superintendent at the<br />
14th General Council, and would eventually<br />
move to Springfield to fulfill those<br />
responsibilities.<br />
FLEMING VAN METER (1936-<br />
1943) – under Van Meter’s leadership,<br />
the District Secretary and Treasurer<br />
roles were combined into one full-time<br />
position. Despite the hardships of WWII,<br />
new churches were opened, and foreign<br />
missions giving continued to increase. A<br />
parsonage was built to house the District<br />
Superintendent.
“Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: ‘Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may<br />
go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not<br />
be like sheep which have no shepherd.’” (Numbers 27:15 – 17; NKJV)<br />
roster. This meeting became the first District<br />
Council of the Eastern District, and from<br />
that meeting began an incredible legacy of<br />
leadership that would guide our fellowship<br />
through a century of effective growth and<br />
development.<br />
Reflect with me for a moment on how much<br />
change has occurred during the past 100<br />
years! These leaders guided a movement<br />
through a century of modernization, two<br />
world wars (and several other significant<br />
military conflicts), a Great Depression, civil<br />
unrest and civil rights movements, and a<br />
technological expansion that is unrivaled<br />
in history. It is in this context that God<br />
has sovereignly poured out His Spirit, and<br />
entrusted that outpouring to believers and<br />
their leaders for the propagation of the<br />
Gospel. The Assemblies of God has been<br />
a key player in the Pentecostal movement,<br />
and the PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong> has<br />
contributed significantly to our region and<br />
to our national “General Council.” As you<br />
look at the photos and brief captions of<br />
each of our District Superintendents, you<br />
will see the legacy of 10 men who have<br />
been leaders and servants to our churches,<br />
ministers, and the Assemblies of God<br />
fellowship.<br />
WESLEY STEELBERG (1943) A. NEWTON CHASE (1944-1959) RUSSELL WILLIAMS (1959-1978) PHILIP BONGIORNO<br />
(1978-2002)<br />
STEPHEN R. TOURVILLE<br />
(2002-PRESENT)<br />
WESLEY STEELBERG (1943) –<br />
was elected as Superintendent to lead the<br />
process of dividing the Eastern District<br />
into multiple districts. Pennsylvania-<br />
Delaware retained the legal name, and<br />
Wesley Steelberg became the Superintendent<br />
for the New York-New Jersey District.<br />
Steelberg eventually became the General<br />
Superintendent of the Assemblies of God.<br />
A. NEWTON CHASE (1944-1959)<br />
– saw the creation of a full time Sunday<br />
School/Christ’s Ambassador Director.<br />
Also during his leadership the Women’s<br />
and Men’s Ministry departments were<br />
created. A new office building was erected<br />
for the District, and parsonages for fulltime<br />
staff were either built or purchased<br />
during this time.<br />
RUSSELL WILLIAMS (1959-1978)<br />
– wrestled with issues regarding having an<br />
accredited Bible college. Northeast Bible<br />
Institute became Northeast Bible College,<br />
and eventually moved to Phoenixville,<br />
presently the University of Valley Forge.<br />
Consolidating the camps, initiating a<br />
retirement home, and developing a district<br />
“building and loan fund” were hot button<br />
issues during William’s tenure of ministry.<br />
Property was purchased in Shippensburg to<br />
host a retirement home and central camp.<br />
PHILIP BONGIORNO (1978-2002)<br />
– initiated the “PennDel Loan Fund,” (now<br />
HIS Fund) which made financing church<br />
construction projects a much easier and<br />
friendly proposition. Bongiorno also led<br />
the way to consolidate the eastern and<br />
western camps into one central wellappointed<br />
conference center. A full time<br />
“assistant to the Superintendent” was<br />
added to the District staff to oversee<br />
Home Missions. Additionally, a new<br />
District Office was constructed under his<br />
leadership.<br />
STEPHEN R. TOURVILLE<br />
(2002-PRESENT) – initiated the motto<br />
“We’re Better Together,” as exemplified in<br />
the “C3” concept. Catalyst, Coaching, and<br />
Connect groups were formed, revitalizing<br />
fellowship and mutual encouragement<br />
for PennDel pastors. Although the term<br />
District is still functional, “<strong>Network</strong>”<br />
better describes the interrelationships and<br />
resourcing that are shared. Reproduction<br />
is another functional value that has driven<br />
a church planting movement throughout<br />
the <strong>Network</strong>. For the first time in our<br />
history, PennDel has crested the 400<br />
mark, and presently lists 434 churches.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 11
Donald J. Immel<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
SECRETARY / TREASURER<br />
PENNDEL MINISTRY NETWORK<br />
100 Years In The Making<br />
THE EARLY YEARS<br />
On June 14, 1917, the first District Council of the Eastern<br />
District was held at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in Brooklyn,<br />
New York. The opening statements of those minutes give a<br />
clear expression of what happened in that meeting:<br />
“Other preachers and<br />
workers having expressed a<br />
desire for closer fellowship,<br />
and himself believing it to<br />
be the Lord’s will, Brother<br />
Robert A Brown, Pastor<br />
of Glad Tidings Assembly<br />
and General Presbyter of<br />
the Assemblies of God<br />
(incorporated), issued a<br />
call for a Conference of<br />
pastors and leaders at Glad<br />
Tidings Hall, June 14, 1917.<br />
On the appointed day the<br />
meeting was held with<br />
very good attendance and much blessing. It was called<br />
to order by Brother Brown who stated the reasons for<br />
the gathering. After prayer the Conference proceeded to<br />
transact the following business:<br />
Pursuant to call, the council met at<br />
10:30A.M., and organized by electing<br />
Brother John Coxe, Chairman, and<br />
Brother W.W. Simpson, Secretary. On<br />
motion the meeting declared itself to<br />
be the Eastern District Council of the<br />
Assemblies of God (incorporated) of<br />
St. Louis, Missouri.<br />
“On motion such persons present as hold credentials from<br />
the General Council or are in full sympathy and intend<br />
to affiliate with it in the near future were recognized as<br />
members of this Council and entitled to vote.” (excerpt from<br />
the first Eastern District Council minutes; June 14, 1917)”<br />
14 men and 1 woman from Pennsylvania, New York, New<br />
Jersey, and Connecticut signed the roster and comprised<br />
the membership of the first Eastern District Council.<br />
And so it began…a fellowship of Spirit filled believers<br />
connecting for the purpose of unity in evangelism and<br />
purity in doctrine and practice. The district was not formed<br />
to establish or introduce the Holy Spirit to the region. That<br />
began about a decade before as the outpouring of the<br />
Holy Spirit in the mid-west and on the west coast began to<br />
find its way to the northeastern United States.<br />
Emil Samuelson is reputed to be<br />
the first to bring the experience<br />
of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit<br />
to Pennsylvania. Emil was a postal<br />
worker and traveled the railroad<br />
between Bradford, Pennsylvania and<br />
Rochester, New York carrying out<br />
his duties. Samuelson wrote of his experience: “Reports<br />
had been coming that the Lord was pouring out His Spirit;<br />
people that were tarrying before Him would be blessed<br />
and would speak in other languages as they did on the day<br />
of Pentecost. Some said this was of God and others said<br />
it was not…Pastor Erdman had been in Los Angeles and<br />
had received this experience. Once while in Rochester on<br />
a Friday night I attended the Erdman meeting. As we were<br />
standing up it seemed the Lord said, ‘why not go up and<br />
find out if it is from me or not…’ After a little while Brother<br />
12 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
Erdman came, put his hand on my head and asked me,<br />
‘what are you here for?’ I answered, ‘For the Baptism of the<br />
Holy Spirit.’ He said, ‘Lift up your hands,’ and with that he<br />
started to pray. I fell on the floor and while there I saw the<br />
Lord Jesus coming in the air, on clouds. Turning my head<br />
I saw a stream of people going into perdition until I cried<br />
out, ‘Lord please delay your coming in order that souls<br />
may be saved.’ Then I started to speak in other languages.”<br />
(“Samuelson’s Saga,” Emil Samuelson). Samuelson was not<br />
alone in receiving the Holy Spirit baptism. Accounts are<br />
recorded in church historical and anniversary documents<br />
identifying that the Holy Spirit was being poured out in an<br />
uncoordinated fashion in what is now the PennDel District.<br />
For example:<br />
In 1908 a number of Christians in New<br />
Castle heard about the outpouring<br />
of the Holy Spirit at the Azusa Street<br />
Mission in Los Angeles. As a result of<br />
some prayer meetings in various homes,<br />
a remarkable outpouring of the Holy<br />
Spirit occurred establishing what is now<br />
New Castle First Assembly of God.<br />
From 1908 to 1910 in South Central<br />
Pennsylvania, the Holy Spirit was<br />
baptizing believers in Waynesboro,<br />
Pennsylvania in what is now Calvary<br />
Assembly.<br />
Around the same time in Northcentral<br />
Pennsylvania, Anne Beisel of<br />
Allentown received the Baptism of the<br />
Holy Spirit with no known connection<br />
to any special meeting or influence.<br />
Prior to 1910, Pentecost came to the Pittsburgh area<br />
through the ministry of Frank Causley. This group of<br />
Pentecostals would eventually form and become Calvary<br />
AG (now New Hope) in Clairton. By 1914, a small group of<br />
Spirit filled believers were meeting in Lancaster and began<br />
to hold revival meetings on the second floor of a market.<br />
This group would eventually comprise the membership of<br />
Lancaster First AG.<br />
Despite ridicule, persecution, and well-intentioned but<br />
misguided doctrinal difficulties, the Pentecostal movement<br />
was moving forward. People were being saved, filled with<br />
the Holy Spirit, and called into the ministry. Cohesion<br />
was both desired and needed. In order to fulfill a larger<br />
purpose, the Lord saw fit to assemble these Pentecostals<br />
in a movement and structure that would literally change<br />
the church world. In the Northeast, the movement began<br />
Bethel, NJ<br />
Minnie Draper<br />
to take shape in 1917 at the first Eastern District Council of<br />
the Assemblies of God.<br />
During the early years of the Eastern District, the<br />
church found itself facing historic events like World<br />
War 1, Prohibition, Women’s “Suffrage” (the right to<br />
vote). Internally, our fellowship grappled with doctrinal<br />
issues such as sanctification and the Oneness (or<br />
“Jesus only”) movement. In the second District Council<br />
future Superintendent, Joseph Tunmore, is recorded as<br />
expressing great concern over a decline in the belief of<br />
the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues and<br />
accompanying signs “as at the beginning.” Concern over<br />
spiritual vibrancy and vitality seems to be part of our<br />
Assemblies of God DNA – and rightly so!<br />
Additionally, the role of women in ministry became a topic<br />
of debate. Reuben Hartwick and J. Clayton Sheridan II<br />
noted in our 75 th District Council publication “that even<br />
though Resolution #5 of the first District Council had<br />
stated, ‘…we regard it unscriptural for a woman to be head<br />
of a Bible School for the training of men and missionaries,’<br />
most of the small Pentecostal schools had been started<br />
by women, including Bethel (in Newark, NJ) which had<br />
been started by Minnie Draper…handmaidens were being<br />
called and used by God and were seeking recognition by<br />
the new Council.” (“Musings on the Minutes and Memories<br />
of Seventy-Five Years of the PennDel District of the<br />
Assemblies of God,” J. Clayton Sheridan II and A. Reuben<br />
Hartwick)<br />
Camp meetings proved to be of immeasurable value<br />
for inspiration and discipleship within the Pentecostal<br />
movement in general, and within the Assemblies of God<br />
in particular. Camps and camp meetings were held in<br />
various locations throughout the Eastern District in the<br />
northeastern United States. They were held in Lancaster,<br />
Long Island, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Philadelphia.<br />
Notable speakers like Maria Woodworth-Etter and Aimee<br />
Semple-McPherson were featured speakers, with notable<br />
attendees, like C.M. Ward, who received the baptism of<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 13
the Holy Spirit at a camp meeting held at Kennywood<br />
Park near Pittsburgh. Frank & Will Casley were influential<br />
in facilitating camp meetings around Pittsburgh, which<br />
inadvertently delayed Superintendent Joseph Tunmore’s<br />
desire to establish a District camp in that area. The Casley’s<br />
camp meetings eventually established Free Gospel<br />
churches and the Free Gospel Bible Institute in Export, just<br />
outside of Pittsburgh. Despite the enormous challenges<br />
of the early 30’s and the corresponding Great Depression,<br />
the Eastern District continued to grow. Churches were<br />
planted, missionaries were sent, and campgrounds were<br />
established, then purchased.<br />
THE DEVELOPMENTAL YEARS<br />
Maranatha became the campground<br />
(1931) for the eastern side of the state<br />
under the direction of J. Roswell<br />
Flower, and Living Waters campground<br />
was established near Cherry Tree on<br />
the western side of the state (1934).<br />
Maranatha hosted a summer bible<br />
school, which eventually morphed into Eastern Bible<br />
Institute with the consolidation of four bible schools from<br />
the Northeast, and ultimately became the University of<br />
Valley Forge.<br />
The Eastern District continued to grow and develop<br />
during the Great Depression Era, establishing Christ’s<br />
Ambassadors as the official name of ministry to youth.<br />
Sunday School and Foreign Missions departments were<br />
added to the District ministries. A full time District<br />
Superintendent had been ordered in 1923, but by 1941 it<br />
was deemed necessary to combine the offices of secretary<br />
and treasurer into one full time office. During the 1940’s<br />
the world was at war in Europe and in the Pacific. The<br />
events of a world at war were on everyone’s minds, as<br />
was reflected in the minutes of various District Councils.<br />
But the church still grew! By 1943, it was time to grow<br />
by division. The Eastern District would be divided into<br />
two districts: the New York - New Jersey District, with<br />
Pennsylvania-Delaware retaining the name “Eastern<br />
District.” The revised Eastern District was comprised of 122<br />
churches and 248 ministers.<br />
The Eastern District was also providing<br />
leadership for the General Council. E.S.<br />
Williams, pastor of Highway Tabernacle,<br />
would serve as General Superintendent<br />
for the Assemblies of God (1929-1949), as<br />
would Wesley Steelburg (1949-1952), also<br />
a former pastor at Highway Tabernacle<br />
and former District Superintendent for the<br />
Eastern District. J. Roswell Flower, a former<br />
Eastern District Pastor & Superintendent,<br />
would be called upon to serve in the<br />
national office as General Secretary and<br />
Assistant General Superintendent.<br />
WWII concluded in the fall of 1945. For the next twentyfive<br />
years, the American economy would experience<br />
growth. In Pennsylvania steel, coal, and industry would<br />
remain strong, although labor issues would necessitate<br />
presidential intervention twice in the 1950’s. Unionization<br />
gained strength in both industrial and professional<br />
contexts. Families were idyllically portrayed in shows<br />
like “Father Knows Best,” “Leave It To Beaver,” and<br />
“The Andy Griffith Show.” In this cultural backdrop, the<br />
Eastern District continued on a trajectory of growth and<br />
development. Women’s Ministries and Men’s Ministries<br />
were instituted in the early 50’s. At about the same time<br />
Christ’s Ambassadors began holding District Conventions<br />
for our youth (1956). By the 40 th District Council (1956) we<br />
would have 238 churches and 498 ministers. This growth<br />
would result in building a brand new District Office in<br />
Camp Hill and building or otherwise acquiring four homes<br />
for the full-time District leaders.<br />
In 1958, one Eastern District pastor would<br />
distinguish himself through a simple act<br />
of obedience to the Holy Spirit. David<br />
Wilkerson, while reading an article in a<br />
January issue of LIFE magazine, distinctly<br />
felt impressed to go to a trial in New York<br />
14 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
DONALD J. IMMEL \\ 100 YEARS IN THE MAKING<br />
City. Gang members comprised of young<br />
people were indicted for murder. A<br />
sketch of the seven defendants grabbed<br />
Wilkerson. “I was dumbfounded by a<br />
thought that sprang suddenly into my<br />
head - full-blown, as though it had come<br />
to me from somewhere else. Go to New<br />
York City and help those boys.” (“The<br />
Cross and The Switchblade,” page 7)<br />
Wilkerson made arrangements with<br />
his growing Philipsburg congregation<br />
to go to the city with his youth pastor.<br />
Wilkerson’s actions resulted in his<br />
expulsion from the courtroom, but<br />
ultimately began the ministry of Teen<br />
Challenge. The book “The Cross and<br />
The Switchblade,” as well as a movie by<br />
the same title, helped to make David<br />
Wilkerson a familiar name within church<br />
circles. His cut-and-dry ministry style<br />
made for a prophetic voice in the church<br />
world until his death in 2011.<br />
THE GROWTH YEARS<br />
American society entered a period<br />
of cultural revolution during the next<br />
decade. The assassination of president<br />
John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and<br />
the hippie, women’s liberation, and civil<br />
rights movements marked the decade<br />
of the 60’s as a time of redefinition.<br />
1962 and 1963 were years that impacted<br />
religious expression by eliminating prayer<br />
and bible reading in public schools.<br />
These trends were met with responses<br />
in District Councils whereby resolutions<br />
were drafted to express various stands<br />
to curb the receding Christian influence<br />
in the public forum. The Eastern<br />
District continued to define itself in<br />
the ever-shifting currents of society. A<br />
regionalized, accredited institution of<br />
higher education caused great concern<br />
among Assemblies of God members.<br />
Once this direction was adopted and<br />
enacted, a response was issued by Hubert<br />
Bunney to create a non-accredited<br />
ministerial training alternative (Western<br />
Pennsylvania Bible Institute) which met<br />
in Butler, Pennsylvania and later moved<br />
to Long Island. Eastern Bible Institute<br />
morphed into Northeast Bible Institute<br />
and became Northeastern Bible College.<br />
During the leadership<br />
of Superintendent<br />
Russell Williams,<br />
considerations<br />
were under way<br />
to centralize<br />
the eastern and<br />
western campgrounds in favor of more<br />
modernized facilities. Property was<br />
purchased in Shippensburg for this<br />
purpose, with additional consideration<br />
being given to building a retirement<br />
home and moving the district office to<br />
this centralized location. A loan fund to<br />
finance the concept was also discussed.<br />
These ideas would eventually be realized<br />
in other forms after Superintendent<br />
Williams’ tenure of leadership. Williams’<br />
legacy demonstrated that he was a<br />
man ahead of his time. Brother Russell<br />
Williams is fondly remembered as a<br />
beloved pastor’s pastor, a premier<br />
visiting preacher with a sense of humor<br />
always at the ready.<br />
By 1966, the Assemblies of God in<br />
Pennsylvania & Delaware celebrated their<br />
50 th District Council. At 95 years of age,<br />
Emil Samuelson was the eldest credential<br />
holder present, providing a thread of<br />
continuity from the beginning of the<br />
District to its Golden Anniversary.<br />
As the 60’s rolled along, two other<br />
movements were about to be birthed: the<br />
Jesus Movement (San Francisco, 1967)<br />
and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal<br />
(January 1967, Duquesne University<br />
– Pittsburgh, PA). The charismatic<br />
movement brought Pentecost into the<br />
mainline denominations, with many of<br />
its adherents flowing into Assemblies<br />
of God churches where the expression<br />
was normative and welcomed. The Jesus<br />
movement invigorated ministry among<br />
young people.<br />
In the Eastern District the annual “C.A.<br />
Conventions” swelled to record breaking<br />
attendances throughout the decade of<br />
the 70’s. “We moved the convention<br />
from the Zembo Shrine Center because<br />
it would only hold about 2800 people”<br />
recalls Paul Wislocky - former “District<br />
In search of a Spiritual experience,<br />
professors from Duquesne<br />
University, a Catholic university in<br />
Pittsburgh, attended the Congress<br />
of the Cursillo movement in August<br />
1966. While visiting, they were<br />
introduced to the book entitled<br />
The Cross and the Switchblade,<br />
which emphasized the Holy Spirit<br />
and the Spirit’s charisms. This book<br />
became the focus of their studies<br />
and further led them to pursue the<br />
Holy Spirit.<br />
In January 1967, professors Ralph<br />
Keifer and Patrick Bourgeois<br />
attended a prayer meeting where<br />
they ultimately received the<br />
baptism in the Holy Spirit. The<br />
following week, Keifer laid hands<br />
on other Duquesne professors,<br />
and they also had an experience<br />
with the Spirit. Then, in February,<br />
during a gathering at Duquesne<br />
University, more people asked<br />
Keifer to pray over them. This led<br />
to the event at the chapel where<br />
they too received the Holy Spirit<br />
and spoke in tongues, as well as<br />
many other students who were<br />
present in the chapel. [5] Keifer<br />
sent the news of this event to the<br />
University of Notre Dame, where<br />
a similar event later occurred, and<br />
the Renewal began to spread.<br />
(Wikipedia, “Catholic Charismatic<br />
Renewal)<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 15
Christ Ambassador President” (DCAP, ’69-‘76). “We moved<br />
to the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg as our attendance<br />
increased to about 10,000.” One of the highlights of the<br />
C.A. Conventions of this time was the patriotic “Proclaim<br />
Liberty” themed convention that coincided with our<br />
nation’s bicentennial. Vietnam veteran Dave Roever was a<br />
featured speaker, and the Couriers provided special music,<br />
including “Statue of Liberty,” which would become the<br />
Gospel Music Associations’ song of the year for 1976.<br />
As the decade of the 70’s came to<br />
a close, a new era of leadership was<br />
beginning. Assistant Superintendent<br />
Philip Bongiorno acceded to the<br />
superintendency of the District. The<br />
district would see numerous substantive<br />
changes converge within a relatively<br />
short period of time. The name for the District was<br />
changed from “Eastern District” to “the Pennsylvania-<br />
Delaware District,” better relating its geographical<br />
boundaries. The district owned properties in Shippensburg<br />
were placed on the market after Camp Shand (now<br />
the Bongiorno Conference Center) was negotiated for<br />
purchase from a $1 million dollar asking price to $500,000.<br />
Immediate plans were developed and construction began<br />
to provide better meeting, dining, and lodging facilities.<br />
The Penn-Del Loan Fund (now Heritage Investment<br />
Services or HIS Fund) was established, providing an easier<br />
avenue for churches to secure financing for building<br />
projects in a banking market that was often encumbered<br />
and unreasonably difficult in its dealings with churches.<br />
In this context, the PennDel District grew numerically. The<br />
decade of the 80’s revealed a 16% growth in churches,<br />
going from 286 in 1977 to 340 before the close of the<br />
decade. A new full time District ministry was established<br />
for the purpose of planting churches. J. Clayton Sheridan II<br />
became the first Assistant to the Superintendent with the<br />
primary purpose of overseeing the district Home Missions<br />
program.<br />
As the fellowship faced the close of a millennium, urgency<br />
was felt to advance the cause of Christ with greater fervor.<br />
The Decade of Harvest became the Assemblies of God<br />
16 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong><br />
The Couriers were known for<br />
singing the hymn “I Sing The<br />
Mighty Power” a cappella to<br />
open their concerts. This practice<br />
began when the Couriers were<br />
ministering in Africa and the<br />
power went off while singing<br />
that hymn. They finished the<br />
song without the accompaniment<br />
track and continued singing it<br />
without instrumentation in most<br />
subsequent concerts.<br />
theme for the 90’s. On a national level, the<br />
effort fell short of the lofty and noble desires<br />
of this evangelistic plan. During this period,<br />
the Assemblies of God in Pennsylvania and<br />
Delaware did experience continued growth.<br />
By 1991 the Penn-Del Loan Fund had grown<br />
from $5,000 at inception to assets totaling<br />
nearly $6 million. The PennDel Conference<br />
Center experienced continued expansion<br />
and improvement. A new District Office was<br />
constructed and dedicated in 1996.<br />
The new millennium brought with it doomsday messages<br />
as well as legitimate concerns, as seemed to be the case<br />
at the turn of the previous century. Fear-mongers peddled<br />
their books and products, urging believers to prepare for<br />
the inevitable Y2K (Year 2000) disaster. History would<br />
prove that a greater danger loomed on the horizon – the<br />
proportions of which would affect our nation and the<br />
world. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 affected<br />
the east coast. The little community of Shanksville,<br />
Pennsylvania would earn a place in the American psyche<br />
as one of the significant reference points with its crash<br />
site for the Washington DC bound Flight 93. Sylvia Baker,<br />
pastor of the small Assembly of God congregation in<br />
that town, found herself ministering on a world stage as<br />
reporters and investigators came to explore the facts<br />
surrounding this piece of the tragedy.<br />
THE TRANSITIONAL YEARS<br />
In 2002, a<br />
transition of<br />
major importance<br />
occurred. Philip<br />
Bongiorno, who<br />
had led our district<br />
for 24 years as<br />
superintendent,<br />
retired. The District<br />
Council elected<br />
Stephen Tourville to fill this role. Superintendent Tourville<br />
served our district as the lead pastor of four churches,<br />
as a sectional presbyter, and as the Assistant to the<br />
Superintendent. He was serving the General Council as<br />
the Intercultural Ministries Director when he was elected<br />
as District Superintendent. The culture of Pastor Steve’s<br />
leadership is well identified by the <strong>Network</strong> tag line:<br />
“We’re Better Together.” Immediate emphasis was given to<br />
three guiding purposes of the PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong>:<br />
reproduce leaders, develop relationships, and equip<br />
with resources. With attendance at sectional fellowship<br />
meetings declining, Pastor Steve and the leadership team<br />
developed the C3 approach to meeting the ministry
DONALD J. IMMEL \\ 100 YEARS IN THE MAKING<br />
and personal needs of ministers. Former Assistant<br />
Superintendent Paul Grabill identified that PennDel has<br />
a “glut of leadership,” the thought of which became an<br />
underpinning of the C3 model, releasing leaders from the<br />
confines of geography and a limited number of leadership<br />
opportunities. Ministers had freedom and permission to<br />
develop ministry among the brethren in three key areas:<br />
Catalyst groups would focus on exciting and expanding<br />
church planting efforts. Coaching groups are peer to peer<br />
opportunities for improving ministry in its many forms<br />
within the <strong>Network</strong>. Connect groups provide a format<br />
where needful fellowship and personal care are offered<br />
among those who participate. Sectional Fellowships<br />
continue in many of the geographical areas, with wider<br />
participation being enjoyed to the increased opportunities<br />
provided by the interest and needs based groups.<br />
Year Credential Churches<br />
Holders<br />
1943 122 248<br />
1946 305 163<br />
1956 418 234<br />
1966 522 245<br />
1976 605 274<br />
1986 727 315<br />
1996 755 352<br />
2006 967 354<br />
<strong>2016</strong> 1,171 437<br />
Many of our established<br />
events and identities<br />
have been reframed to<br />
remain current in how<br />
they communicate to our<br />
Assemblies of God family.<br />
The PennDel District is more<br />
often referred to as the<br />
PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong>,<br />
reflecting the idea of<br />
relationship over geographic<br />
boundaries. Ministers’ Institute<br />
is now Ministers’ Enrichment, and District Council is now<br />
referenced as MinistrieSummit. These nuances speak<br />
volumes in the approach to ministry effectiveness in this<br />
new millennium. More than branding, these identify who<br />
we are as a people and how we function in Pentecostal<br />
Christendom. That being said, the effective ministry of<br />
the <strong>Network</strong> continues to expand. In 2002, the <strong>Network</strong><br />
recorded 380 churches. Since then we have enjoyed a<br />
16% growth in churches, with 440 recorded as of this<br />
centennial year. PennDel has been the leading district in<br />
church planting for two years through partnerships with<br />
anointed church planters, catalyst networks and sections.<br />
By action of the Presbytery, over $1.8 million has been<br />
invested from PennDel directly into church planting since<br />
2000. Through the 20/20 Plan, churches that receive<br />
funding are investing 5% back each month to plant more<br />
churches. Our ministry family has grown from 746 in 1991<br />
to 1,173 in 2015.<br />
World Missions giving has increased substantially, with<br />
the PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong> partnering to achieve<br />
substantial results in Burkina Faso, India, Israel, and most<br />
recently in East Africa. Over $1 million has been given<br />
through our network in project offerings to advance the<br />
cause of missions among unreached people groups across<br />
the world.<br />
THE YEARS TO COME<br />
What does the future hold,<br />
and where are we going<br />
from here? After 100 years,<br />
the world in which we<br />
represent Christ has changed<br />
substantially. The age of<br />
technology and information<br />
has both impacted and defined this generation. Our<br />
founders and forefathers could only have dreamed of the<br />
opportunities that radio, television, the internet, along<br />
with the ease and availability of travel have afforded this<br />
generation. Conversely, they would have been staggered<br />
by broadly accepted expressions of moral decay that<br />
have become normalized throughout both secular and<br />
religious culture. The opportunities seem counterbalanced<br />
by the challenges or vice versa. Despite cultural shifts and<br />
scientific advancements, the vision that we carry forward<br />
is to communicate the gospel with the enablement of<br />
the Holy Spirit. We want to show the love of God without<br />
compromising the truth of God’s Word. The vision is of<br />
lost people being found, of believers becoming disciples,<br />
where both the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit are<br />
cultivated in the culture of Assemblies of God churches.<br />
Although we celebrate a movement that has grown in our<br />
area from fifteen ministers to well over a thousand and<br />
just over a dozen churches to hundreds of congregations,<br />
we are preoccupied by the millions who have yet to<br />
experience a full and vibrant relationship with God through<br />
the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 17
A CENTURY OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPM<br />
Emil Samuelson<br />
A postal worker from<br />
Bradford, PA is baptized<br />
in the Holy Spirit at Elim<br />
Tabernacle, Rochester,<br />
NY. Emil is thought to be<br />
the first person to bring<br />
Pentecost to Pennsylvania.<br />
He founded the AG church<br />
in Bradford, and would be<br />
ordained in 1918.<br />
First Constitution<br />
& Bylaws<br />
adopted by<br />
Eastern District<br />
Council<br />
(preceding General<br />
Council CBL)<br />
Christ’s<br />
Ambassadors<br />
Instituted by<br />
Superintendent<br />
J. Roswell Flower,<br />
and a District<br />
Youth “Committee”<br />
inaugurated<br />
Living Waters Camp begins<br />
annual camp meetings in<br />
Cherry Tree, PA. This would<br />
become the western camp<br />
for the Eastern District.<br />
Women’s<br />
Ministries<br />
Begins with Elsie Eich,<br />
a former missionary,<br />
as appointed leader<br />
of the “Women’s<br />
Missionary Council.”<br />
1904 1927 1934 1935 1951<br />
1917 1931 1943 1953<br />
First Eastern District Council<br />
Glad Tidings, NYC<br />
Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New<br />
Jersey, New England States<br />
15 people in attendance;<br />
John Coxe elected as chairman, and<br />
would serve for one year. Robert<br />
Brown, pastor of Glad Tidings, would<br />
succeed him from 1918-1922.<br />
Maranatha Camp<br />
purchased in Green Lane, PA.<br />
The first camp was held in<br />
1932, with a summer<br />
Bible school included.<br />
This would be the precursor<br />
to EBI, NBI, NBC, and VFCC.<br />
Eastern District divided:<br />
Pennsylvania and Delaware<br />
retain the designation as the<br />
“Eastern District.”<br />
New York, New Jersey,<br />
and New England become<br />
new districts.<br />
Men’s<br />
Ministry<br />
Begins under<br />
the leadership<br />
of future<br />
Superintendent<br />
Russell Williams.<br />
John Coxe<br />
18 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
ENT IN THE PENNDEL MINISTRY NETWORK<br />
“One generation will commend your works to another;<br />
they will tell of your mighty acts.” (Ps. 145:4)<br />
Eastern<br />
District Office<br />
Construction<br />
approved, along<br />
with funds to<br />
purchase three<br />
parsonages for<br />
District employees.<br />
Northeast<br />
Bible College<br />
(Formerly NBI) moves<br />
from Maranatha to<br />
Phoenixville and<br />
becomes Valley Forge<br />
Christian College.<br />
Formerly owned by the<br />
YMCA and known as Camp<br />
Shand, this facility was<br />
purchased to centralize<br />
east/west camps.<br />
District Office<br />
moves to newly<br />
constructed<br />
facility in<br />
Mechanicsburg, PA.<br />
PennDel<br />
Ministry<br />
<strong>Network</strong><br />
records 400+<br />
churches for the<br />
first time.<br />
1957 1976 1983 1996 2014<br />
1958 1983 2002 <strong>2016</strong><br />
Teen Challenge begins after David<br />
Wilkerson, pastoring in Philipsburg, PA<br />
takes note of troubled teens in NYC.<br />
Eastern District Council is<br />
renamed<br />
Pennsylvania-Delaware<br />
District Council<br />
Superintendent Philip<br />
Bongiorno retires;<br />
Stephen R. Tourville<br />
begins tenure of<br />
<strong>Network</strong> leadership<br />
100th District Council<br />
May 2-4, <strong>2016</strong><br />
Christian Life Assembly<br />
Camp Hill, PA<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 19
Church Planting<br />
Tom Rees<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT HOME MISSIONS<br />
THIS IS OUR<br />
Handy Christopher<br />
personally planted<br />
17 churches<br />
throughout the<br />
Eastern District,<br />
and supervised<br />
four other church<br />
plants in his role as District Home<br />
Missions director between 1924<br />
-1972. During this time he also<br />
pastored several churches and held<br />
numerous evangelistic crusades.<br />
Church Planting Past…<br />
Home Missions has been emphasized from the inception of the District with a<br />
Home Missions fund established by the 6th Council in 1922.<br />
When Home Missions really seems to click, it is a sectional project. However,<br />
most sections had very little cash so what was offered mostly was prayer and<br />
moral support. Men with a burden for a particular locality would go in with<br />
very little remuneration, sacrificing until a work was started. Older men as well<br />
as young men have done this. Eastern Bible Institute (now University of Valley<br />
Church Planting Now!<br />
Former Assistant Superintendent, Paul Grabill, envisioned<br />
and championed a day when apostolic leaders would<br />
be released to plant and revitalize churches for rapid<br />
Kingdom expansion. That dream has become a reality as<br />
the PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong> has catalyzed into a network<br />
of church planting movements.<br />
Superintendent Stephen R. Tourville and the Presbytery<br />
have led the way with over $2 million dollars invested<br />
since 2002 in church planters because of the faithfulness<br />
of ministers’ tithes. At the heart of it all are the men and<br />
women that make sacrifices to pioneer and revitalize<br />
churches. Here are just a few examples…<br />
20 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong><br />
CRANBERRY COMMUNITY<br />
CHURCH, CRANBERRY, PA<br />
Pastor Joseph & Emily Gibson<br />
In the end, our desire is to impact<br />
our community and the world<br />
around us for the Kingdom of God<br />
far beyond our own capabilities.<br />
CROSSPOINT ASSEMBLY OF<br />
GOD - CARMICHAELS, PA<br />
Pastor Joshua & Anne Koss<br />
Starting off with 12 people on our<br />
first Sunday and now ministering to<br />
over 100 people each week.... Much<br />
of this success is the direct result<br />
of the partnership of churches<br />
throughout the Southwest Suburban Section and Faith<br />
Assembly of God in Uniontown. This partnership is exactly<br />
what the PennDel District has modeled from the top down;<br />
“We ARE Better Together.”
Highway Mission Tabernacle (gospel car), Philadelphia, 1920<br />
2015 Launch, Allison Park Church<br />
MOMENT!<br />
Forge) endeavored to instill a pioneering spirit into the<br />
students, especially Milton Wells with his class in methods<br />
of pioneering churches.<br />
When A. Newton Chase, Superintendent for fifteen years,<br />
was asked what was the major factor of the growth of the<br />
District, he immediately without hesitation replied, “the<br />
willingness of men to sacrifice to pioneer new works.”<br />
“In 1926, at the 10th Council, a Home Missions policy was<br />
formulated. Still wrestling with the desired expansion, the<br />
17th Council in 1933 recommended the churches go to the<br />
neighboring town in the present day ‘Mother Church Plan’<br />
of helping a new Assembly get started in another area<br />
with finances, personnel, and even members.” (A. Reuben<br />
Hartwick, April 1966)<br />
“In May 1944, at Harrisburg, with a voting delegation of<br />
195, statistics were given that the District had a population<br />
of 10,166,685. There were 106 cities with a population over<br />
1,000 without an Assemblies of God witness. The following<br />
year, as an incentive to be a pioneer pastor, one half of<br />
his weekly salary of $40 would be paid by the District.<br />
At the 30th Council it was reported that three new Home<br />
Missions churches had been started.” (J. Clayton Sheridan,<br />
Jr., May 1991)<br />
SOLID ROCK REVIVAL<br />
CENTER - BRIDGEVILLE, PA<br />
Pastor Prabhu & Sucila Isaac<br />
Solid Rock Revival Church is an<br />
offshoot of Voice of the Solid Rock<br />
Ministries founded in Saudi Arabia.<br />
Now, the ministry has expanded<br />
with six churches in India and one in<br />
the United States. We have been serving families and the<br />
Indian community especially in the city of Pittsburgh, PA<br />
since 2006.<br />
TRANSFORMATION CHURCH -<br />
GROVE CITY, PA<br />
Pastor Scott & Laurie Lewis<br />
Jesus is all about change.<br />
Transformation Church endeavors<br />
to partner with Christ in this mission<br />
of change… to experience personal<br />
change and to be used to foster<br />
change in our homes, families, neighborhoods, schools,<br />
work places, churches, campuses, communities and beyond!<br />
NEW CITY CHURCH -<br />
WILMINGTON, DE<br />
Pastor Eric & Tiffany Spanier<br />
We just celebrated our 100 th Year<br />
Anniversary. Now, in <strong>2016</strong>, we have<br />
recaptured that vision to become a<br />
beacon of hope for our city and for<br />
our community as New City Church.<br />
CAPITAL CITY CHURCH -<br />
HARRISBURG, PA<br />
Pastor Freddie & Minnie Salas<br />
We want to show appreciation<br />
to the One who has given us this<br />
building and this opportunity to<br />
witness His Holy Spirit move in<br />
such a mighty way. He is healing<br />
and setting people free. He is empowering people to live<br />
radically changed lives. And He is allowing us to walk with<br />
Him as He continues to move in this land.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 21
Assistant Superintendent<br />
Bryan Koch<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT<br />
CARRYING THE VISION<br />
Through the 3 C’s<br />
<strong>2016</strong> is a defining year for the PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong>.<br />
“Carrying The Vision” is not only the theme of the MinistrieSummit, but is also what<br />
our <strong>Network</strong> has been doing for a hundred years! There have been many effective<br />
and influential ministries established during this past century. I have been given the<br />
privilege to share my thoughts about a few of them with you.<br />
The Penndel <strong>Network</strong> covers the states of Pennsylvania<br />
and Delaware and exists to reach millions of lost people<br />
who need Jesus and to encourage ministers to partner<br />
together to see that happen. I remember when Pastor<br />
Steve was elected as our <strong>Network</strong> Superintendent to<br />
lead our powerful AG district, which is full of amazing<br />
ministers and good sectional fellowship. Steve has always<br />
been a leader that provides opportunity for all of us to<br />
share our passion for the ministries we lead.<br />
I’ve often said at GT Church in Reading “that healthy<br />
things grow and that growth must lead to change.”<br />
Webster’s Dictionary defines “change” simply as:<br />
to become different<br />
to make (someone or something) different<br />
to become something else<br />
In the spirit of “healthy change,” Pastor Steve conducted<br />
listening forums across the <strong>Network</strong> to better serve<br />
the current needs of our ministers. As a result of these<br />
forums, C3 was launched. C3 was based more on ministry<br />
growth than geographical boundaries. The three C’s are:<br />
1<br />
COACHING<br />
GROUPS<br />
Coaching is defined<br />
as: “A method of<br />
directing, instructing and training a<br />
person or group of people with the<br />
aim to achieve some goal or develop<br />
specific skills.” There are many ways<br />
to coach, types of coaching and<br />
methods to coaching. Direction<br />
may include motivational speaking<br />
and training may include seminars,<br />
workshops, and supervised practice<br />
one-on-one. Bill Ellis, who leads this<br />
initiative, has done an amazing job!!<br />
COACHING \\ CONNECT \\ CATALYST \\<br />
22 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
Boot Camp, Carlisle, 2004<br />
2<br />
3<br />
CONNECT GROUPS<br />
Most people who have been around church for a while have a pretty good idea what a small<br />
Group is. Or do they? The following definition may give new understanding to the term “Small<br />
Group:” A Small Group is an intentional gathering, meeting regularly for the purpose of joining<br />
God’s mission. Connect groups meet across our <strong>Network</strong> with connecting on a personal level<br />
as the goal. We are grateful to David Kennard for all he has done to help us intentionally meet<br />
together to encourage each other and further God’s mission.<br />
CATALYST GROUPS<br />
The definition of “catalyst” is a substance that causes a chemical reaction to happen more quickly<br />
and a person or event that quickly causes change or action. At the heart of Catalyst groups was the<br />
desire to see the apostolic leadership gift develop throughout our <strong>Network</strong>. This value was strongly<br />
planted by former Assistant Superintendent Paul Grabil. Through our Catalyst groups, this is exactly<br />
what has happened! I have personally been involved with Catalyst from the beginning. The Apostolic<br />
gifting and church planting networks have grown amazingly! If I started naming names it could be<br />
very dangerous because I’m certainly not aware of all that has happened over the last decade in C3.<br />
But I would like to specifically express my gratitude to Tom Rees for developing and launching church<br />
planters, and men like Gerry Stoltzfus, Steve Defrain and his son, Steve, along with many other church<br />
planters, multi-site launches and PAC churches! We all celebrate Reach Northeast and City Reach<br />
<strong>Network</strong>s. They have not only greatly impacted the vision of the PennDel <strong>Network</strong>, but also our entire<br />
fellowship through supernatural efforts in church planting! We are incredibly thankful for the ministry<br />
gifts and passion of Jeff Leake, Brian Bolt and their teams.<br />
All three of these C3 groups started with great passion and vision by their leaders.<br />
As we have heard many times, we are always “better together.” But in my opinion we have never been<br />
better than when we are “Carrying the Vision” together! Let this be a defining year for you… Get involved<br />
with C3 and reaching Pennsylvania and Delaware! Imagine what we can do together in the years to come!<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 23
World Missions<br />
Donald J. Immel<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
A CENTURY OF PENNDEL<br />
For one full century, the Eastern District (now<br />
PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong>) has been sending<br />
missionaries to engage in “the greatest<br />
evangelism the world has ever seen!” In December<br />
of 1916, Christopher and Inez Hines went to Guatemala<br />
and would become the Eastern District’s first<br />
recorded missionaries. That same month W.W. &<br />
Martha Simpson left for China, and would represent<br />
the District’s second missionaries. A total of 131<br />
missionaries have been sent from our District over<br />
the years, with 38 fully appointed missionaries<br />
and 18 missionary associates presently engaged in<br />
global ministry. Their stories are as inspiring as they<br />
are diverse. Personal sacrifices were sometimes<br />
monumental. Their experiences were legendary. Some<br />
would bury their spouse on their field of service<br />
(Margaret Baltau in 1919 and Isabelle Mueller in 1922).<br />
Some would find their helpmate on the field (John<br />
& Bernice Burgess, India 1926-1953). Others would<br />
find their efforts interrupted by world events (George<br />
& Helga Hemminger had to return from Africa<br />
during World War II because travel had become so<br />
dangerous). Others, like Annie Bailey (’44-’86, China/<br />
Hong Kong) would so impact their place of service,<br />
that dignitaries would honor them in their passing. As<br />
the United States was exiting the Great Depression<br />
<strong>Network</strong> Notes of Interest:<br />
First District Missionaries –<br />
Christopher and Inez Hines<br />
(Guatemala, 1916-1919)<br />
Most recently fully appointed missionaries:<br />
Bobby & Kelly Bailey to Eurasia and<br />
Ben & Jessica Bock to Spain<br />
31 single women have<br />
served as missionaries<br />
24 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
MISSIONARIES<br />
and entering World War II, the Eastern District<br />
continued to advance the cause of global<br />
missions by giving $131,185 to missions (an<br />
equivalent of $2 million dollars today). World<br />
Missions has always been at the heart of the<br />
Assemblies of God. Reaching the lost, both at<br />
home and abroad, has been a driving force and<br />
a central purpose in who we are as a fellowship.<br />
“We’re Better Together” is nowhere better<br />
exemplified than in our cooperative effort in<br />
sending missionaries, compassionately ministering<br />
to lost people, and leading these lost to<br />
saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
Missionary:<br />
Bernice F. Burgess<br />
(Wife of John H. Burgess)<br />
“My early life was lived<br />
in a strict adherence to<br />
the Roman Catholic faith<br />
as was that of my entire<br />
family. It was an unusual<br />
experience for me to<br />
visit the Pentecostal<br />
Church on Parrish Street, Wilkes Barre. At that<br />
time there was a great revival in progress.<br />
Having never seen anything of this sort, this<br />
was indeed a revelation to me.<br />
At the close of the second service I was<br />
invited to the altar. I was told I was a sinner<br />
and needed salvation. This upset me, for I<br />
had been very faithful to my Catholic Church.<br />
Romans 3:23 was quoted to me; the Holy Ghost<br />
then gripped my heart with conviction, which<br />
prompted me to call upon the Lord for salvation<br />
and I was gloriously saved. Ten days later,<br />
I was filled with the Holy Ghost. At that time<br />
God called me to India as a missionary. I went<br />
to Bible College and in 1927 sailed for India<br />
and upon arrival there, I was married to Rev.<br />
John H. Burgess. In 1927 Bethel Bible School<br />
(Punalur, India) was established.”<br />
2 sisters served together as missionaries<br />
to China (Bernice & Thelma<br />
Hildebrand, 1936-1957)<br />
Over the past 5 years, <strong>Network</strong><br />
churches have contributed over<br />
$750,000 to District projects in<br />
India, Africa, and Israel<br />
In 2015 PennDel churches<br />
gave 6.7 million dollars to<br />
Assemblies of God World<br />
Missions<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 25
Christian Education<br />
George Krebs<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
Fulfilling the Great Commission?<br />
The leadership of the Eastern District, now the PennDel District, saw the need to disciple believers. As<br />
with any endeavor, if no one is appointed to the task, the task rarely gets done. The Eastern District<br />
established a position of Sunday School Representative and Youth Director; this position was held<br />
by Brother Edwin C. Schmid. In 1951, the position was changed from Sunday School Representative to<br />
Sunday School Director. Later in 1955, there was a separation between Sunday School and youth (Christ’s<br />
Ambassadors). Brother Schmid remained Sunday School Director until 1961.<br />
Because of his passion for Sunday school, Harold Crosby was elected as the Eastern District’s Sunday School/<br />
Christian Education Director in 1961. The goals were to establish new Sunday schools, hold conventions, rallies<br />
and camps as well as encourage churches to train teachers. These were key precepts to the disciple-making<br />
strategy of the Christian Education (CE) Department. Under Brother Crosby’s leadership, Sunday school grew<br />
throughout the Eastern District. Harold Crosby received national recognition for his work in Sunday school<br />
growth and was fondly called “Mr. Sunday School” by those who knew him.<br />
26 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
Shortly after World War 2, in the small town of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, a young man took<br />
on a struggling church. There were just 21 in attendance, and the church was in dire<br />
financial straits. The goal of this pastor was to reach people. God gave him the secret<br />
formula…if adults won’t come to church, reach the children. Pastor Harold Crosby<br />
began reaching children through Sunday school and Vacation Bible School.<br />
It did not take long to grow a congregation through children. Vacation Bible School<br />
every August would last two full weeks; children filled the church, they filled the house<br />
next to the church and filled an industrial shop half way down the street. Over 500<br />
children would enroll for Vacation Bible School and every year 5-6 families would be<br />
added to the church in Tyrone. The Sunday school was also a contributing factor in<br />
reaching children and adults while making disciples.<br />
These boys and girls camps, as they<br />
were called, became a large part of the<br />
District ministry. They encompassed<br />
a whole week of morning assemblies,<br />
evening services and as much<br />
afternoon fun as a kid could have.<br />
Thousands of children in the Eastern<br />
District experienced the move of God<br />
during summer camp. Salvations, Holy<br />
Spirit Baptisms, and the call to ministry<br />
and missions were hallmarks of these<br />
camps for children.<br />
There was an equal thrust to disciple<br />
both adults and children. Sunday<br />
School campaigns encouraged<br />
churches to reach new levels in making<br />
disciples. Sunday School Caravans<br />
(teacher training events) were held<br />
throughout the district, and children’s<br />
camps were held each summer. In the<br />
early 80’s, the newly renamed PennDel<br />
District (formally the Eastern District)<br />
sold their two campgrounds, Living<br />
Waters and Cherry Tree, and purchased<br />
what is now the Bongiorno Conference<br />
Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.<br />
In many churches today Sunday<br />
School is a dying term and structure.<br />
While the values are the same, the<br />
form and methods have changed. The<br />
Sunday School model of an infinity<br />
group meeting is still valid, but it is<br />
fleshed out differently. Small groups<br />
meet throughout the week, not just<br />
on Sunday morning, while still sharing<br />
life and instructions for godly living.<br />
Children are often divided by school<br />
grade and/or gender and Vacation<br />
Bible schools may now take on the<br />
feel of sports or performing arts<br />
camps. Today the Christian Education<br />
department is still about equipping the<br />
saints to reach and disciple others.<br />
What do we see as the future of<br />
Christian Education? The focus will<br />
and should always be the great<br />
commission, “making disciples.”<br />
We see disciple-making taking on<br />
a more organic feel. We see more<br />
discipleship happening as people share<br />
life together. Mentoring relationships<br />
happen as people experience both<br />
small and large life events from dinner<br />
together to sharing the grief of a lost<br />
loved one. Doing ministry, missions<br />
trips with volunteer work teams,<br />
fellowship groups, and discipleship<br />
classes help people grow into fully<br />
devoted followers of Christ.<br />
In the area of children’s ministry,<br />
we are seeing more family type<br />
ministry with parents and children<br />
learning and growing together. This<br />
trend toward family ministry assists<br />
parents to disciple their children. In<br />
this model, parents lead their child to<br />
Christ, parents pray for their children<br />
to receive the baptism in the Holy<br />
Spirit, and parents become the main<br />
influencer in their children’s spiritual<br />
development. Children’s ministry takes<br />
on the role of reinforcing at church<br />
what the parents are doing at home.<br />
Jesus gave us the commission to<br />
proclaim the Gospel and make<br />
disciples 2000 years ago. Whether<br />
Sunday school, small group meetings,<br />
children’s ministry, volunteer ministry<br />
teams, or kids’ summer camp we<br />
are fulfilling the same goal… making<br />
disciples.<br />
“I was a 24 year old Sunday<br />
School teacher at Bethel<br />
Assembly in Pittsburgh’s northside<br />
neighborhood when Harold<br />
Crosby spoke at my church. The<br />
following year, as Sunday School<br />
Superintendent (every church<br />
had one back then), I along with<br />
6 teachers attended a “Sunday<br />
School Caravan” event led by Mr.<br />
Sunday School himself, Harold<br />
Crosby. I can testify first hand that<br />
Harold Crosby has been the most<br />
influential leader in the history of<br />
Christian Education in the PennDel<br />
Ministry <strong>Network</strong>. I have been<br />
privileged to follow his lead in<br />
encouraging churches to make<br />
disciples and reach children.”<br />
THOSE WHO HAVE LED THE<br />
WAY FOR DISCIPLESHIP AND<br />
SUNDAY SCHOOL:<br />
EDWIN SCHMID<br />
HAROLD CROSBY<br />
JOHN CASTELLANI<br />
KAREY SCHAFFER<br />
DENNIS SPROULL<br />
TOM REES<br />
GEORGE KREBS<br />
~ George Krebs<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 27
University of Valley Forge<br />
Dr. Don Meyer<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
The Story of the<br />
From its earliest days, the faithfulness of God has permeated the story of the<br />
University of Valley Forge (UVF). Whether it was among the numerous Bible<br />
institutes that joined the emerging institution or what it took to become a college<br />
and now a university, God’s miraculous hand has been at work. As an Assemblies of God<br />
university our mission is clear: To prepare individuals for a life of service and leadership in<br />
the church and in the world.<br />
UVF will always be indebted to Rev. J. Roswell Flower<br />
and his wife Alice Reynolds Flower (Mother Flower) who<br />
established and led a summer Bible school from 1932–1937<br />
in Green Lane, Pennsylvania. On that site, several Bible<br />
institutes joined to form Eastern Bible Institute (EBI) in<br />
1939 with Rev. Allan A. Swift as president.<br />
EBI began with 35 students to train missionaries,<br />
evangelists, pastors, Christian educators and lay people. As<br />
EBI grew in influence, it became Northeast Bible Institute<br />
(NBI) in 1967, and in 1975 a fourth year of study was added<br />
to form Northeast Bible College (NBC).<br />
In 1976, under the leadership of President Obie L. Harrup,<br />
Sr., NBC moved to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to a former<br />
military hospital property. On those sacred grounds, Valley<br />
Forge General Hospital cared for over 200,000 patients<br />
from 1943–1973. NBC purchased the original property of<br />
approximately 84 acres for $1. Many identified it as “The<br />
Miracle of Valley Forge.” On January 1, 1977, NBC became<br />
Valley Forge Christian College (VFCC).<br />
During the early years at the Phoenixville campus, the<br />
leaders faced huge challenges, especially with the physical<br />
facilities, but God was always faithful. Under the leadership<br />
of Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft (1982–1984) and later President<br />
Wesley Smith (1984–1996), VFCC began to move forward.<br />
In 1997, Dr. Don Meyer became VFCC’s tenth president. In the<br />
years since then, God’s faithfulness has been evident again<br />
and again. During his first week on campus Don Storms (‘55)<br />
asked Meyer, “How big are your dreams for this school?”<br />
Unsure of what to say, he replied, “How large can they be?<br />
They can be as great as whatever God has in store.” Within<br />
a year, the Storms committed the funds for the first new<br />
building on campus, The Storms Research Center.<br />
Whether it was new buildings going up, old buildings<br />
coming down, or current buildings being remodeled, the<br />
campus has been transformed for the glory of God. With<br />
100 acres on the main campus today, the possibilities for<br />
ongoing enhancements are limitless. Just as the sacred<br />
grounds cared for bodies, today those same sacred<br />
grounds are preparing an army of leaders to care for souls.<br />
Even though the campus improvements have been<br />
remarkable, as Meyer often says, “It’s not about the<br />
buildings. It never has been, and it never will be. It is about<br />
the mission.” To support that mission, the curriculum<br />
has grown from seven undergraduate majors to more<br />
than 50 programs and eight master’s degrees. Recently,<br />
undergraduate and graduate online degrees have been<br />
launched. In the fall of 2005, a second location was<br />
opened at Christ Chapel in Woodbridge, Virginia. And<br />
though everyone is grateful for the enrollment of just<br />
28 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
University of Valley Forge<br />
under 1000 students, as an AG missionary once said,<br />
“We don’t measure the harvest by what is in the bin; we<br />
measure the harvest by what is in the field.”<br />
On September 16, 2014, another expression of the<br />
faithfulness of God took place when the college was<br />
renamed the University of Valley Forge. The oft repeated<br />
phrase, “new name, same mission,” reinforced the reality<br />
that the mission remained unchanged.<br />
UVF will always be grateful to the PennDel District of<br />
the AG. Without this district, UVF would not exist today.<br />
Through visionary leadership of the PennDel District<br />
(formerly the Eastern District), UVF was born. In the early<br />
days, the presbyters were the Board of Trustees. In 1984,<br />
when the school almost closed, Rev. Philip Bongiorno ’55<br />
and Rev. Sam DiTrolio ’57 stepped up in a Board meeting<br />
and urged the Board to keep it open. UVF will always be<br />
indebted to these men and countless heroes within our<br />
district who believed and still believe in what God was and<br />
is doing at UVF.<br />
In Flower Chapel, named after the university founders,<br />
hang 58 flags that represent places around the world<br />
where UVF alumni serve. The flags are symbols of the<br />
constant reminder of the legacy of its alumni, who as<br />
students were prepared with the message to serve and<br />
lead. May God continue to raise up leaders at UVF to<br />
change the world.<br />
Congratulations to the PennDel District and<br />
thank you for all you have done for UVF.<br />
To God be the glory!<br />
The greatest investment PennDel has ever made, however,<br />
is the way it consistently sends its precious students to<br />
UVF. Over 50 percent of UVF students today come from<br />
the PennDel District.<br />
Another core value of UVF is “We want to be good<br />
neighbors who do things for our community and with<br />
our community.” UVF demonstrates this through many<br />
community-focused campus events and studentled<br />
ministries, such as Christmas at Valley Forge and<br />
Community Service Day (sometimes called “The Ministry<br />
of Sweat”) — a day set aside for students, faculty and staff<br />
to serve the community of Phoenixville.<br />
UVF student-led ministries are continually expanding. Just<br />
this year alone 10 student missions teams will serve — from<br />
Italy to Mexico, and from Haiti to Nicaragua and beyond.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 29
Youth Ministries<br />
Doug Sayers<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
PennDel Youth Ministries—A Concise Hist<br />
Youth Ministry in the Assemblies of God began as Christ’s<br />
Ambassadors (C.A.) in the 1920s. By the 1930s, the<br />
movement was spreading across the nation and arrived in<br />
the Eastern District. In 1934, the Eastern District appointed its first<br />
C.A. Chairman following a scathing report from Brother Duncan,<br />
chair of the Young People’s Committee, and a letter of direction<br />
from General Superintendent E.S. Williams. Brother Duncan’s<br />
report indicted the Eastern District for “being slow in recognizing<br />
and pressing forward a prosperous Young People’s movement,”<br />
and acknowledged, “we have not shown them the proper<br />
considerations.” J. Roswell Flower appointed John Jenkins as the<br />
first “C.A. Chairman.”<br />
Two camps began around the same time; the western section<br />
camp called “Living Waters,” and the eastern section camp<br />
“Maranatha.” At Living Waters, tents could be rented for $3.50/<br />
week, and straw mattresses for an additional 75 cents. Meals<br />
were also available: breakfast cost 25 cents, dinner was 45 cents,<br />
and supper was 35 cents. Every day a mandatory sunrise prayer<br />
service was held at 6am, with services for different ages at 9am,<br />
10:30am, 3pm, and the C.A. service at 6:30pm. A final daily service<br />
for all campers was held at 7:45pm.<br />
In 1944, Speed The Light (STL) was born and adopted as the<br />
missions-giving arm for the Christ’s Ambassadors. Eastern District<br />
students began giving enthusiastically to missions through<br />
Speed the Light! Speed the Light would later give birth to two<br />
other giving initiatives: BGMC and Light for the Lost. The Eastern<br />
District C.A. President, Al Skymer, began holding youth rallies<br />
throughout the district. Church youth rallies soon grew into<br />
sectional youth rallies.<br />
Around this time the first recorded District Youth Camps began as<br />
“Youth Conference” at Maranatha Park. In 1947 the cost to attend<br />
Youth Camp was $19. The speaker for the week was Sister Alice<br />
Flower and included a campfire service, a camp-outing day, and a<br />
banquet.<br />
In 1949, the Eastern District created a full-time position for C.A.<br />
Secretary, combining it with the role of “Sunday School Secretary.”<br />
The presbytery appointed Edwin Schmid to fulfill this dual-office.<br />
In 1954, this position was divided into two separate full-time roles:<br />
Sunday School Secretary and C. A. Secretary. Edwin Schmid<br />
continued as Sunday School Secretary and Chester Jenkins<br />
became the C. A. department leader, serving for nine years until<br />
1963. Youth rallies continued to grow in popularity and gave<br />
TODAY, UNDER THE MORE THAN 25-YEAR LEADERSHIP OF DOUG<br />
SAYERS, PENNDEL YOUTH MINISTRIES IS FOCUSED ON WINNING,<br />
BUILDING, AND SENDING STUDENTS FOR THE GOSPEL:<br />
• More than 8,600 Assembly of God youth are in PennDel churches<br />
• Youth Convention is attended by more than 4,000 people<br />
• 3 Winter Retreats, 2 Youth Camps, Youth Advance, Bible Quiz<br />
Camp, and District Fine Arts Festival are held annually at<br />
Bongiorno Conference Center<br />
• Approximately $10,000,000 has been given to Speed the Light<br />
by PennDel youth!<br />
FINE ARTS:<br />
• Over 1,500 students participate<br />
annually in the PennDel Fine<br />
Arts Festival<br />
• There are 8 main divisions: Art,<br />
Communication, Dance, Drama, Exhibition,<br />
Instrumental, Vocal, and Writing<br />
• Participants may enter any of the 66<br />
categories offered<br />
1920s<br />
National Christ’s<br />
Ambassador’s (C.A.’s)<br />
begins<br />
1930s<br />
Living Waters &<br />
Maranatha Camps<br />
begin<br />
1934<br />
Christ’s Ambassadors<br />
is formed in the<br />
Eastern District.<br />
1944<br />
Speed the<br />
Light begins<br />
1956<br />
First Youth<br />
Convention,<br />
Zembo Shrine<br />
Center,<br />
Harrisburg, PA<br />
30 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong><br />
1937<br />
Warren Anthony,<br />
C. A. Secretary<br />
1936<br />
Marie Wilson, C. A.<br />
Secretary<br />
1934<br />
John Jenkins, first C. A.<br />
Chairman<br />
1947-1948<br />
George<br />
Gould, C. A.<br />
President<br />
1944<br />
Al Skymer, C.A.<br />
President<br />
1949-1954<br />
Edwin Schmid,<br />
C.A. Secretary<br />
1955-1963<br />
Chester Jenkins,<br />
C.A. Secretary
C.A. Convention, Zembo Shrine Center, Hbg., 1960s Youth Convention, Giant Center, Hershey, <strong>2016</strong><br />
ory<br />
birth to the first Eastern District Youth Convention in 1956. The<br />
convention was held in Harrisburg, and 3,000 people attended.<br />
In 1962, Bible Quiz was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and soon<br />
made its way to the PennDel District. The Fine Arts Festival began<br />
as “Teen Talent” in the following year, designed as a discipleship<br />
tool designed to “help students discover, develop, and deploy<br />
their ministry gifts.” The first PennDel D-CAP (District Christ’s<br />
Ambassadors President) was Robert Clayton, selected in 1964.<br />
Youth Alive launched nationally at the General Council of 1979,<br />
and has always focused on sharing the Gospel with every<br />
student in every school. In the 1980s, Youth Alive focused largely<br />
on student-led Christian clubs meeting on secondary school<br />
campuses, including campuses in Pennsylvania and Delaware.<br />
Bernie Elliott became the PennDel District Bible Quiz coordinator<br />
in 1985. In 1989, Allison Park AG was the first PennDel Bible<br />
Quiz team to go to nationals. Doug Sayers was selected as the<br />
first District Youth Director (DYD) for PennDel in 1991. Youth<br />
Convention grew and migrated to the David L. Lawrence<br />
Convention Center in Pittsburgh, to the Farm Show Arena in<br />
Harrisburg, then to the Hershey Arena, and finally the Giant<br />
Center, in Hershey. PennDel won its first national Bible Quiz<br />
championship in 1995 (Allison Park).<br />
In the 1990s, Youth Alive began to develop and train students<br />
as “Campus Missionaries.” In 1998, U.S. Missions approved the<br />
first nationally appointed Youth Alive Missionaries. The Seven<br />
Project came into national development at this time, and in 2003,<br />
PennDel took on its first nationally appointed US Missionary for<br />
Youth Alive—Paul Kirschbaum. Under Paul’s leadership, The Seven<br />
Project held more assemblies and night events in PennDel during<br />
the launch year than any other district in the nation.<br />
In 2006, Jason Lamer became the second nationally appointed<br />
US Missionary to PennDel. He continued strong leadership of<br />
The Seven Project, and began strong development of Campus<br />
Missionaries, and held the first Campus Club training in the<br />
PennDel District. Lee Rogers became the third US Missionary<br />
for Youth Alive 2011. Continuing The Seven Project, Campus<br />
Missionaries, and Campus Clubs, Lee expanded the Youth Alive<br />
focus to leadership and resource development—launching the<br />
Exponential Leadership Cohort, www.reachtheschool.com,<br />
compiling a Campus Club training workbook, and writing two<br />
books for Campus Missionaries.<br />
BIBLE QUIZ:<br />
• Since 1989, PennDel has had the<br />
highest number of quiz teams in<br />
the nation.<br />
• Allison Park A/G was the first PennDel<br />
team to go to nationals in 1989, and the<br />
only PennDel team to win nationals (1995).<br />
• We currently have 112 quiz teams (the next<br />
closest district has 35).<br />
YOUTH ALIVE:<br />
• Over 1600 Campus Missionaries are currently<br />
active in PennDel schools<br />
• PennDel Youth Alive has a measurable presence of Campus<br />
Missionaries and Clubs on over 250 public school campuses.<br />
• 64,000+ students in PennDel have seen the Seven Project<br />
school assembly, and over 6,000 students have responded to<br />
altar calls at Seven Project night events.<br />
• Youth Alive has conducted over 60 Campus Missionary and<br />
Club trainings throughout PennDel.<br />
1962<br />
Bible Quiz begins<br />
1963<br />
Fine Arts Festival<br />
(Teen Talent) begins<br />
1979<br />
Youth Alive<br />
begins<br />
1995<br />
First PennDel<br />
National BQ<br />
Championship<br />
Team<br />
2003<br />
First<br />
PennDel<br />
Youth Alive<br />
Missionary<br />
2013<br />
Buildcast<br />
begins<br />
1964-1968<br />
Robert<br />
Clayton,<br />
D-Cap<br />
1969-1975<br />
Paul<br />
Wislocky,<br />
D-Cap<br />
1976-1982<br />
John<br />
Butrin,<br />
D-Cap<br />
1984-1990<br />
Timothy<br />
Satryan,<br />
D-Cap<br />
1991- Present<br />
Doug Sayers DYD<br />
1983<br />
Rex Bornman, D-Cap<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 31
Women of Purpose<br />
Ruth Puleo<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
WMC Retreat, Harrisburg, 1967<br />
WE’VE COME A<br />
WE BEGAN WITH A CALL…<br />
Even before the General Council of the Assemblies of God was formed<br />
in 1914, there were women called of God to reach their communities for<br />
Christ. One such woman was Mrs. Anne Beisel, a member of the Free<br />
Methodist church of Allentown, who responded to the presence of God<br />
during her personal prayer times and began to speak in a language<br />
she had never learned. In 1909, the Beisel family purchased a home<br />
in Allentown and began holding prayer meetings. In 1911, God spoke<br />
to ‘Annie’ during prayer that she was to use her home to hold church<br />
services, to serve meals to those in need and to house missionaries and<br />
evangelists passing through. Mrs. Addie Marsteller, a neighbor, sought<br />
spiritual advice from Annie and was soon filled with the Holy Spirit.<br />
Together, these two power-packed women, Anne and Addie, labored<br />
side by side as the first spiritual leaders of the Emmanuel Home Mission<br />
(would eventually become Emmanuel AG in Allentown). In 1915, Anne<br />
became a widow living by faith without income from her husband<br />
and no offerings were received during the services. Yet in spite of the<br />
lack of funds, thousands of meals were served and many people were<br />
housed in this humble home. As attendance increased steadily, so did<br />
their needs for finances, but God always provided above and beyond<br />
what they had asked for. Helping those in need, ministering to the lost,<br />
praying for Spirit baptism and healing was their daily assignment. Soon<br />
they were giving to missions regularly, starting Sunday School programs<br />
for children throughout the area, and expanding ministries in other<br />
locations. Anne and Addie were truly pioneers of the faith that blazed a<br />
trail for women for generations to come.<br />
BY 1935, THE GENERAL<br />
COUNCIL OF THE<br />
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD<br />
WAS ORDAINING WOMEN<br />
AS PASTORS SINCE OVER<br />
1,000 WOMEN WERE<br />
ALREADY SERVING AS<br />
PASTORS, EVANGELISTS,<br />
MISSIONARIES AND<br />
PRESIDENTS OF BIBLE<br />
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT<br />
OUR NATION.<br />
32 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
Women of Purpose Convention, Hershey, 2015<br />
LONG WAY BABY!<br />
WE FACED GREAT CHALLENGE…<br />
Women were being ordained by the General Council<br />
as missionaries and evangelists - ministering across<br />
the United States and in many countries of the world.<br />
However, in 1917, during the first Eastern District Council,<br />
they voted that ‘it was unscriptural for a woman to be<br />
the head of a Bible school or be ordained as a pastor.’<br />
That did not discourage the women who knew they were<br />
called of God. They simply “served God without a title”<br />
and “began their own ministries when there were no open<br />
doors in the established churches. Then, in 1932, (the 16 th<br />
District Council) a resolution was approved to appoint a<br />
committee of 3-5 people to start a summer Bible school<br />
(the beginning of EBI, now UVF). Alice Flower, wife of<br />
Supt. J. Roswell Flower, was on that committee ~ and we<br />
know she led the Bible school! (She must not have gotten<br />
the memo about women not being in leadership over<br />
men). By 1935, the General Council of the Assemblies of<br />
God was ordaining women as pastors since over 1,000<br />
women were already serving as pastors, evangelists,<br />
missionaries and presidents of Bible schools throughout<br />
our nation.<br />
WE FOUND A CAUSE…<br />
In 1944, a burden for our missionaries had gripped the<br />
hearts of the church women in our district. There was<br />
a great need for linens, household supplies, food and<br />
bandages. Our missionaries were making tremendous<br />
sacrifice to travel to a foreign land without much financial<br />
support or household provisions. Elsie Eich had heard<br />
reports that women from other districts had formed the<br />
Women’s Missionary Council to support their missionaries<br />
and she proposed that this be adopted in the Eastern<br />
District. Voices spoke strongly against it - referring to<br />
this formation as the “Lazy Aides Society!” Without<br />
their support, Elsie became the first to lead the women<br />
of the district, proving that this organization would be<br />
a blessing both to our missionaries, local churches and<br />
district camps. All ages were included with this early<br />
formation of a women’s ministry, including programs<br />
for school age girls to mentor them in the faith. By 1951,<br />
the formation of the Women’s Missionary Council came<br />
to the Eastern District Council floor once again. As a<br />
debate ensued as to why this “society” was necessary,<br />
George and Helga Hemminger (parents of Rev. Laverne<br />
Weber), district missionaries that were home on furlough,<br />
expressed their appreciation for the barrels of quilts,<br />
linens, clothes, canned goods, candy and small appliances<br />
that missionaries had received. Their personal testimony<br />
swayed the vote and the Women’s Missionary Council<br />
became official in the Eastern District.<br />
WE HELD TO A CONVICTION…<br />
We knew that if God called us, He would equip us, provide<br />
for us and direct our steps. He did just that! Women were<br />
being raised up all over the district to start churches, to<br />
raise funds for missions, to build up women in their faith<br />
and to train young women for the work of the ministry.<br />
In 1951, the first Pentecostal church service in Shanksville,<br />
Pennsylvania was held in a “pool room” with evangelists<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 33
PENNDEL DISTRICT WOMEN’S<br />
MINISTRY LEADERS<br />
1951-1956 MRS. ADOLFUS T SMITH<br />
1956-1957 MRS. ALFRED BUCKLEY<br />
1957-1964 MRS. HELEN JENKINS<br />
1964-1978 MRS. HAZEL WILLIAMS<br />
1978-1980 MRS. HEATHER OWEN<br />
1980-1996 MRS. JAYNE GROVE<br />
1996-1998 REV. LILLIAN SPARKS<br />
Hazel Williams Heather Owen Jayne Grove Lillian Sparks<br />
1998- REV. RUTH PULEO<br />
Mary Abate and Roberta White. Elizabeth Armstrong<br />
(later to become Elizabeth Crosby, wife of Harold Crosby)<br />
joined Margaret Judy in pastoring the group at Shanksville.<br />
Elizabeth Crosby shared stories of 6 single women<br />
pastoring their own church in their section alone! She went<br />
on to say, with a twinkle in her eye and a wink, “people<br />
often referred to us as ‘Brother William’s haram’ and our<br />
District Superintendent didn’t mind that at all!” Elizabeth<br />
said, “as Bible college graduates, women found very few<br />
open doors for ministry. So, where there wasn’t a ministry,<br />
they made one. Where there weren’t opportunities, they<br />
made them happen.” Their firm conviction was to obey<br />
Christ and He would make a way for them.<br />
WE RESPONDED WITH COMPASSION…<br />
The very first Women’s Ministries retreat was held on<br />
September 1967 at the Schraff Motor Inn of Harrisburg<br />
with speaker Ann Alf. From reports of women in our<br />
district that were in attendance, these early meetings were<br />
infused by the power of God and the anointed speakers<br />
challenged them to greater faith, confidence in their<br />
call and instilled a compassion for the needs of others.<br />
They began with The March of Dimes to raise money for<br />
US Missions to help plant new churches and instituted a<br />
Linen Parade to provide household items for Missionaries.<br />
As more needs were presented, a greater response was<br />
given. Ladies responded to a call for compassion, because<br />
that is who we are! Women collected their loose change<br />
for the Baby Bootie Club funding our national children’s<br />
orphanage. We adopted missionary families - remembering<br />
their birthdays and sending gifts for the holidays. We<br />
collected used postage stamps for the Library Fund to<br />
purchase books for missions and Bible schools. Every year<br />
since the start of Women’s Ministries, there have been<br />
mission’s projects. There has always been an overwhelming<br />
response to address the needs presented! In the last 100<br />
years, it is estimated that the women of our district have<br />
given (either by cash donations or donated items) over<br />
$1 million to projects, missions, as well as district and<br />
local ministries. Just in the last ten years, the response to<br />
raising the monies for our project offerings has increased<br />
tremendously. The combined giving from churches,<br />
ministries and private donations for the Redemption Home<br />
reached over $200,000. The generosity towards the Single<br />
Moms Day Out events in three locations was estimated<br />
at $85,000. Only heaven will reveal the magnitude of<br />
sacrifice and generosity of today’s Women of Purpose.<br />
WE HAVE A GREAT COMMISION…<br />
We’ve come a long way, Baby…since our early beginnings.<br />
God has increased our influence from 52 women attending<br />
the first retreat in 1962 to our conference last year at<br />
Hershey of almost 3,400. But our prayer is still the same…<br />
that the Holy Spirit would be present at every Women of<br />
Purpose gathering. We want God to be there in power to<br />
change lives! Our commission is ever before us: to connect<br />
women of all ages, backgrounds and church affiliations, to<br />
empower women to live for God and to respond to the call<br />
of God to serve, to inspire sacrificial giving to reach the<br />
lost at home and abroad. We are challenged to encourage<br />
women called to full time ministry – believing with them<br />
for open doors where they can serve. The cause that<br />
inspired our foundation is still burning deep in our hearts –<br />
to see world missions see exponential growth and results.<br />
Our <strong>2016</strong> project offering for the Baneasa Community<br />
Center in Romania is to raise $150,000 for the building<br />
and $150,000 for the furnishings! We can do it as we work<br />
together! I also believe that God is clearly directing us how<br />
to reach the next generation, setting the stage for God<br />
to call them, give them a cause to fight for, burn in them<br />
a passion and fulfill the great commission laid out before<br />
them!<br />
34 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
Girls Ministries<br />
Sharon Poole<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
MISSIONETTES — GIRLS MINISTRIES<br />
In 1925, Etta Calhoun, a spirit-filled woman from Houston, Texas,<br />
organized a group of women for intercessory prayer. The group<br />
became the first Women’s Missionary Council (later became<br />
Women’s Ministries). Early in the 1950s, the women began to see<br />
a need for a program to teach missions to young women and to<br />
prepare them for involvement in Women’s Ministries. The national<br />
Women’s Ministries Department developed the Missionettes program<br />
in response to this need. It was their desire to establish a systematic<br />
plan for the older women to train the younger women (Titus 2:3,4).<br />
The program remained as an auxiliary of WM’s until 2005 when they<br />
became their own National and District Department.<br />
The first Missionettes club was officially chartered in January 1956. In<br />
our own District, Missionettes Clubs began in a number of churches<br />
including Jeannette Assembly of God.<br />
Angie Hafner Sorbo became the first District Auxiliary Director<br />
in 1980, under the leadership of Jayne Grove, District Women’s<br />
Ministries Director. Under Angie’s leadership many District events were<br />
developed including the most enduring, the Star’s Powette. Her most<br />
memorable highlight during her 18 years as Director were the many<br />
girls whose lives where changed while spending time at the altars at<br />
Missionettes events.<br />
Angie Hafner Sorbo<br />
Debby Seler<br />
In 1999, Debby Seler became the District Director, where she remained<br />
until 2000 when she moved to Springfield, MO to lead the National<br />
Missionettes Department. Susan Lanza was appointed to be the District<br />
Director and remained until 2005. It was during her leadership that<br />
the program became it’s own department. In July 2005, Sharon Poole<br />
became the District Director. Soon after, the Missionettes became<br />
Girls Ministries. Along with the name change came cultural and image<br />
updates. But the ultimate purpose of winning girls to Jesus Christ and<br />
teaching them to live victoriously has never changed.<br />
Susan Lanza<br />
Sharon Poole<br />
Through it’s inception, Girls Ministries (Missionettes) has been<br />
foundational in developing girls and young women in the Word of God<br />
and in relational training. Many of the female ministers from PennDel<br />
including missionaries, evangelists and pastors have been impacted by<br />
this program. It is a bright and growing future for Girls Ministries!<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 35
Royal Rangers<br />
Greg Scott<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
The Legacy of Royal Rangers<br />
By the 1950’s it became apparent to the Assemblies<br />
of God leaders that young people were leaving<br />
the church, and that many who stayed were<br />
inadequately prepared to be strong followers of Jesus<br />
Christ. In the summer of 1960, the Men’s Fellowship<br />
Department launched a thorough study of various boys’<br />
programs to decide whether one of them could be<br />
adapted for use in the Assemblies of God. In the end, the<br />
decision of the team was that none of them accomplished<br />
the goals defined by the team, and it was decided a new<br />
ministry needed to be developed. The number one priority<br />
and objective was to get men involved in the soul-winning<br />
and discipling of boys.<br />
“A new age is upon us! It is an age of jet travel, space<br />
consciousness, pleasure madness, and moral indifference.<br />
Our boys are growing up in this overpowering<br />
environment. They will be the victims of it unless our<br />
church men do something to guide the energies and<br />
thoughts of the boys into right spiritual channels. Action<br />
must be taken quickly.” It was with this urgent call that the<br />
Assemblies of God and Johnnie Barnes introduced Royal<br />
Rangers, a new discipleship program for boys, to readers<br />
in the Pentecostal Evangel in 1962. Royal Rangers grew<br />
quickly, reaching across denominational, national, and<br />
ethnic divides, and by 2015 over 3 million boys across the<br />
world have been shaped through this program designed<br />
to turn boys into godly, responsible men. Today, Royal<br />
Rangers is in 92 different countries around the world and is<br />
approved for use by over 50 different denominations.<br />
Royal Rangers was introduced to the Eastern District (now<br />
PennDel) around 1965 by our first District Commander,<br />
Gordon Buckley, who served from 1966 to 1971. He saw the<br />
vision of the program and how it could meet the needs<br />
of the boys in our district. He conducted our first District<br />
Powwow in 1968. Our Powwows have been instrumental<br />
in saving thousands of boys. Following him was Thurman<br />
“Butch” Keifer, who served from 1972 to 1980. He took our<br />
district to their first National Camporama in 1974 at the<br />
Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. These two men<br />
traveled extensively throughout our district promoting<br />
the Royal Ranger program. In 1981, Joseph Finan took<br />
over the leadership of our department and served until<br />
2005. Joe was instrumental in developing staff leaders<br />
within the 12 sections of our district and creating a strong<br />
district leadership team. Following his 25 years of service,<br />
Greg Scott assumed the duties of District Director and<br />
has served in the position from 2006 to present. He has<br />
been instrumental in developing a strong Leadership<br />
Organization Team and has placed significant emphasis<br />
on the development of our Junior Leader Development<br />
Academy. He also realized that Royal Rangers could not<br />
be just a camping program anymore and that it needed<br />
to evolve in the areas of sports, trades, arts, technology<br />
and high adventure in order to meet the needs of our ever<br />
36 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
changing boys. To best do this, it became evident that the Royal Rangers<br />
needed a camp of their own that they could develop. In 1999, Cmdr. Scott<br />
was one of the founding leaders of the PennDel Royal Ranger Camp<br />
located in Honey Grove, PA. A beautiful 137 acre property located along<br />
the Tuscarora Creek near Port Royal, PA. The camp has been extremely<br />
instrumental in drawing boys into the program where they can experience<br />
salvation, baptism in water, foot washing services, leadership training,<br />
fellowship, fun, and much more.<br />
Our objectives haven’t changed since the founding of the program in<br />
our district. They are still geared toward evangelizing, equipping, and<br />
empowering young boys and men to become Christlike servant leaders.<br />
Many of our methods have changed as our boys have and the culture<br />
in which they grow has also changed. However, we have stayed intact<br />
through a strong leadership team that works in one accord. We truly<br />
believe that the future of Royal Rangers is brighter than our past and<br />
that God did not call us to be<br />
part of a mediocre ministry. We<br />
have seen over 405 churches<br />
charter Royal Rangers in our<br />
district over the past 54 years.<br />
Although our past has been<br />
memorable and remarkable,<br />
we cannot move forward by<br />
spending time looking back.<br />
Our #1 objective is to increase<br />
our charters by 10 percent<br />
over the next year, facilitate<br />
Gordon Buckley Joseph Finan<br />
a 50 percent increase in<br />
communication, and help at<br />
least 25 percent of our boys<br />
to tell someone about the<br />
Gospel. Our growth will come<br />
to fruition by putting together<br />
an effective marketing strategy,<br />
effectively communicating,<br />
strengthening our reputation,<br />
and promoting the recognition<br />
of our brand. More significantly,<br />
the growth will come from the<br />
boys and young men we are<br />
training up to become leaders<br />
“When we got back to our church (from<br />
a District Powwow) and were unloading<br />
the boys’ gear, I had a chance to share<br />
the good news with the grandmother<br />
and aunt. When I told them that I asked<br />
the boys, “If you were to die today,<br />
where would you go?” and that both<br />
boys told me “Heaven,” the grandmother<br />
and aunt broke down in tears and just<br />
hugged me for over a minute. They were<br />
so happy that God had answered their<br />
prayers. They had been praying for these<br />
boys for years. The grandmother said,<br />
“You don’t know how happy I am.”<br />
and mentors of others.<br />
If this was the only thing to ever happen<br />
The legacy of Royal<br />
Rangers – its proven<br />
effectiveness in mentoring<br />
boys to become responsible,<br />
committed Christian men – is<br />
demonstrated in its history and<br />
in the lives of its over 3 million<br />
participants worldwide. It will<br />
not stop; it cannot stop. As long<br />
as there are boys with needs,<br />
there will always be the need<br />
for Royal Rangers.<br />
out of Rangers, then this would be worth<br />
it. The only exposure to Jesus in these<br />
boys’ lives came through the Royal<br />
Rangers. I feel very blessed to have been<br />
a part of the Royal Rangers for the last 6<br />
years as the Senior Commander. This for<br />
me was a God moment.”<br />
ROB HOSS<br />
Outpost 83<br />
Bethel Assembly of God, Carlisle, PA<br />
HonorBound<br />
Tom Rees<br />
PENNDEL DISTRICT<br />
Men’s Ministries<br />
The District “Men’s Fellowship” (now<br />
Men’s Ministries) began at the 37th<br />
District Council under the leadership<br />
of Russell Williams. Superintendent<br />
Williams referred to it as the “sleeping<br />
giant.” Through the years we have<br />
seen men’s retreats, mission trips, and<br />
the Light for the Lost steak wagon.<br />
Today, HonorBound Men’s Ministries<br />
has grown to include an annual Band<br />
of Brother’s Men’s Conference, held<br />
in cooperation with the Potomac<br />
District, that had over 1,400 men each<br />
fall. Light for the Lost giving helps our<br />
Teen Challenge Centers and PennDel<br />
Missionaries globally with men giving<br />
$77,993.54. In our local churches,<br />
one of the greatest continuing<br />
benefits of working together has<br />
been the mentoring ministry to boys,<br />
Royal Rangers. A new generation of<br />
men’s ministries has been aligned<br />
with strategic partnerships with<br />
AdventureMen (Greg Nass), Circle of<br />
Swords (Wayde Wilson) and ManTour<br />
Ministries (Jamie Holden).<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 37
Highway Tabernacle, Philadelphia, PA<br />
Pearce House, New Castle, PA<br />
Gospel Wagon, Highway Tabernacle Original Church Bethel Assembly, Calvary Assembly, Waynesboro, PA Lancaster 1930 Radio Broadcast<br />
Chambersburg, PA<br />
For almost 100 years churches have been established under the banner of being “Pentecostal” or “Full Gospel.”<br />
Many started out as independent churches. Others started out in the mainline denominations, but had to find a new<br />
fellowship that embraced the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Here are 13 churches that have or are reaching the centennial<br />
mark. We have included a brief description of their origins and when they connected with the Assemblies of God. A<br />
fuller expression of their story can be found at www.ag100stories.org.<br />
HIGHWAY TABERNACLE,<br />
1894 PHILADELPHIA, PA<br />
Highway Mission Tabernacle, once known<br />
as Union Highway Mission of Philadelphia,<br />
was founded in November 1894, by Rev.<br />
Frederick Reel, a member of the original<br />
group and also the first pastor. They<br />
started as a prayer group, conducting<br />
gospel outdoor services (attracting some<br />
35,000 people with their “gospel car”) and<br />
then opened a Gospel Hall in North Central<br />
Philadelphia with seventy-seven charter<br />
members. The church was incorporated<br />
in May 1899. The first revival held was<br />
Thanksgiving Day week in 1897. Mark &<br />
Debbie Boucher now serve as lead pastors.<br />
BETHEL ASSEMBLY,<br />
1902 CHAMBERSBURG, PA<br />
Bethel Pentecostal Church of the<br />
Assemblies of God was founded in<br />
1902 by several Christian people under<br />
the leadership of Rev. D. M. Hench who<br />
became the first pastor. The first revival<br />
was held in 1902. The work started with<br />
prayer meetings, house-to-house visitation,<br />
jail services, and street meetings. Garry &<br />
Kelly Kipe presently serve as lead pastors.<br />
NEW HOPE (CALVARY<br />
1906 ASSEMBLY), CLAIRTON, PA<br />
Mission Hall was the original name of New<br />
Hope Assembly of God Church, Clairton,<br />
PA, founded in 1906. It was chartered<br />
in 1924 with twenty-four members. Rev.<br />
Whiteside and Rev. Frank Casley began<br />
the work along with many other works in<br />
Vandergriff, Pittsburgh, Braddock, Turtle<br />
Creek, Pitcairn, Glassport, Horning, and<br />
Jeanette. The church affiliated with the<br />
General Council in 1948, changing its name<br />
to Calvary Assembly. Sharon Lopez now<br />
serves as pastor.<br />
CALVARY ASSEMBLY,<br />
1906 WAYNESBORO, PA<br />
Calvary Assembly of God, Waynesboro, was<br />
founded in 1906 as a Christian Missionary<br />
Alliance church. Rev. Perry, pastor, invited<br />
Sam and Ezra Patterson (evangelists) for a<br />
tent meeting. They brought the Pentecostal<br />
message. In 1908, Rev. D. H. McDowell was<br />
the pastor and encouraged the Pentecostal<br />
experience. There were thirteen members<br />
at that time. From 1908 to 1910, the Biblical<br />
evidence of speaking in other tongues was<br />
revealed and the Holy Ghost poured out<br />
upon the people. In July 1930, the church<br />
became affiliated with the Eastern District<br />
Council. Dwan & April Newsome are the<br />
lead pastors.<br />
FIRST ASSEMBLY,<br />
1908 NEW CASTLE, PA<br />
In 1908, a number of Christians in New<br />
Castle heard about the outpouring of the<br />
Holy Spirit at the Azuza Street Mission in<br />
Los Angeles, California. This small group<br />
of believers began to hold prayer meetings<br />
in various homes. As a result, one of the<br />
most remarkable outpourings of the Holy<br />
Spirit occurred. There were about a dozen<br />
individuals in this group with many miracles<br />
of healing reported. The group held their<br />
first tent meeting in 1916, and purchased<br />
their own property in 1919 making plans to<br />
build. Chad & Michelle Stoecker are the lead<br />
pastors at New Castle First.<br />
ABUNDANT LIFE,<br />
1911 BRADFORD, PA<br />
In 1911, the Bradford Assembly of God, then<br />
known as the Pentecostal Assembly, was<br />
brought into being by Rev. E. Samuelson.<br />
He opened his home for church meetings.<br />
They later moved to a store front at which<br />
time Rev. Earnest Williams held evangelistic<br />
meetings and later became pastor. It is<br />
believed that Pentecost first came to<br />
Pennsylvania in Bradford shortly after the<br />
Azusa street revival through Emil Samuelson,<br />
via his work on the Buffalo-Rochester and<br />
Pittsburgh Railroad. Abundant Life is now<br />
pastored by Phil & Penny Palutro.<br />
38 | <strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong>
PennDel <strong>Centennial</strong> Churches<br />
By Donald J. Immel<br />
Original Church Jeannette AG,<br />
Jeannette, PA<br />
Thomas Twiss 1912, Hamlin, PA<br />
Gravity Church, Hamlin, PA<br />
John Coxe, Founder of First<br />
Assembly, Wilmington, DE<br />
EMMANUEL ASSEMBLY<br />
1912 OF GOD, ALLENTOWN, PA<br />
Emmanuel Assembly of God had its<br />
inception in prayer services held in the home<br />
of Mrs. Annie Stauffer Beisel as early as 1912.<br />
Among the very first in the Lehigh Valley to<br />
pray for the sick and encourage believers to<br />
tarry for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, many<br />
hungry hearts were attracted through these<br />
ministries during the years. From 1911 to 1954<br />
the church met in the Beisel home! In 1954<br />
Emmanuel Home Mission was incorporated<br />
and affiliated with the Eastern District of the<br />
Assemblies of God. Jason & Wendy Gornicz<br />
have recently become the lead pastors of<br />
Emmanuel AG.<br />
FIRST ASSEMBLY,<br />
1914 LANCASTER, PA<br />
A small company of people led by Reuben<br />
L. Buchwalter founded the First Pentecostal<br />
Church of Lancaster, PA in the fall of 1914, in<br />
a little hall over the Southern Market House.<br />
The group continually grew until 1922 when<br />
the church was chartered and incorporated<br />
as the First Pentecostal Church of<br />
Lancaster. Hymn writer Ira F. Stamphil,<br />
author of Mansion Over The Hilltop, was<br />
the pastor in 1966. Kris & Darlene Newman<br />
have served as lead pastors at First AG in<br />
Lancaster for nearly two decades.<br />
GREEN RIDGE ASSEMBLY,<br />
1914 SCRANTON, PA<br />
The Pentecostal Assembly of God Church of<br />
Scranton, PA had its inception in the home<br />
of Jeremiah Swingle of Dunmore. The<br />
church was incorporated in 1914 and became<br />
affiliated with the newly formed Assembly of<br />
God organized in 1916. Rev. David McDowell<br />
became the first pastor and served until<br />
he was called to be the Assistant General<br />
Superintendent of the Assemblies of God<br />
in 1923. David & Laura Twiss are the lead<br />
pastors of Green Ridge AG.<br />
JEANNETTE ASSEMBLY<br />
1914 OF GOD, JEANNETTE, PA<br />
Jeannette Assembly of God was founded<br />
in 1914 when Reverend Benjamin E. Mahan<br />
came to Jeannette and began holding<br />
“street meetings” in the downtown<br />
business district of the city. Converts from<br />
this ministry resulted in the establishing of<br />
this church. The church was incorporated<br />
in 1919 as the Pentecostal Church of<br />
Jeannette and became affiliated with the<br />
General Council of the Assemblies of God<br />
in 1923. Thomas & Debra Kroll are presently<br />
pastors at Jeannette AG.<br />
HAMLIN ASSEMBLY OF<br />
1914 GOD, HAMLIN, PA<br />
The First Pentecostal Church at Hamlin<br />
was begun in 1914, through cottage prayer<br />
meetings. Emery Woodruff and Zacharias<br />
Swingle felt a need for more of God and the<br />
fullness of the Holy Spirit. They had heard<br />
of the Pentecostal experience with the<br />
evidence of speaking in other tongues. A<br />
church was built in Gravity, PA, and meetings<br />
were held in a hall in Hamlin. The Assembly<br />
moved to its present location in 1946. Ken &<br />
Melanie Claflin are lead pastors in Hamlin.<br />
FIRST ASSEMBLY,<br />
1916 WILKES-BARRE, PA<br />
First Pentecostal Assembly of God was<br />
founded in 1916 in the home of Will<br />
Matthews of Ashley, PA. The services were<br />
going well and were being attended by so<br />
many that they decided to buy property<br />
for a church building. The second pastor of<br />
the church, Brother Byron Jones, had been<br />
saved at the age of 38 after being instantly<br />
healed of tuberculosis, and shortly<br />
afterwards began pastoring, bringing the<br />
church into the Assemblies of God in 1932.<br />
Ron & Colleen Swanson are lead pastors of<br />
First AG in Wilkes-Barre.<br />
FIRST ASSEMBLY,<br />
1916 WILMINGTON, DE<br />
In 1916, a small group of believers had<br />
received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit<br />
and wanted to start a Pentecostal church<br />
in Wilmington. In 1918, they contacted<br />
John Coxe, the Superintendent (then<br />
called “Chairman”) of the Eastern District.<br />
Brother Coxe had pastored the Wilmington<br />
Christian & Missionary Alliance church from<br />
1911-1914. He had received the Baptism<br />
of the Holy Spirit which dramatically<br />
changed his life and ministry. After serving<br />
just one year as Superintendent, Brother<br />
Coxe pursued other ministry endeavors<br />
including evangelistic work and planting<br />
the church in Wilmington, Delaware, “WFA”<br />
is now led by pastor Eric & Tiffany Spanier.<br />
PECKVILLE AG<br />
1916 BLAKELY, PA<br />
Terry and Rebecca Drost are lead pastors at<br />
Peckville AG.<br />
<strong>Centennial</strong> Celebration | May <strong>2016</strong> | 39
Pennsylvania-Delaware Ministry <strong>Network</strong><br />
4651 Westport Drive<br />
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055<br />
Find us online: penndel.org<br />
Follow us on Facebook: PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong><br />
Follow us on Twitter: #penndelag<br />
STILL CARRYING THE VISION<br />
In 1956, my late wife and I planted a church in the Bellefonte area at the request of<br />
the Sectional Presbytery; we were given a 3 acre plot of land in Milesburg. Within<br />
6 months we did all the site work and had plans to put up a new building. The<br />
State approved our building plans and we submitted the plans to the builder. He<br />
gave us an estimated cost of the building of $21,000.00. We made an application to<br />
all the banks in the area and were turned down because of our lack of history. The<br />
only hope we had was a benefactor who turned out to be the contractor himself. He<br />
was a godsend! In 1957, with a congregation of approximately 125, we moved into<br />
our new building.<br />
When I became the District Superintendent, the Lord laid on my heart to create<br />
a fund that would help new church plants to secure finances for their building<br />
projects. After discussion with the Presbytery, it was decided that we should move<br />
forward in creating the PennDel Loan Fund which is now HIS Fund. Since 1981,<br />
to the present day, we have financed hundreds of churches with<br />
mortgages, and churches have faithfully met their payments. The<br />
Fund’s motto is “An Investment That Works” for the church of our<br />
Lord and our investors. To God be the glory!<br />
BROTHER BONGIORNO<br />
Superintendent Emeritus<br />
HIS FUND NOW<br />
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An investment that works<br />
www.HISFUND.com 866-219-0820 (toll free) 717-796-9784<br />
Minimum deposit to open a Note is $500.00. The initial interest rate on all Notes will depend on effective interest rates at the time of purchase. Term Notes pay interest at a<br />
rate fixed at the time of issuance. Once fixed, the interest rate on a Term Note will not be changed until the Note matures. At least thirty (30) days prior to any decrease in<br />
the interest rate on a Demand Note, HIS Fund will notify the holder of such change. *Demand Notes are not available in South Carolina. HIS Fund interest rates are subject<br />
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This information is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities issued by HIS Fund. The offering is made only by the prospectus. The unsecured<br />
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