Network Leader Connexions Fall 2017
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FALL <strong>2017</strong> | USPS 165-700
“When it comes to influence, people will follow<br />
who we are more than what we say.”<br />
— James T. Bradford<br />
Jim Bradford is a leader with a heart for pastors and<br />
churches. He oversees credentialing, church chartering<br />
and the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center. Prior to his<br />
election, Bradford pastored in Missouri, Southern California<br />
and Vancouver. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering<br />
and is the author of Preaching: Maybe It Is Rocket Science,<br />
Second Chronicles Seven Fourteen, and Lead So Others Can<br />
Follow. Jim and his wife, Sandi, have two married daughters<br />
and live in Springfield, MO.<br />
SESSION 1: Spirituality and Servanthood<br />
SESSION 2: Systems and Strategies<br />
SESSION 3: Skills and Strengths<br />
SESSION 4: Stamina and Stability<br />
2 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
We are delighted to have<br />
Dr. Jim Bradford<br />
with us for this years<br />
Ministers’ Enrichment.<br />
Dr. James T. Bradford<br />
General Secretary<br />
Assemblies of God
SUPERINTENDENT<br />
STEPHEN R. TOURVILLE<br />
717.795.5921<br />
supt@penndel.org<br />
GETTING<br />
SELF-LEADERSHIP<br />
RIGHT<br />
Many volumes have been written over the last couple of decades regarding leadership<br />
in the church. Great resources have been produced to train leaders in the how-to side<br />
of leadership, the relationship aspect of leading others and the systems approach to<br />
developing effective church structures. These tools can equip ministers to fulfill their call to serve<br />
in the church of Jesus Christ with greater effectiveness in ways that would otherwise require<br />
much time to learn in the school of life experience.<br />
Preaching is at the core of what we are called to do, but we come to understand that being a<br />
shepherd of God’s flock extends further than the pulpit. Our call to ministry certainly involves the<br />
proclamation of the good news and the equipping of God’s people through the exposition of the<br />
Word, but our call does not end there.<br />
Dr. Bradford’s book, Lead So Others Can Follow, gets to the heart of what we call today<br />
“self-leadership.” Discussion related to leadership principles from a “how-to” perspective are<br />
inadequate in kingdom work. While a political or business leader may experience a certain level<br />
of success through the exercise of the power of position and personal expertise, in the kingdom<br />
of God, the additional qualities of spirituality and personal influence are critical to what is to<br />
be accomplished in building the church. Getting self-leadership right makes it possible to<br />
lead so others can follow.<br />
Ministers’ Enrichment speaker, Dr. James Bradford, will help us<br />
develop those key skills for ministry that are foundational for<br />
effective service in the kingdom of God. Join us for this time of<br />
learning, growth and enrichment that will bless you personally<br />
and will bless your ministry in the future.<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 3
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT<br />
Bryan Koch<br />
610.678.0266 ext. 224<br />
bryankoch@gtaog.org<br />
FOLLOW THE LEADER<br />
We’ve probably all played the game “Follow the <strong>Leader</strong>,” and<br />
while some may consider it just a simple game for children,<br />
it really does represent the whole point of leadership.<br />
After all, it’s hard to be a leader when no one is following you! So<br />
what does it look like to lead so that others can follow? In the last<br />
issue of <strong>Connexions</strong>, I shared about a picture of leadership, which<br />
encompassed five tried and true leadership practices.<br />
One of those practices, “Model the Way,” describes how we lead<br />
through the four “C’s:” competency, chemistry, character, and calling.<br />
We need to know what we’re doing, be able to get along and work<br />
with other people, be a person of integrity, and be aware of and<br />
obedient to God’s calling on our lives. Psalm 78:72 speaks of David<br />
and says that “He cared for them with a true heart and led them with<br />
skillful hands.”<br />
Leading with character is extremely important, and attitude plays a<br />
big role in that. Your attitude is one thing you can control that will<br />
have a big impact on your success as a leader. How do you respond<br />
when things go wrong or when you face difficulties? Do you have<br />
the same values at home as you do at church? Are you following<br />
Jesus personally? You can only lead others as well as you are being<br />
led. If you’re not continually pursuing a close relationship with Christ<br />
and being led by Him, then where are you leading those who are<br />
following you? While changing negative attitudes can be difficult, it<br />
can be done with prayer and perseverance.<br />
Another thing to keep in mind when leading so that others can follow<br />
is this: if we want the people we lead to follow us and stay<br />
on the right path, we need to guide from the front instead<br />
of driving from the back. Cattle ranchers drive from the back -<br />
they yell and use a whip to get the cattle where they need to be.<br />
Shepherds, on the other hand guide from the front. The sheep know<br />
the shepherd’s voice and trust it enough to follow. When we have<br />
integrity and inspire trust in the people we lead, they will follow us.<br />
This is why in the LEAD U training that we do with leaders at GT, the<br />
biblical picture for “Model the Way” is the shepherd’s staff to remind<br />
us to lead from the front.<br />
There is a story told about an army that was chasing after Alexander<br />
the Great. They were expecting to surprise him from behind and<br />
overtake him. What they weren’t expecting was being led completely<br />
outside the borders of the map they had and feeling completely lost.<br />
Sometimes that’s how it is with following Christ. He can lead us to<br />
places where we feel completely off the map with no clue where we<br />
are going. But if we continue to follow Him, we can be sure<br />
that we are going in the right direction along with those<br />
who follow us.<br />
When<br />
we have<br />
integrity<br />
and inspire<br />
trust in the<br />
people we<br />
lead, they<br />
will follow us.<br />
4 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
8 PRINCIPLES OF CHANGE<br />
from a Rocket Scientist<br />
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with change. We love it when it clearly<br />
benefits us or when we think everyone else needs to change for our sake. But<br />
when change robs us of that secure attachment to the familiar or when it’s forced<br />
on us against our will, it’s an easy thing to resent. Here are a set of suggestions for<br />
walking people through change – anxieties and all.<br />
1.<br />
2.<br />
3.<br />
4.<br />
5.<br />
6.<br />
7.<br />
8.<br />
Always emphasize mission over preference.<br />
In healthy ministries, the mission answers the question as to why<br />
changes are needed, not the status quo or people’s personal preferences<br />
or the leader’s insecurities. Change should always be tied to mission.<br />
Pace changes wisely and realistically.<br />
Too much change can ruin good change. Changing the systems too often can keep<br />
them from ever taking root in the ministry culture and becoming effective.<br />
Assess the real reasons for resistance to change.<br />
More often than not, people resist change because the process for bringing about<br />
change is flawed.<br />
Create a sense of urgency.<br />
People will change either because they want to or because they have to. Urgency<br />
can be a powerful motivator.<br />
Build a team of influencers to<br />
champion the change.<br />
It’s difficult, if not impossible, for a leader to change an entire ministry culture alone.<br />
Build ownership by letting people<br />
participate in the planning.<br />
When we walk people through change, our goal isn’t for them to reluctantly submit<br />
out of respect for our authority but to be enthusiastically committed to the change.<br />
Remember that behaviors change<br />
faster than personalities.<br />
Changing a ministry’s culture is usually a long process, but behaviors are easier to<br />
change and are therefore usually the best starting points for bringing change.<br />
Never forget the power of trust.<br />
Trust is the foundation of our relationship with Christ and the essential ingredient in<br />
any healthy human relationship. It is also the one non-negotiable for leading a group<br />
of people through change.<br />
Dr. Jim Bradford,<br />
General Secretary of the<br />
Assemblies of God, began<br />
with a background in<br />
Aerospace Engineering<br />
before moving into fulltime<br />
ministry. Here are<br />
some of the principles of<br />
change he has learned<br />
along the way.<br />
Adapted from Lead So<br />
Others Can Follow by<br />
Dr. James T. Bradford.<br />
For more enlightening<br />
lessons on leadership,<br />
join Dr. Bradford,<br />
our guest speaker, for<br />
Minister’s Enrichment<br />
on October 2–4, <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 5
SECRETARY/TREASURER<br />
Donald J. Immel<br />
717.795.5921<br />
don@penndel.org<br />
About People:<br />
Ministers Transferring In:<br />
Cornacchio, John P (Ordained) from New York<br />
Crum, Benjamin (Licensed)<br />
Miller, Charles (Ordained)<br />
6 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
from Ohio<br />
from Arizona<br />
Ministers Transferring Out:<br />
Busa, Sean (Licensed)<br />
to Southern California<br />
Clarkson, William M (Licensed)<br />
Hall, Stephen M (Ordained)<br />
Hart, Austin (Licensed)<br />
Henely, Michael L (Ordained)<br />
Morine, John D (Ordained)<br />
Roloson, Rhea (Licensed)<br />
Ward, (BJ) Benton J (Certified)<br />
With The Lord:<br />
to Michigan<br />
to New Mexico<br />
to PenFlorida<br />
to North Carolina<br />
to Wisconsin/N Michigan<br />
to Oklahoma<br />
to Kentucky<br />
Jayne Grove, 89, went to be with the Lord on April 10th. She<br />
served as our Women’s Ministries Director from 1980-1996.<br />
Jayne was a faithful lead pastor’s wife in the following PennDel<br />
Churches: Dusquene, Corry and Houtzdale.<br />
Nettie Reitzel, 86, went to be with the Lord on April 17th. She<br />
served alongside her surviving husband, Eber, at the following<br />
PennDel Churches: New Cumberland, Landisburg, Honesdale,<br />
Ebensburg, Bethlehem, and Chambersburg.<br />
James Mugford, 86, went to be with the Lord on April 29th. His<br />
ministry encompassed over 60 years of pastoring in Connecticut,<br />
Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New York and Moosic AG in our<br />
PennDel District.<br />
James Hays, 78, went to be with the Lord on May 1st. He<br />
served as lead pastor at Palmyra AG and was a former public<br />
relations director for Teen Challenge. James is survived by his<br />
loving wife, Elsie, of 58 years.<br />
Ivan Cornwell, 57, went to be with the Lord on May 8th. He<br />
was a school administrator for the following PennDel Christian<br />
Schools: Evangel Heights, Littlestown, Pittsburgh East, Calvary<br />
Academy and Calvary Temple. Ivan is survived by his loving<br />
wife, Lisa.<br />
Esther Preiser, 95, went to be with the Lord on May 13th,<br />
where she was met by her husband, Gordon and son, Dale.<br />
Esther served as a faithful lead pastor’s wife at Ephrata, Dickson<br />
City and Lititz. Esther and Gordon were known serving the<br />
children in the PennDel and New Jersey District as “The Prize<br />
Puppeteers”.<br />
New and Upgraded Credentials:<br />
New<br />
Upgraded<br />
Andrews, Eileen (Ordained)<br />
Barner, Sandy F (Licensed)<br />
Beem, Kevin J (Certified)<br />
DeFrain, Ryan M (Certified)<br />
Gravitt, Faith A (Licensed)<br />
Lund, Marissa J (Licensed)<br />
Mack, Philip J (Certified)<br />
Manning, Kyle L (Licensed)<br />
Merrill, Christopher M (Certified)<br />
Monserrate, Steven A (Licensed)<br />
Nicola, Elizabeth N (Certified)<br />
Parson, Katelyn M (Licensed)<br />
Scott Jr, William N (Licensed)<br />
Straub, Jennifer E (Licensed)<br />
VanLeuven, Brinda S (Licensed)<br />
Varughese, Jacob (Ordained)<br />
Warnock, David W (Certified)<br />
Worth, Aimee N (Licensed)<br />
Wyns, Jonathan (Ordained)<br />
Wyns, Tracey (Ordained)<br />
Reinstated<br />
Allen, Stefanie M (Licensed)<br />
Andrews, Reedy, Elizabeth (Licensed)<br />
About Churches:<br />
General Council<br />
Affiliated:<br />
Crosspoint AG, Carmichaels<br />
Lead Pastor – Joshua Koss<br />
Eagle’s Nest AG, Greenville<br />
Lead Pastor – Vincent Bellanca<br />
Life Church of Hershey, Hershey<br />
Lead Pastor – Shawn Bentley<br />
Mountaintop Family Church,<br />
Mountain Top<br />
Lead Pastor – Brian Knorr<br />
Transferred Churches:<br />
City Reach Church Las Vegas East –<br />
S California<br />
Pastoral Transitions:<br />
Ben Rivera – New Beginning<br />
Church of Bucks County, Jamison<br />
Carter, W Bradford (Ordained)<br />
Balban, Isaac J (Ordained)<br />
Culbertson, David (Ordained)<br />
George, Stacie (Ordained)<br />
Giles, Janet (Ordained)<br />
Gruber, Justin (Ordained)<br />
Hall, Stephen M (Ordained)<br />
Henry, Jeffrey A (Licensed)<br />
Hyman, Lee (Ordained)<br />
Jordan, Andrew D (Ordained)<br />
Jordan, Megan B (Ordained)<br />
Keever, Debra (Ordained)<br />
Knoll, Nathaniel (Ordained)<br />
Knorr, Deborah A (Ordained)<br />
Krebs, Janette L (Ordained)<br />
Lanza, Jared F (Ordained)<br />
Mathias, Paul J (Ordained)<br />
McNaney, Christopher (Ordained)<br />
Neis Jr, Thomas A (Ordained)<br />
Reyes III, Salvador (Licensed)<br />
Ritenour, Jonathan (Ordained)<br />
Rodriguez, Lisa F (Ordained)<br />
Vagle, Kyle T (Ordained)<br />
Waldecker, Paul M (Ordained)<br />
Wirmel, John M (Licensed)<br />
District Affiliated:<br />
Pleasant Valley Chapel,<br />
Mt Pleasant Mills<br />
Lead Pastor – Terry Sheaffer<br />
Parent Affiliated:<br />
Harrisburg Nepali Church, Harrisburg<br />
PAC Mother – Harrisburg 1 st AG<br />
PAC Lead Pastor – Terry Lamer<br />
Campus Pastor – Suresh Tamang<br />
Mosaic Church, Reading<br />
PAC Mother – Morning Star Fellowship,<br />
Bechtelsville<br />
PAC Lead Pastor – Steven R DeFrain<br />
Campus Pastor – Iosif Hoca<br />
Venture Church, Bluffton SC<br />
PAC Mother – Morning Star<br />
Fellowship<br />
PAC Lead Pastor – Steve DeFrain<br />
Campus Pastor – Shaun Olsen
WORLD MISSIONS<br />
Donald J. Immel<br />
717.795.5921<br />
don@penndel.org<br />
National Emphasis Theme and Materials<br />
are available as you promote missions in<br />
your church:<br />
www.agwm.com/assets/theme-catalog.pdf<br />
PennDel Missionaries Currently Itinerating:<br />
New Missionaries Itineration:<br />
Mike & Jess Brown (Latin America) mikendjessb@gmail.com<br />
Tom & Brooke Harshberger (Europe) tomharshberger@gmail.com<br />
Veteran Missionaries Itineration:<br />
Paul & Kristin Mathias (Sensitive)<br />
Ron & Amy Jones (Sensitive)<br />
mathiasfamily@oikosmail.com<br />
ronandamyjones@gmail.com<br />
Missionaries Status Changes & Updates:<br />
Brice Karper – Missionary to Eurasia submitted his resignation to AGWM<br />
in March.<br />
Peggy Lamb – Missionary with International Ministries has experienced a<br />
transition in her life/ministry and has submitted her resignation to AGWM.<br />
National Missions Connect <strong>2017</strong><br />
59th Annual Commissioning Service<br />
School of Missions<br />
Robin & I had a wonderful time connecting with our<br />
PennDel missionary family in Springfield during the<br />
annual “Missions Refresh” and connection event. Each<br />
year PennDel hosts a dinner with our missionaries who<br />
are present in Springfield during this month of training.<br />
The highlight of our visit is the Thursday evening<br />
“Commissioning Service.” We dearly love our missionaries<br />
and their families, and so appreciate their responsive<br />
call to reach the unreached around the world.<br />
Shahan & Tyra Teberian and Family – Missionaries in a sensitive country<br />
are home on their first furlough this past year serving in our churches, raising<br />
monthly support and enjoying time reconnecting with friends and family.<br />
During this time of residing in the Phoenixville area, God opened a door for<br />
Shahan to use a combination of his previous legal experience, expertise in<br />
business practices and ministry skills to bless the University of Valley Forge<br />
for a brief season with the President’s Cabinet as University Counsel.<br />
Stay connected with the Teberian’s at: www.theteberians.com or<br />
shahan.teberian@agmd.org, tyra.teberian@agmd.org<br />
Current Itineration List: Our PennDel website has a full up-to-date<br />
itineration list for our PennDel missionaries during <strong>2017</strong> – 2018<br />
Tom & Brooke Harshberger<br />
Mike & Jess Brown and Family<br />
<strong>2017</strong> World Missions Project: The Roma Project<br />
Throughout this past year we have been sharing information about the Roma people of<br />
Slovakia. The need has been met with broad acceptance, and the desire to develop a partnership<br />
with our Roma brothers and sisters seems to resonate with our PennDel <strong>Network</strong> family.<br />
Our goal is to raise $150K to build a Community Center in Kendice, Slovakia. To date, we have<br />
received $38,688.77 in offerings.<br />
Thank you for helping us meet our goal by sending your donation to:<br />
4651 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055. Or give online: penndel.org<br />
We kindly ask that all pledges for the Roma Project be met by MinistrieSummit 2018.<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 7
HOPE WINS<br />
How the Church Can Bring Hope to Rural America<br />
Written by Courtney DiTrolio<br />
America, land of the brave and home of the free, is also home to over 43 million<br />
people living in poverty. Surprisingly our small towns and rural communities have<br />
an even higher poverty rate than urban areas.<br />
Steve Donaldson, founder of Rural Compassion, talks about the<br />
death in these rural communities - death of people’s dreams, death<br />
of businesses, and death of homes, as they deteriorate over time.<br />
But he also talks about a vision, “to see vitality, to see kids have<br />
dreams again.” Although the statistics are halting, the good news is,<br />
there is hope.<br />
This message of hope was brought to us through the means of an<br />
18-wheeler truck, a small team of leaders, and a big heart and vision<br />
for rural America.<br />
In June, PennDel hosted its first Rural Compassion event. When<br />
the flag-donning Convoy of Hope truck pulled into the lot of the<br />
Bongiorno Conference Center, we knew it brought promise of an<br />
extraordinary weekend. Rural Compassion missionaries, Kim and<br />
Laurel Harvey, led the weekend and brought the heart of the ministry<br />
to 34 pastors and pastors’ wives through their personal stories,<br />
innovative ideas and huge vision. Two other vital team members,<br />
Dan and Karen Rhodes, drove the truck from Springfield and assisted<br />
through their hard work and serve-oriented spirits.<br />
The two-day event involved three sessions, led by Kim and Laurel,<br />
as well as a blessing room of resources for pastors, and finally, the<br />
distribution of approximately 35,000 pounds of goods to finish off the<br />
weekend.<br />
The big questions posed over the weekend were: What are we<br />
doing to bring hope to our small towns and rural areas? And<br />
how are we tangibly serving our rural communities?<br />
Rural Compassion brought us some answers, with the idea of<br />
cultivating relationships in our communities and identifying and<br />
connecting with our communities’ stakeholders like policemen,<br />
firefighters, teachers, politicians, superintendents, and nonprofit<br />
8 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
leaders. Pastor John Talcott, pastor of Christ Community Church in Emmitsburg,<br />
reflected, “God really affirmed in me those things that I had been doing right<br />
and inspired me to go harder and deeper into building relationships with<br />
some of the other stakeholders.”<br />
Kim and Laurel shared their stories of pastoring a rural church. As Kim shared his moving<br />
personal story, he reminded us, “God doesn’t waste our pain.” He talked about how<br />
pain gives us compassion, and compassion connects us to people. Another reminder he<br />
gave is that “compassion is always inconvenient.” If we are waiting for a moment<br />
when compassion is comfortable or easy, then we are missing it.<br />
Laurel shared story after story about the needs in rural communities around the US.<br />
In certain school districts, she has spoken to worried lunch ladies who know that for<br />
some, the lunch that students eat on Friday will be their last full meal until Monday.<br />
We learned that one of the largest causes of adolescent girls missing school in rural<br />
areas is the inability to afford feminine products. Laurel told us of a family who<br />
happily received new toothbrushes, exclaiming, “We don’t have to share anymore!”<br />
The families in our rural communities are in need of resources, but even more so,<br />
they are in need of hope.<br />
Rural Compassion uses resources as a means to reach people’s hearts. At the<br />
dismissal of the event, each pastor drove through rows of volunteers, as their vans,<br />
u-hauls and trucks were loaded up with a wide array of tangible goods to bring to<br />
their churches and communities. The pastors left with full hearts and full trucks, after<br />
receiving collectively over 17 tons of resources!<br />
The PennDel Ministry <strong>Network</strong> is committed to coming alongside our rural pastors,<br />
with a renewed vision for reaching our rural areas for Jesus. If you want to take part<br />
in our next Rural Compassion, April 6-7, 2018 at the Bongiorno Conference Center,<br />
please contact Tom Rees (tom@penndel.org).<br />
WHAT OUR PASTORS<br />
SAID ABOUT RURAL<br />
COMPASSION:<br />
“Our hearts are full and overwhelmed<br />
at the opportunity that<br />
God will give us to love the people<br />
in Galeton.”<br />
— Pastor LeRoy and Wanda Bunker<br />
(Lighthouse Community Church, Galeton)<br />
“It’s nice to attend something<br />
that ‘fits’ with the rural church.<br />
It brought encouragement to our<br />
souls. Put some excitement back<br />
in us.”<br />
- Pastor Jim and Dorothy Rugg<br />
(Mill City AG)<br />
“God gave us a new direction and<br />
a new hope to continue in the call<br />
He has laid upon our hearts.”<br />
— Pastor Sean and Beth Heuer<br />
(Trinity AG, Nicholson)<br />
“Rural Compassion teaches us to<br />
go above and beyond the 4 big<br />
community events that we already<br />
do each year.”<br />
— Pastor Tim and Rhonda Imes<br />
(Pinchot Park AG)<br />
“It was practical and easy to<br />
remember. We really liked the workbook<br />
because it was something that<br />
we can take back and work together<br />
with our staff to get the vision of<br />
reaching rural families...We will leave<br />
excited and pumped up to creatively<br />
reach our community.”<br />
— Pastor Shane &<br />
Aubrey McClanahan<br />
(St. Thomas AG)<br />
Courtney DiTrolio works as a writer, editor, florist<br />
and English teacher in Buenos Aires, Argentina,<br />
where she lives with her husband, Stephen. She<br />
graduated from Vanguard University in Southern<br />
California and previously worked as the Creative<br />
Arts Specialist at GT Church in Reading.<br />
“I’m consistently awestruck by the depth of poverty we see in<br />
rural American towns. I’m equally inspired by the determination<br />
and grassroots solutions in those same towns.”<br />
— Steve Donaldson<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 9
<strong>2017</strong> PENNDEL DISTRICT COUNCIL<br />
Congratulations to the Ordination Class of <strong>2017</strong>!<br />
PENNDEL<br />
MINISTRIESUMMIT<br />
MAY 1-3 <strong>2017</strong><br />
•<br />
<strong>2017</strong> Jubilarians<br />
50 years of Ordained Ministry<br />
John & Carol Kenzy, Ed & Faith Ferguson<br />
10 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
Eileen Andrews<br />
Isaac & Courtney Balban<br />
David & Rachel Culbertson<br />
Stacie George<br />
Janet Giles<br />
Justin & Kelly Gruber<br />
Stephen & Rachel Hall<br />
Lee & Kiersten Hyman<br />
Andrew & Megan Jordan<br />
Debra & Ward Keever<br />
Nathaniel & Rachel Knoll<br />
Deborah & Brian Knorr<br />
Jan & George Krebs<br />
Jared & Heather Lanza<br />
Paul & Kristin Mathias<br />
Christopher & Samantha<br />
McNaney<br />
Thomas & Patricia Neis Jr.<br />
Jonathan & Danielle<br />
Ritenour<br />
Lisa & Carlos Rodriguez<br />
Kyle & Rendelle Vagle<br />
Jacob & Valsala Varughese<br />
Paul & Jill Waldecker<br />
Jonathan & Tracey Wyns
LIFE IS HARD<br />
Robin and Jeff<br />
UVF 1981<br />
Written by Courtney DiTrolio<br />
It was the Christmas of 1996, and Robin Kettering, mother of three<br />
and pastor’s wife, remembers her family packing up to head to the<br />
Florida Keys for a seaside holiday. She was excited to break in a new<br />
pair of sneakers on the trip, but began to notice an unusual numb<br />
sensation in her right foot. At first assuming the shoes were the cause,<br />
she overlooked the issue. However, more questions began to arise<br />
when the numbness in her foot continued to spread to her leg. She<br />
knew something was not right.<br />
Within a year, Robin was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS),<br />
a disease that hones in on the brain and spinal cord. It creates a<br />
disconnect between the brain and the rest of the body, often causing<br />
fatigue, limited mobility, or loss of vision.<br />
As a person of faith, how do you respond to the diagnosis of a<br />
chronic disease with no cure?<br />
Aside from the fear and emotion that coincides with this kind of news,<br />
Robin reminisces, “I felt thankful in my heart because I knew God<br />
was going to take care of me. Life is hard, but God is good.” Her<br />
resolution to trust in God, even though depression and anger could<br />
have easily set in, is the theme that has reigned in her life, especially in<br />
the last twenty years.<br />
Robin’s<br />
Ordination, 2016<br />
Robin in 1981<br />
12 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
GUEST INTERVIEW<br />
Robin Kettering<br />
rkettering59@gmail.com<br />
Robin and her husband, Jeff, have been<br />
serving Newville Church as senior pastors<br />
for 28 years. Both Robin and Jeff are<br />
ordained with PennDel, and Jeff serves as<br />
the presbyter of the South Central Section.<br />
They have 3 grown sons - Michael, 26,<br />
Peter, 29 and Tim, 31.<br />
Robin’s 4 M’s To Joy<br />
Robin has always been determined, energetic, and passionate about<br />
ministry. As a young lady, she attended University of Valley Forge to<br />
follow God’s call to ministry. At Valley Forge, she met her husband, Jeff<br />
Kettering, and they moved into full-time pastoring after graduating<br />
from Bible school. Robin invested in the youth and children’s programs;<br />
however, her calling shifted as she became a mom to three energetic<br />
boys, Tim, Peter, and Michael. She also worked as a lifeguard, a school<br />
bus driver and taught swimming lessons.<br />
She is constantly asking for help from<br />
God, “Lord help me!”<br />
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when<br />
you are in need. (Romans 10:13)<br />
In the last twenty years, her life has shifted externally but has<br />
remained steadfast at the foundation. She has learned to adapt to life<br />
in a wheelchair, and even embraces the conversations it initiates. When<br />
acquaintances pity her condition, she assures them, “God is taking<br />
care of me.”<br />
She says that you should never underestimate the power of staying<br />
connected to people and to a support system. As a naturally<br />
independent person, she has learned dependency; depending on her<br />
husband and on her caregivers to help her with daily tasks has taught<br />
her the importance of humility and keeping a thankful, gentle spirit.<br />
She has learned to accept her limitations and does what she can with<br />
what she has been given.<br />
As a recently ordained AG pastor, Robin uses her story to share with<br />
women’s groups and churches. She communicates with passion her<br />
prescription, her 4 M’s recipe for joy. The detours her life has taken,<br />
due to MS, have not always been easy, but she has still managed to<br />
keep a tight grip on joy.<br />
She keeps a melody and song in her<br />
mind and heart always.<br />
Robin’s Go-To Songs for Encouragement:<br />
Just Be Held by Casting Crowns<br />
Come Holy Spirit<br />
She meditates on scripture daily to<br />
keep her spirit revived and encouraged.<br />
Robin’s Go-To Scriptures:<br />
Philippians 4<br />
Romans 8:28<br />
To anyone who has a hard diagnosis, a loss, a devastating<br />
disappointment or a detour in life, Robin encourages you to remember<br />
that God still has a plan for you. And to remember that you did not do<br />
anything wrong to bring you to this place. She reiterates that if you<br />
trust in God, He will see you through. “Yes, life is hard, but yes, God<br />
is good.”<br />
She makes up her mind to say yes to God.<br />
When you don’t know what to pray,<br />
pray the Lord’s Prayer to keep your<br />
mind centered on God’s will.<br />
“Yes, life is hard, but yes, God is good.”<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 13
YOUTH ALIVE MISSIONARY<br />
Lee Rogers<br />
717.795.9780<br />
lee@reachtheschool.com<br />
REACHTHESCHOOL.COM • TWITTER.COM/REACHTHESCHOOL<br />
FACEBOOK.COM/REACHTHESCHOOL<br />
“Can I tell you about what I’ve been doing in my school?”<br />
McKenzie asked me one night after I spoke at her youth group. She<br />
was quiet and unassuming, but I could tell she had a passion for Jesus<br />
and a story to share. She told me how she’d invited her entire class to<br />
a weekly Bible study, and that a few dozen students were attending<br />
regularly. I was a little surprised because McKenzie was a very shy<br />
and quiet student; she was not the personality type most people<br />
would expect to fearlessly launch a movement and make a difference<br />
for the Gospel.<br />
A few months later I contacted McKenzie and asked if we could<br />
document her story with a video, and if she would be willing to<br />
appear on stage with me at an event to tell the story in her own<br />
words. She declined. McKenzie said, “To be honest, I’m very shy and<br />
I don’t consider myself to be a leader. I’m not comfortable in front of<br />
large crowds, and I don’t want to draw attention to myself. I just want<br />
to make a difference for Jesus among my friends and in my school.” I<br />
was disappointed with her response, but I wasn’t surprised; this was<br />
more in line with what most would expect from her personality type.<br />
McKenzie reveals an interesting juxtaposition for all of us who follow<br />
Jesus; we are not all called to be leaders, but we are all called to lead<br />
others to Christ.<br />
In the church, we have too frequently conflated these separate<br />
concepts and often to the detriment of the mission of God. The<br />
Apostle Paul wrote that some have the gift of leadership, but some<br />
have other gifts, such as serving or giving (see Romans 12:3-8).<br />
At the same time, all believers are called to lead others to Christ<br />
(Matthew 28:19-20), and we can even receive the empowerment<br />
of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). So we are not all<br />
leaders, but we are all to be leading our friends and acquaintances<br />
YOUTH MINISTRIES<br />
Doug Sayers<br />
717.795.5921<br />
dyd@penndel.org
to Christ. McKenzie was a perfect working example of this<br />
seemingly irreconcilable contradiction; she wasn’t a leader, yet<br />
she was leading many to the Cross through the Scriptures. She<br />
was making a difference for the Gospel, fulfilling the call placed<br />
upon all followers of Christ.<br />
When we assume that only “leaders” can start a movement<br />
that will make a difference, or that only those in leadership<br />
can share the Gospel, we severely limit the scope and breadth<br />
of God’s mission. We also limit the further discipleship and<br />
effectiveness of all believers. Worst of all, we put the Holy Spirit<br />
in a box as though the empowerment that is for all followers of<br />
Christ is only for a few. It’s time to reject this way of thinking.<br />
It’s time to embrace the truth that all believers are called to<br />
make a difference for the Gospel; that all can share their faith<br />
without fear; that each one can be used by God to shape history.<br />
Join us for a brand new event designed to equip teenagers<br />
to make a difference for the Gospel. This is not an event for<br />
“leaders,” it’s an event for all believers! It’s Fearless: One<br />
Day to Make a Difference, a one-day conference happening<br />
in three locations: West, East, and Central. Students will be<br />
inspired and empowered to serve their friends, talk about their<br />
faith, and make a difference without fear. For details and to<br />
register, go to www.fearlessoneday.com.<br />
For more information visit valleyforge.edu<br />
Contact our Office of Admissions<br />
800.432.8322 or admissions@valleyforge.edu
The PennDel School of Ministry is a<br />
convenient and less expensive way<br />
that a person can satisfy the academic<br />
requirements for credentials with the<br />
Assemblies of God.<br />
NOW ON TWO CAMPUSES:<br />
This <strong>Fall</strong> (<strong>2017</strong>)<br />
• Monroeville Campus (meeting at<br />
Monroeville A/G) will offer<br />
Level 1 and Level 2 classes<br />
• York Campus will offer<br />
Level 1 classes only<br />
16 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Enrollment for each course is $60.<br />
Classes meet one Saturday each<br />
month (Sept-May).<br />
For more information visit:<br />
www.penndelsom.org
MEN’S MINISTRIES<br />
Tom Rees<br />
717.795.5921<br />
tom@penndel.org<br />
COMING<br />
EVENTS<br />
IN <strong>2017</strong>:<br />
District <strong>Leader</strong>s<br />
Conference<br />
Newport A/G<br />
Thompsontown, PA<br />
August 25-26<br />
West Division<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> Camporee<br />
Camp Seph Mack<br />
Penn Run, PA<br />
September 8-10<br />
East Division<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> Camporee<br />
Tri-County<br />
Worship Center<br />
Bethel, PA<br />
Sept 22-23<br />
Colonials Territorial<br />
Rendezvous<br />
PDRR Camp Berry<br />
Honey Grove, PA<br />
October 6-8<br />
BE SOMEBODY<br />
One is born into leadership, right? At least that is<br />
what many believe. However, the idea that one is<br />
naturally a good leader is a myth. Are there those who<br />
are natural leaders? Absolutely! But leadership can be<br />
and usually is a learned skill.<br />
Consider the most fundamental example of Jesus<br />
choosing the twelve. He didn’t interview looking for<br />
those who naturally exhibited good leadership. On<br />
the contrary, He looked for those who were willing to<br />
follow His example and learn to be good leaders. He<br />
chose those with teachable hearts and then spent the<br />
next few years teaching and training them for the roles<br />
they were to fulfill.<br />
So, here is the question, you as a leader in your church,<br />
must answer. Are you training tomorrow’s leaders?<br />
Royal Rangers is, in part, devoted to training leaders<br />
both for today and tomorrow. We offer training for<br />
adults so they can be effective in their outposts and be<br />
able to train our boys. We offer Jr. <strong>Leader</strong>ship camps and<br />
ROYAL RANGERS<br />
Greg Scott<br />
302.697.2313<br />
gscott@pdrangers.org<br />
www.pdrangers.org<br />
merits so that our boys will be the Christ like servant<br />
leaders of tomorrow. Are you taking advantage of what<br />
Royal Rangers offers the men and boys in your church?<br />
Oftentimes, if you lead, someone will follow. It’s been<br />
said that if you are not leading, you are a follower. If<br />
you are not following, then you are lost. Be somebody,<br />
be the best version of yourself that you can be.<br />
Help us build tomorrow’s leaders. Check out our<br />
website for full information at www.pdrangers.org<br />
Jr. <strong>Leader</strong>ship opportunities:<br />
Jr. <strong>Leader</strong>ship Development Academy,<br />
PDRR Camp Berry – August 2–5<br />
Adult <strong>Leader</strong>ship Opportunities:<br />
Check with your Sectional RR Coordinator for local<br />
Ranger Basics and Ranger Essentials<br />
National Ranger Ministry Camp,<br />
Whiteford, MD – Sept. 8–10<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 17
GIRLS MINISTRIES<br />
Sharon Poole<br />
penndeldmc@yahoo.com<br />
penndel.org/girls<br />
September 10-16 is the<br />
National Girls Ministries Week.<br />
This annual celebration provides an opportunity for the<br />
local church to promote its ministry to girls and young<br />
women. This year the theme, “BLOOM, when little<br />
becomes much,” allows for teaching and discussion for all age<br />
groups of girls. The National GM Department has developed<br />
a packet to be used in this Celebration. To download this free<br />
packet, go to ngm.ag.org Click on the “events/evangelism”<br />
dropdown and choose “National Girls Ministries Week.”<br />
18 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
Even if you do not have organized Girls Ministries Clubs in your<br />
church, use this time to highlight how you are reaching this<br />
generation of females for Jesus. Never before has a gender<br />
generation needed to be encouraged, honored and, more<br />
importantly, mentored. Don’t miss this opportunity to bring<br />
about God’s blessing in them!
Pennsylvania-Delaware<br />
Ministry <strong>Network</strong><br />
4651 Westport Drive<br />
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055<br />
Read online: penndel.org/connexions<br />
Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen R. Tourville<br />
Managing Editor: . . . . . Carole Bongiorno<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 />
REpurpose, REclaim,<br />
REplenish, REnew…<br />
so many words to describe<br />
the repairs we need in our<br />
lives. God is the original<br />
“fixer-upper.” Our weekend<br />
will focus on allowing God<br />
to REjuvenate and REnovate<br />
our body, soul and spirit.<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 />
Volume 63 Number 3 - (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 />
DISTRICT CALENDAR<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
4 ............Labor Day – Ministries Center closed<br />
8-10 .......RR West Division <strong>Fall</strong> Camporee<br />
9 ............Fearless (Yth) One Day to Make a Difference<br />
East – Central/Bethlehem, PA<br />
10-16 ..... National Girls Ministries Week<br />
11 ..........Presbytery Meeting – BCC<br />
12 ..........Credential Interviews – BCC<br />
15 ..........Credential Apps due for Jan. 2018 Interviews<br />
16 ..........Fearless (Yth) One Day to Make a Difference<br />
Central – CLA/Camp Hill, PA<br />
17 ..........Cluster Church Planting Day<br />
22-23 ..... RR East Division <strong>Fall</strong> Camporee<br />
22-24 ..... Women in Ministry Retreat – BCC<br />
24 ..........Campus Awareness Day<br />
27 ..........See You at the Pole<br />
29 ..........PennDel Charities Trap Shooting –<br />
Youngwood Sportsmen’s Club<br />
OCTOBER<br />
1 ............Ministers’ Appreciation Month<br />
2 ............Youth Committee Meeting<br />
2-4 .........Ministers Enrichment – BCC<br />
4 ............World Missions Rep’s Meeting – BCC<br />
6-8 .........RR FCF Territorial Rendezvous<br />
7 ............Junior Bible Quiz Meet #1<br />
14 ..........Teen Bible Quiz Meet #1<br />
15 ..........National STL Day<br />
20-21 .....Acts 2 Journey #4 – BCC<br />
20-21 .....GO Men’s Conference – CLA, Camp Hill<br />
21 ..........PDRR Camp Workday<br />
21-23 .....PK/MK Retreat – BCC<br />
30-31 .....STL Tour<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
1-17 .......STL Tour<br />
4 ............Junior Bible Quiz Meet #2<br />
5 ............Daylight Savings Time ends<br />
10-11 ..... Women of Purpose Conference –<br />
Hershey Arena<br />
11 ..........RR Regional Business Meeting<br />
15 ..........Credential App’s due for March 2018<br />
17-19 ..... Young Adult Outreach (NYSUM) –<br />
New York City<br />
23-24 ..... Thanksgiving – Ministries Center closed<br />
<strong>Network</strong> connexions | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2017</strong> | 19
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 />
LEADING THE WAY<br />
in Kingdom Investments<br />
Investment Interest Rates<br />
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4 year note 3.25%<br />
2½ year note 3.00%<br />
1 year note 2.75%<br />
6 month note 2.50%<br />
Demand Note 2.25%<br />
www.hisfund.com • 866-219-0820 (toll free) • 717-796-9784<br />
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ON ALL NOTES WILL DEPEND ON EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME<br />
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ISSUANCE. ONCE FIXED, THE INTEREST RATE ON A TERM NOTE WILL NOT BE<br />
CHANGED UNTIL THE NOTE MATURES. AT LEAST THIRTY (30) DAYS PRIOR TO ANY<br />
DECREASE IN THE INTEREST RATE ON A DEMAND NOTE, HIS FUND WILL NOTIFY<br />
THE HOLDER OF SUCH CHANGE. *DEMAND NOTES ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN SOUTH<br />
CAROLINA. HIS FUND INTEREST RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT<br />
NOTICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL FORMS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE<br />
AT WWW.HISFUND.COM.<br />
THIS INFORMATION IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO SELL NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN<br />
OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES ISSUED BY HIS FUND. THE OFFERING IS MADE<br />
ONLY BY THE PROSPECTUS. THE UNSECURED SECURITIES OF HIS FUND ARE<br />
NOT OFFERED OR SOLD IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE NOT PERMITTED. THE<br />
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