Network Leader Connexions Spring 2024 - Resource Edition - The Church at its Best

PennDel Ministry Network | Spring 2024 

RESOURCE EDITION 

The Church at its Best

HELPING YOU & YOUR MINISTRY BE YOUR BEST 

Our Network Presbytery provides ministry leadership, resourcing and 

fellowship opportunities throughout their group/sections. They are committed 

to equipping, empowering and fostering healthy pastors and thriving churches. 

NETWORK SUPERINTENDENT | DONALD J. IMMEL 

THE CHURCH AT ITS 

BEST 

717.795.5921 | don@penndel.org 

DON IMMEL 

Superintendent 

don@penndel.org 

STEVE DEFRAIN 

Assistant Superintendent 

sdefrain@penndel.org 

JEFF MARSHALL 

Secretary-Treasurer 

jeff@penndel.org 

JASON LAMER 

General Presbyter 

gppastor@penndel.org 

BARRY BROWN 

Greater Philadelphia Area 

gpapresbyter@penndel.org 

TIM BUNNEY 

South West Suburban Section 

swspresbyter@penndel.org 

MARK CASTON 

East Central Section 

ecpresbyter@penndel.org 

RYAN COON 

At-Large Under 40 Presbyter 

alpresbyterunder40@penndel.org 

JEFF DYER 

Delaware Section 

delpresbyter@penndel.org 

We often hear stories of the church functioning at its worst. Conflict abounds or 

churches that have lost their missional focus. “I was hurt” narratives or just plain 

criticism or gossip. But, every week we also hear stories of churches that are doing 

well. We hear testimonies of missional “wins,” of wonderful Holy Spirit moments when someone 

is healed or a new believer experiences significant life-transformation. Though we never 

attain perfection, we observe churches that experience seasons of God’s blessing as the body 

functions in unity, reflecting the early churches culture of “praising God and having favor with 

all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 

2:47; NKJV) Testimonies I’ve recently heard during our sectional council tour report… 

» 44 Students responded to a salvation message preached during a 

5th Quarter event… 

» 18 people were baptized in the Holy Spirit in the morning service… 

JAMES GOODMAN 

North Central West Section 

ncwpresbyter@penndel.org 

TIM HALBFOERSTER 

South Central East Section 

scepresbyter@penndel.org 

WAYNE JACKSON 

South West Metro Section 

swmpresbyter@penndel.org 

DWAN NEWSOME 

South Central Section 

scpresbyter@penndel.org 

KWAKU OWUSU-BOACHIE 

At-Large Ethnic Presbyter 

alpresbyterethnic@penndel.org 

» Surgery was canceled when a second set of MRI’s showed that the 

medical need was no longer present (as indicated by the first MRI)… 

Although ministry in a 21st century context in America has its challenges, God always provides 

more-than-adequate resources to meet whatever challenges we are facing. We have the 

ever-present Helper who teaches, empowers and leads us to fulfill our ministry and missional 

assignments. We have exceedingly great promises that assure us that through Him we have 

EVERYTHING we need [and more - Ephesians 3:20] to accomplish His will. 

2 

JIM PENTZ 

North Central Section 

ncpresbyter@penndel.org 

LISA RODRIGUEZ 

At-Large Female Presbyter 

alpresbyterfemale@penndel.org 

WAYNE SCHAFFER 

South Central West Section 

scwpresbyter@penndel.org 

DAVE TWISS 

Northeast Section 

nepresbyter@penndel.org 

Honorary General Presbyter (Not Pictured): PHILIP BONGIORNO, PennDel Superintendent Emeritus 

Pennsylvania-Delaware Ministry Network 

4651 Westport Drive | Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 

ALAN THORPE 

Northwest Section 

nwpresbyter@penndel.org 

EDITOR: Donald J. Immel 

MANAGING EDITOR: Carole Bongiorno 

Read online: penndel.org/connexion 

Volume 70 Number 2–(USPS 165-700) is the official periodical published quarterly by the Pennsylvania-Delaware District Council of the Assemblies of God. Periodical 

postage paid at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Circulation Stands at Approximately 5,000. POSTMASTER, Send address changes to: Pennsylvania-Delaware District 

Council, 4651 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-4887 

In this issue, our team of directors are providing some resources that they are familiar with, and 

are recommending, for your consideration, as to how these resources can help your church 

function at its best. It is our hope that as you read this issue, you will experience an excitement 

in your imagination where you may say to yourself, “THAT would be a great addition 

or adjustment to our ministry context!” As a pastor, I know that time limitations make it 

challenging to review resources in every area of church ministry. Our desire is to help you by 

sharing what we have become aware of and familiar with, thus making your load a little lighter 

and your ministry more effective. God’s best to you as you envision your church at its best! 

PennDel Ministry Network | CONNEXION 3

484.686.4843 | sdefrain@penndel.org 

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT | STEVE DEFRAIN 

How many leadership meetings have you experienced that ended 

badly? Every decision discussed was put on hold because scarcity 

ruled the atmosphere. Truthfully, it’s a spiritual thing that raises its 

ugly head in many of our Assembly of God churches. 

HONESTLY, WE MUST DECIDE BETWEEN A SCARCITY MINDSET 

AND AN ABUNDANCE MINDSET: 

» Scarcity says everything is limited, which causes us to worry about the future. Our decisions are 

based on the fear of not having enough. 

» Abundance says there’s plenty to go around, and there’s more where that came from. You 

are optimistic about the future. You make decisions based on the big picture and not just a 

snapshot of time. 

BRIDGE BUILDERS COORDINATOR | TIM HALBFOERSTER 

Conflict happens in every area where humans live, including 

church! Other than the Bible, what are some helpful resources that 

can assist church leaders and members during a time of conflict? 

In his book The Peacemaker, Ken Sande identifies the primary reason for conflict as “unmet desires 

in our hearts” according to James 4:1. Sande further explains how an unmet desire can become “an 

idol” in a believer’s heart. His four steps of creating an idol out of a desire are: “I Desire; I Demand; 

I Judge; I Punish.” Managing conflict resolution begins by first approaching God about one’s sin 

or responsibility in a conflict before confronting the other person (Matthew 7:3-5). A discipleship 

goal of every Christian should be to live to honor and glorify God. He writes: “Conflict is always an 

opportunity to glorify God.” 

In his book Resolving Conflict: How to Make, Disturb, and Keep Peace, Lou Priolo identifies three 

reasons for disagreements that can occur in the body of Christ: 

717-773-0555 | bridgebuilders@penndel.org 

CULTIVATE A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY: 

» As a lead pastor, I understand it starts with me. I want generosity to ooze from my life. I go to bat 

and make sure every guest speaker (missionaries, evangelists, etc.) receives the best offering 

we can give. I go to bat and make sure my staff is well taken care of, from pastor appreciation 

to Christmas bonuses. I ensure they get a gift card, and their spouse gets one on their birthday. 

Most importantly, I’m a lead giver in every offering taken at the church. It may not be the most 

significant gift, but everyone knows I’m giving it, too. 

» Consider tithing to missions. Numbers 18:26 “Give these instructions to the Levites: When 

you receive from the people of Israel the tithes I have assigned as your allotment, give a 

tenth of the tithes you receive—a tithe of the tithe—to the Lord as a sacred offering. (NLT) 

In 1981, before I saw that verse, we decided to give a tithe of the tithe into our Mission’s Fund 

as a sacred offering. Forty-three years later, they are still giving a tithe of the tithe. Today, God is 

still speaking to pastors, deacons and leadership teams that this is one decisive way to cultivate 

a spirit of generosity. Nichole Schreiber, one of our young lead pastors, said God told her, 

“You're not going to plan your way out of this mess; you're going to give your way out.” 

She adopted “…a tithe of the tithe—to the Lord as a sacred offering.” Erie First is giving 

the first fruits to Missions as a sacred offering. Nichole is changing the culture and releasing an 

abundance mindset into the church. 

» Hang out with leaders who have the spirit of generosity and introduce your leadership and 

church to other outrageously giving churches. Introduce your church to resources like The 

Blessed Life by Robert Morris and his small group materials that are incredibly effective. I don’t 

know of another leader whose anointing for generosity comes through more powerfully than 

his. The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn is a great resource, too. I love Bruce Wilkinson’s 

books, The Prayer of Jabez, You Were Born for This, and The God Pocket, as resources to 

teach and inspire generosity in a personal and individual way. 

You can do this. You can change the culture and 

DNA of your church for generations to come. 

DIFFERENTNESS 

Areas like “opinions and annoying idiosyncrasies.” Our “personalities, temperaments, 

tastes, and values” may be different. In addition, distinctions in education, ethnicity, 

culture, limitations, or life experiences are sources of differentness. 

SINFULNESS 

Another reason for church conflict is sinfulness and should be dealt with in a 

redemptive, biblical way. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS 

Christians disagree on the “best” way to approach an issue or on “the righteous thing 

to do in a given situation or circumstance.” Priolo further declares that sometimes 

“conflicts are biblically necessary and therefore good.” 

In his book Emotionally Healthy Discipleship: Moving From Shallow Christianity to Deep 

Transformation, Peter Scazzero writes, “What Jesus taught and modeled was that our love for 

God was measured by the degree to which we love others.” In other words, healthy disciples 

of Christ love others enough to resolve conflict with them. Scazzero makes his case that too many 

church members and leaders are immature and do not handle conflict biblically because their family 

of origin patterns of conflict resolution are still embedded in their lives. 

Ron Susek’s resource Firestorm: Preventing and Overcoming Church Conflicts gives these 

reasons for church fights: “culturally learned resistance to authority; rapid church growth; 

marketing Jesus; freedom and form clash; systemic problems; culture crashing; wounded 

people sometimes wound; multiple staff and hidden agendas; empire-building, not kingdom 

building; the fact of the human heart.” Calls for mediation help often come very late into the 

conflict. As Susek points out, “time isn’t on your side” when conflict erupts. Those involved in 

conflict begin to lose the issues, and it becomes more about the opposition in the dispute than the 

specific problems that created the conflict. 

Bridge Builders can help! Contact me for conflict coaching, conflict training for your church, and/or 

conflict mediation based on the Peacemaker’s mediation model. 

4 


717.795.5921 | jeff@penndel.org 

6 

BY THE NUMBERS… 

SECRETARY/TREASURER | JEFF MARSHALL 

» 1914 the year the AG was founded in Hot Springs, Arkansas with 

300 people at the first convention. 

» 13,000 churches in the U.S. today. 

» 3,000,000 members and adherents in the U.S. 

» 69,000,000 million AG members 

worldwide, making the AG the world’s largest Pentecostal 

denomination. 

FIND AN AG CHURCH WEBSITE 

ag.org/Resources/Directories/Find-a-Church 

This website will help you find AG churches across the nation. 

You can search by church name, address and pastor. 

NETWORK DIRECTORY 

my.penndel.org 

This continues to provide up-to-date 

information throughout the year and 

includes exportable files and multiple 

directories. 

» PennDel Credential Holders: 

Set up a new account or log in as 

a previous user. 

» PennDel Churches: Now 

available for your church office 

use (only) by setting up a new 

account or by logging in as a previous user. 

If you encounter difficulties with your ‘My PennDel’ login account, please 

contact Delena (Dthomas@penndel.org) for assistance. 

As your personal and church information changes, please notify our office 

so that we can keep our records updated. Once you contact our office, we 

will notify the General Secretary’s office of our church and minister updates. 

Thank you, in advance, for sending your updates to Rhonda@penndel.org 

NATIONAL AG RESOURCES 

ag.org/Resources/Resources-For 

» Ministers resources includes financial and administration matters, 

AG minister’s directory, credential forms and a renewals/retreats 

directory. 

» Church resources include church supplies, curriculum, deacon 

qualifications, financial and legal matters, ACMR, recommended 

by-laws, and prayer resources. 

WITH THE LORD: 

Angel G. Ramos, 83, passed away on January 

17. He was inducted into the US Army in San 

Juan, Puerto Rico and served in the First Calvary 

Thirty-Second Heli Airborne Division. He is 

survived by his wife, Nydia. Together, they 

served in Puerto Rico with Adult and Teen 

Challenge prior to transferring to the PennDel 

Ministry Network. Angel was the Lead Pastor of 

Spanish Emmanuel Assembly in Allentown. 

Elmer Kipe, 89, passed away on March 15. 

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Kay. 

Together, they pastored the following PennDel 

Churches: Sweet Valley, Chester, Clairton, 

Mechanicsburg, Hanover and Chambersburg. 

He was also the Presbyter of the South Central 

Section. Elmer is survived by this wife, Fern. 

Diana R Rosenberger, 84, passed away on 

March 24. She was preceded in death by her 

faithful husband, Dale. Together, they pastored 

the following PennDel churches: Perkasie 

and Duncannon. Diana was a very dedicated 

pastors wife, serving in various capacities, 

especially in the Girls Ministries (Missionettes) 

Program. 

Marjorie M Holland, 98, passed away on 

March 30. She was preceded in death by her 

faithful husband, George. Marge join the Navy 

during World War II after high school. She was 

the first woman Chaplain with the Assemblies 

of God and served the following Pennsylvania 

State Correctional Institutions: Muncy and 

Huntingdon. She also served as the Lead 

Pastor of Neff’s Mills AG and a counsellor in our 

PennDel Ministry Network. 

Judy (Julia) M Kyllonen, 87, passed away 

on April 1. She was preceded in death by her 

faithful husband, David Kyllonen. Together, 

they enjoyed 60 years of marriage, ministry, 

and travels. Judy’s ministry in PennDel included 

traveling with the Courier’s and HomeFire 

Family Ministries. 

Fredrick Pettet III, 74, passed away on April 

5. Freddy dedicated most of his ministry to 

being a Children and Family Evangelist. He 

was a gifted ventriloquist and puppeteer 

known as Freddy and his bear, “Gina.” In 

addition, he served on staff at the following 

PennDel Churches: New Castle, Peckville, and 

Wilkes-Barre. 

BUSINESS MANAGER | CRYSTAL HOFFMAN 

RESOURCING THE BUSINESS OF MINISTRY 

I Corinthians 4:2 NLT “Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” 

Does the business of ministry ever feel like it’s distracting you from your ministry? Do 

you ever find yourself saying, “They did not teach me this in Bible School.” Well, 

you are not alone. Areas concerning legal and financial church matters can often 

feel overwhelming. Many church leaders feel that they are not adequately trained 

in managing these types of leadership areas. Church Law & Tax found in a 2021 

nationwide survey of more than 700 church leaders that “nearly one-third serve in 

congregations that have suffered from some form of financial misconduct.” (Every 

Church Is at Risk for Fraud. Here’s Why., ChurchLaw&Tax.com) This misconduct is not 

always intentional, but often occurs because of a lack of knowledge and resources. 

Resourcing the business of your ministry takes intentionality. It does not just happen. 

You have to begin putting good practices into place and sticking with them. This is 

often difficult when working with limited staff and volunteer groups, but consistency 

and intentionality will help maintain better accountability for all those involved. Our 

ultimate goal should be to protect our staff, volunteers and most importantly the 

reputation and witness of our ministry. This is done through proper financial conduct 

and processes. With valuable financial resources available, you can begin moving 

away from fear and anxiety when dealing with the business of your ministry and begin 

facing it more with joy and anticipation. 

So where do you turn when you have questions and need resources in these areas? 

Here are a few resources: 

1. THE NATIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL TREASURER’S WEBPAGE 

ag.org/About/Leadership-Team/General-Treasurer 

The Church Administration Essentials Resourcing the Business of Ministry page, 

empoweringstewardship.com/resources, has many valuable articles available 

covering topics such as payroll forms, budgets, giving, recordkeeping and more. 

2. CHURCH LAW & TAX: 

churchlawandtax.com 

A basic membership for only $129 per year will give you access to their legal library 

and articles on finance, law, and risk. Their online store also has resources available 

for purchase on topics such as compensation, charitable contributions, budgeting, 

internal controls, board training and social media. You can also sign up for their free 

email, Church Law & Tax Update Newsletter! 

3. PENNDEL MINISTRY NETWORK: 

We are here to help answer your questions and help put you in touch with 

resources that will assist you. Recently, we have assembled a finance resource 

group of business administrators and bookkeepers within our Network that meets 

periodically to work on resourcing our Network. Watch for some of these resources 

to be released later this year! 

COMING THIS YEAR!! 

1. Network Finance Webpage with 

valuable information such as FAQs 

and resource videos. 

2. Finance Resource Manual to 

be available in both digital and 

printed format. 

3. Financial Workshop for the fall of 

2024 with valuable workshops, 

question and answer sessions and 

a time of collaboration among 

other church financial leaders. You 

will not want to miss this! 

WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION 

COMING SOON ON THESE 

EXCITING NEW RESOURCES 

AND MORE!! 

Michael E. Batts 

Church Finance: 

The Church Leader’s 

Guide to Financial 

Operations 

Richard R. Hammer 

2024 Church & Clergy 

Tax Guide 

PennDel Ministry Network | CONNEXION 7 

717.795.5921 | choffman@penndel.org

inviteyourneighbor.com 

DR. ED CRENSHAW 

has been the Lead Pastor of 

Victory Church, a multiethnic 

community of worshipers in 

the Greater Philadelphia area, 

for over thirty years. He has a 

passion to see revival in the 

region, as well as throughout 

the nation, and is called to 

empower local churches to 

reach their communities with 

the hope of Jesus. You might 

find Dr. Crenshaw in his free 

time riding his Harley around 

South East Pennsylvania or 

hiking with his wife, Lisa. They 

have two adult daughters, 

Haley and Anna, who also 

serve in ministry. 

FREE RESOURCES 

FOR INVITE YOUR 

NEIGHBOR: 

inviteyourneighbor.com 

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | DR. ED CRENSHAW 

INVITE YOUR 

NEIGHBOR 

Invite Your Neighbor is a six-week curriculum designed to help your church multiply 

the impact of your community service efforts. 

The church I pastor has put lots of effort into doing good deeds. Most of the good 

deeds done through church outreaches have rightly served people on the margins of 

our lives and sometimes on the margins of society. 

The big problem we faced, however, is that our service projects did little to help our 

church members influence their everyday neighbors–their friends, family, coworkers, 

classmates–for Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that they would see our good deeds 

and glorify the Father, but how are these everyday neighbors going to see our good 

deeds? 

The solution is to invite our everyday neighbors, the people in our everyday 

world, to serve alongside us when we go out to serve as a church. What better way 

to serve a hurting world than to do so with our church family? And if what Jesus says in 

Matthew 5:16 is true, these everyday neighbors will see and glorify our Father. 

Many church members have been inviting their everyday neighbors to worship with 

them for years, often with discouraging results. Here’s an important reality about the 

people around us: Some people are ready to serve with us before they are ready 

to worship with us. This is especially true of younger generations and many in our 

society who aren’t yet ready for our message. It’s also true of people who even tend 

to be antagonistic to the church. In fact, Peter advises us to respond to the accusations 

thrown against the church not with our best arguments, but with our best actions, 

good deeds (1 Peter 2:12). 

We have had some wonderful results from using Invite Your Neighbor. We sponsor 

three “Big Days of Service” every year. It’s normal that 20% of the volunteers on a 

Big Day are first-time guests. Amazingly, we sometimes have as many first timers as 

we do on Easter Sunday! Many of these volunteers become receptive to an invitation 

to worship with us. Also, since they know they are participating in a church effort, 

they really expect to hear a prayer, or something about God, and are open to natural 

spiritual conversations. 

The Invite Your Neighbor curriculum will help the people of our churches understand 

that they are called and empowered to serve, that good deeds are an important part 

of our witness to the world, and that they can be an opportunity to impact our personal 

mission fields–our everyday neighbors. The devotional nature of the curriculum is 

designed to help us grow in our love for God, our love for our neighbors and our love 

for the church. 

DEAN/MINISTRY DIRECTOR OF PDSOM | BENJAMIN GRENIER 

THE CALL 

A concerning trend has emerged within our ministry network: the average age of 

pastors has risen to 58 as of 2022. This statistic highlights a pressing need for the 

church to focus on training and equipping the next generation of ministry leaders. 

As we face the reality of an aging pastoral population, the imperative to act becomes 

clear. It is against this backdrop that we explore various avenues designed to nurture 

and prepare individuals called to serve in ministry. Here are some resources to help 

people in your church follow the call of God: 

BOOKS ABOUT THE CALL 

OF GOD INTO VOCATIONAL 

MINISTRY: 

Called by John Zick 

This book is an excellent 

resource for anyone called into 

ministry, particularly aimed at 

youth but applicable to anyone 

of any age feeling called to 

vocational ministry. 

Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those 

Called to Ministry Leadership 

by Scott Pace and Shane Pruitt 

This comprehensive guide 

targets two main groups: 

existing ministry leaders and 

those feeling a call towards 

ministry leadership, serving 

both as a mentoring tool and a 

self-study resource. 

EVENTS FOR DISCERNING 

THE CALL: 

"The Call" Retreat/One-Day Event 

helps individuals explore God's call 

on their lives. 

PROGRAMS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING: 

These programs meet the educational requirements for credentialing, among 

many other options. 

PennDel School of Ministry 

(PDSOM) 

Enables 

individuals 

to meet the Assemblies of God's 

educational requirements for 

credentialing. It also serves as 

a learning forum for laypeople. 

PDSOM offers these three tracks of 

education: 

• AG Ministerial Credentials Track 

• Bible Institute Track 

• Board Member Track 

Pros: Live instruction, affordability, 

and flexible scheduling. 

penndelsom.org 

Pathway 

A Church-Based Bible Institute 

that equips individuals for pastoral 

ministry through a unique, appbased 

educational platform, 

offering courses that fulfill the 

AG’s educational requirements for 

credentialing. 

Pros: Subscription-based, appbased 

learning, self-paced. 

pathway.training 

University of Valley Forge 

Offers undergraduate, graduate, 

and lifelong learning programs, 

dedicated to preparing individuals 

for service and leadership in the 

church and the world. 

Pros: Four-year accredited degrees, 

further education opportunities, 

many specialized degrees. 

valleyforge.edu 

Global University– Berean 

School of the Bible 

Provides insights into understanding 

and implementing biblical texts and 

doctrines, supporting your call to 

become a pastor or church leader. 

Pros: Flexible scheduling, applyas-you-learn 

approach, student 

support. 

globaluniversity.edu 

bgrenier@penndelsom.org 

8 


717.795.5921 | jeff@penndel.org 

WORLD MISSIONS | JEFF MARSHALL 

PENNDEL WORLD MISSIONS RESOURCES: 

God has sent the whole Church into all the world with the whole gospel. He has 

called us to participate in His mission to proclaim the gospel to all peoples everywhere. 

Our PennDel World Missions Department provides numerous resources to 

assist our churches, leadership and missionaries through our own Network: 

» Webpages are updated each month with new 

resources: penndel.org/ministries/missions/ 

worldmissions 

» Change the Map (CMT) is a prayer initiative that is 

impacting the Buddhist World through prayer and action. 

PennDel has a growing number of Change the Map prayer 

partners who love Buddhist people and want them to 

experience the love and hope of Jesus. We have our own 

QR code available on our webpages. 

» Missionary Housing is provided throughout our Network 

by our churches who offer a furnished house, parsonage or 

apartment for our missionaries to use while they are home. 

» Banners and Flags are available for use in your local church 

services, missions conventions and events. Each item listed 

is very large, colorful, professional quality and available for 

you to reserve from our office: 

» 7 AGWM Regional Banners – faces, scenery and 

names of each region 

» 7 AGWM Stat’s Banners - large unreached people 

groups and missionaries by region 

» 22 Large International Flags (poles not included) 

– Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, 

Chad, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Ghana, Great 

Britain, Guinea, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, 

Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Sierra Leone, Somalia and 

the USA 

» Fares for Missions provides financial underwriting for 

the outbound airfare of our career missionaries departing 

for their field of service. Additionally, Fares for Missions 

infuses $5K into a newly appointed missionary’s account, 

expediting their departure for the field. 

» MA2go Fund resourcing Missionary Associates, giving 

some that final boost of encouragement and support, 

either a one-time gift of monthly support, when needed. 

» Annual Projects provide the monies needed to bless 

our missionaries in targeted areas for a one or two year 

emphasis. This year, we are finishing the ‘Crosby Missions 

House’ that will bless our itinerating missionaries. 

» Prayer and Itineration Lists are available for prayers teams 

and scheduling a missionary: 

» Prayer List: we believe in the power of prayer and 

ask that you distribute the lists to your prayers teams, 

missions department and church leadership that will 

take time to pray specifically for these individuals. For 

the protection of our missionaries serving in a sensitive 

country, only the last name of those individuals will be 

listed. 

» Itineration List: we provide an updated listing of our 

missionaries each month. Pastors, missions directors 

and church leaders can view this document to 

schedule a missionary of their choice for a service or 

event. 

US MISSIONS | TOM REES 

Jesus ministered to people through proclamation, contextual ministry and 

at the communal table. Churches and AGUSM missionaries today tend to 

reflect these three areas. Here are some great resources to help us reach 

people through different methods. 

Jeff Leake identifies trends 

in the multiplying churches. This 

book will inspire and help you 

think outside the box and give God 

an opportunity to speak to you 

about your own journey towards 

multiplication. 

The culture has shifted and is 

increasingly post Christian – even 

pre-Christian. Steve Pike 

helps us rethink outmoded ideas of 

funding, metrics, and team building 

while calling us to model a faith 

community that’s relevant to the 

needs of the culture where God has 

called you to serve. 

Rural communities are often 

neglected when it comes to church 

multiplication, as many focus their 

efforts on urban and suburban 

areas. If you're a church leader 

in a rural setting, this book by 

Gerad Strong will inspire, 

direct, and challenge you to 

believe God for greater things. 

Data USA website is packed 

with information about housing, 

demographics, jobs, and 

education in your community. It is 

easy to use and FREE! datausa.io 

Verlon Fosner and his 

Leadership Team began to consider 

the way church was done in the 

early church, and the sociological 

implications of doing church around 

dinner tables. These pages help us 

consider how a Jesus dinner table 

might open a door to heaven for the 

pockets of lost neighbors within the 

shadow of our churches. 

ARDA has a Community 

Builder Profile that assists 

Ministry Leaders in accessing 

free online information in a radius around your ministry. It also 

shows the location of other churches in your area. thearda.com 

717.795.5921 | tom@penndel.org 

CMN's Steps 

to Plant will take you 

from inspiration to launch. This new free resource is a 

game-changer for church planters. With step-by-step 

guidance, practical modules, and expert insights, you 

can feel confident you’re not missing anything as you 

plant your church. 

churchmultiplication.net/steps-to-plant 

10 


717.795.5921 | jason@penndel.org 

CHURCH RECALIBRATION | JASON TOURVILLE 

PATHWAYS FORWARD 

Finding pathways forward. This is the job of leadership. From navigating a pandemic, seasons of social unrest, 

challenges inside the church or other organizational obstacles, leaders find a way forward. Those of us who lead 

churches and ministries are not exempt from the weight of leadership, but the same challenges are what provide the 

opportunities to lead forward. Leading forward is why John Maxwell wrote, “A leader is one who knows the way, 

goes the way, and shows the way.” The categories listed below and the associated resources are critical to leading 

our ministries forward. 

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

Book: The Eight Paradoxes of Great Leaders by Dr. Tim Enloe (PIC) 

Podcast: Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast 

Website: churchleadership.org 

MINISTER CARE | PAUL LYNN 

Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?” 

According to the Pew Research Center, January 2024, the largest religious group in the U.S. is the “Nones.” 

That statistic is greater than either Protestant, Catholic or any other one religion. The Nones are almost 29% of 

the population. They’re beliefs range from 17% atheist, 20% agnostic, and 63% nothing at all. What does this 

mean? America is losing their religion, and I might add, we’re fast-tracking to resemble the religious landscape 

of Europe. This has important implications of how society functions as a whole. 

These numbers can feel like a heavy burden. I felt it as an Active Duty U.S. 

Army Chaplain. That is why I wrote, Resilience Unlimited, How to Always 

Find Your Best Path. Watching the suicide rates climb with a correlation to 

nothingness was disturbing to me. This isn’t just a military problem. In 2022 

it’s estimated 400 physicians committed suicide, and about 100 of them 

were surgeons. This is the equivalent of one medical school graduating 

717.795.5921 | paul@penndel.org 

TEAM DYNAMICS 

Book: The Teaming Church by Dr. Robert Crosby (PIC) 

Podcast: The Church Answers Podcast with Thom Rainer 

class a year. We’re in a period that one psychologist is calling, “A Crisis 

of Meaninglessness.” People do not know what to believe. We can more 

adequately describe our time as a spiritual crisis. 

SPIRITUAL VITALITY 

Book: Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton 

Program: Soul Talks Podcast (might need a different pic of web) 

Website: conversatio.org 

When Paul preached in Athens, he referred to the statue of the Unknown 

God as a reference point to get the audience’s attention. In Resilience 

Unlimited, I take a similar approach of triangulating neuroscience and how 

religion becomes an evidence-based modality against anxiety, depression 

and high-risk behaviors and tie it specifically to one’s spiritual identity. In the 

book, I highlight Christianity as a case study of spiritual identity. I draw out of 

the Biblical text some of the most important propositions that shape and form 

The following resources have proven effective in finding the pathways forward as fresh vision is created and 

strategic plans developed. Every leader should consider engaging a resource to strengthen their team. Since 

“leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality,” (Warren Bennis) the below resources can assist:. 

Christian identity. 

Resilience Unlimited outlines the critical factors to understand what it means to be resilient. This is developed 

in the 7 Meaning Making Markers. Breakout Box Here--Meaning, Purpose, Belonging, Values-Driven Routines, 

Spiritual Intelligence, Positive Self-Identity and a Horizon of Hope. The underlying thread to the whole book is 

A CONSULTANT OR COACH: 

These individuals provide an individualized approach following 

assessments, evaluations, and collaboration toward a renewed 

vision becoming a reality. RecalibrateChurch.org 

Every Church has 

Next Level Potential! 

to answer what I call, “The Golden Question,” that is, “Who am I?” By answering this question, you are able 

to find the best path to your ideal future-self, best path on your worst day, and have a base-line best path for your 

every day. This is a new definition of resilience, How to Always Find Your Best Path. 

Three other books that have influenced 

and shape my ministry and that I 

recommend: Walking with God through 

Pain and Suffering, by Timothy Keller; 

The Cry of the Soul, How Emotions 

Reveal our Deepest Questions about 

Register today at 

RecalibrateChurch.org 

New Cohorts, Fall 2024 

God, by Dr. Dan B. Allender and Dr. 

Tremper Longman III; The Contemplative 

Pastor, Returning to the Art of Spiritual 

Direction, by Eugene H. Peterson. 

12 


717.795.5921 | pdworship@penndel.org 

WORSHIP | ARIA SMITH 

There are so many elements that go into the role of a worship leader. There is a 

wide range of skill sets needed, from behind-the-scenes musical and spiritual 

preparation, to managing a team of people, to leading your church in worship 

on a Sunday. Thankfully, if you are a worship leader today, there are hundreds of 

different resources out there for you! Whether you are a full-time worship pastor, 

volunteer worship leader or a lead pastor just trying to fill the gap, here are 

some great resources to help you maximize your time and improve your Sunday 

morning worship experience. 

PLANNING CENTER 

SERVICES 

Planning Center Services is one 

of the greatest tools for a worship 

leader to have in their toolbelt. 

This service management system 

allows you to efficiently manage 

scheduling, resourcing and 

communicating with your team. 

It also seamlessly integrates with 

SongSelect, PraiseCharts and 

MultiTracks.com for access to chord 

charts. It also has a built-in Chart 

Builder feature where you can create 

your own. Another add-on feature is 

Music Stand: a mobile music reader 

that you can use live on Sundays or 

throughout the week to practice. 

Beyond just Services, Planning 

Center Online also has many other 

products that can be used by the 

entire church! 

MULTITRACKS.COM 

MultiTracks.com has a wealth of 

resources for your team. Its primary 

function is to provide backing 

tracks (or loops) for a wide variety 

of worship songs. This is especially 

helpful for small churches that 

may have limited musicians! Even 

without a full stage of musicians, 

you can bring excellence to your 

worship experience. MultiTracks. 

com also offers PlayBack, an app 

to run these tracks and customize 

them to your arrangement and 

instrumental needs. Additional 

add-ons include RehearsalMix, 

which allows instrumentalists to hear 

their part elevated above the other 

instruments. At its highest level of 

use, PlayBack can even be used to 

automate your ProPresenter lyrics 

and lighting board. 

PODCASTS 

Beyond Sunday Worship 

Leader Podcast 

Worship Online Podcast 

Churchfront Worship & 

Tech Podcast 

BOOKS 

Worship Matters 

by Bob Kauflin 

How to Worship 

a King 

by Zach Neese 

Worshipology 

by Kurtis Parks 

I also firmly believe that our best resource as worship leaders 

is each other! We all have different skill sets and experiences 

that we bring to the table. Join our Facebook group, “PennDel 

Worship Leaders,” where you’ll find a space to ask questions, 

encourage each other, and laugh over things only other worship 

leaders would understand! 

COMMUNICATIONS LEAD | ANTHONY BURGOS 

COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS FOR YOUR MINISTRY 

As the Communications Lead for the PennDel Ministry Network, my role has allowed me 

to explore and implement many tools to support our communication efforts. Through 

addressing frequently asked questions related to media and communications, I’ve 

identified a set of resources that can assist you and your church in your content creation and 

communication efforts. Whether you are working with a limited or larger budget, these are a 

handful of resources that are available to you: 

Looking for beautiful photography for your newsletters, 

social posts, or video projects? 

Unsplash is a great place to find beautiful photos and use them free of copyright issues. It's a safe 

and legal way to get images for your church's website, social media, printed or digital materials. 

Looking to visually enhance your worship services with 

vibrant media assets? 

Church Motion Graphics is a paid subscription service available that offers ready-to-use visuals to 

make worship services more engaging, including backgrounds, slide templates and social graphics. 

Looking to ensure error-free communication? 

Grammarly is an invaluable and easy-to-use tool for use across all your church's written materials. 

They offer a FREE option when creating an account to help you get started. 

Looking for a large digital resource library of Bible Study 

material for your family and personal devotions? 

RightNow Media is often referred to as the Netflix of video Bible studies. It offers over 20,000 

videos on various topics, including a special section for kids. You can watch these videos anywhere, 

anytime with their free app. 

• Pastors, leaders and their families within PennDel get FREE access for personal use. 

• Churches within PennDel qualify for a subscription discount for ministry use. 

For more information or for an invitation, please email communications@penndel.org with 

"RightNow Media Questions" in the subject line. 

Looking to connect with other PennDel Credentialed Ministers? 

The PennDel Credential Holders Facebook Group is a space to strengthen our tribe through open 

discussions, collaboration and collective prayer. This group is open only to credential holders and 

their spouses within the Pennsylvania-Delaware District of the Assemblies of God. Join by scanning 

this QR Code and requesting access. 

WHAT DOES COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVE? 

» Designing & creating email campaigns 

» Website development 

» Managing social media posts 

» Content creation 

» Crafting Compelling Copy 

» Photography 

» Video Production 

» Video Editing 

» And more 

717.795.5921 | aburgos@penndel.org 

14 


charisse@penndelwomen.org 

Allow me to formally 

introduce myself! I have 

grown up serving Jesus 

all my life in any way 

He has asked of me. My 

husband, Kurt, and I 

have been married for 

twenty-two years and 

we parent four fabulous 

teens: Isabella, Isaac, 

Levi, and Samuel! I am 

an AG credentialed 

minister, and my 

husband and I pastor at 

my home church, Central 

AG, Houston, PA. We 

have been in ministry 

for nineteen years! I am 

a tea drinker, chocolate 

lover, prayer warrior, 

deep worshipper, shoe 

fanatic and I love pretty 

things. It is my joy to 

serve my King as I serve 

you! I’m here to resource 

you and your church. I 

am praying for you! 

PENNDEL WOMEN | CHARISSE JENKINS 

In the Beginning, within the beauty of the garden, we as humans have had a deep desire for 

knowledge. We want to be in the know and have an understanding of the “what” behind 

the “whys.” of life. It is the desire for wisdom, not just knowledge, that scripture boasts its 

great worth! Proverbs 4:7 NLT, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And 

whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” God’s Word is the best resource we 

have at our fingertips! The answers to life’s questions are all within the binding, sewn in by 

the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, even as God inspired those to write His Word, some precious 

men and women are dually inspired to write books about the goodness of His Word. 

Two of my favorite current resources are You Are the Girl For the Job by 

Jess Connolly and Teach Us to Pray by Corey Russell. 

In Connolly’s book, she challenges the woman who is grappling with her 

call and commitment with this: “I believe you were meant to abundantly 

experience every single day, waking up with the clarity and conviction 

that God has put you there on purpose to bring light and life and hope 

to everyone around you. I believe you were called and equipped to 

change the world, moving it nearer to the Kingdom of God and praying 

that the people around you are called into abundant lives here on earth 

and eternal lives in Heaven…I think you're the girl for the job.” 

Russell reminds us to look to Jesus’ prayer life as our intended adoptive 

daily example. “The disciples were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life and 

ministry, yet we don't see one recorded time in scripture where they 

petitioned Jesus, “Teach us to pray.” We don't see one recorded time 

where they said, “Teach us to heal,” “Teach us to prophecy,” or 

“Teach us to do miracles.” After spending 3 1/2 years with the Son of God, they requested 

“Lord teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1). 

The bottom line is, that the more time you spend in prayer, the more 

you’ll realize you are the girl for the job. 

“Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the 

one who gains understanding. For wisdom 

is more profitable than silver, and her wages 

are better than gold. Wisdom is more 

precious than rubies; nothing you desire can 

compare with her.” 

Proverbs 3:13-15 NLT 

You are invited to attend a 

Celebration Luncheon for Liz DeFrain on Wednesday, 

May 8, 2024, at 12:30pm. 

(This is a ticketed event, with limited seating.) 

NETWORK OF WOMEN MINISTERS | LISA RODRIGUEZ 

The Network of Women Ministers is not a new ministry within the Assemblies of God. It was initially 

called The Task Force for Women in Ministry. It began with the motivation of the General Superintendent under the 

leadership of Beth Grant in 1999 to assist credentialed women and those interested in fulfilling their ministerial call with 

support and training. Crystal Martin is the current national Director of the Network of Women Ministers and has led the 

Network since 2017. The mission of the Network of Women Ministers is to encourage women to fulfill their ministerial call by 

moving from recognition of call to placement in every organizational level of ministerial leadership. God is indeed pouring 

out his Spirit on both men and women, as indicated in Acts 2:17 (NLT): “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit 

upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream 

dreams.” 

The Network of Women Ministers believes that “the image of God is best reflected and the Church of Jesus Christ is 

healthiest when both men and women are empowered to fulfill their calling at every level of ministerial leadership.” 

The Network values include honoring and respecting others, being authentic, extending forgiveness and thriving on hope 

while engaging in advocating, collaborating, and training in ministerial and leadership competencies. Although women 

have assumed a vital role in the Assemblies of God since its inception in 1914, many have traveled this road alone. The 

Network of Women Ministers provides resources and support so that credentialed women in ministry are not traveling their 

journey alone. 

Over the years, the Network of Women Ministers established regional groups to provide a local/regional connection for 

credentialed women ministers within the Districts/Networks of the Assemblies of God. The PennDel Ministry Network 

sponsors a regional group of the Network of Women Ministers. The Regional Director of the Network began with Liz 

DeFrain, and as of 2024 I am honored to serve as the Regional Director. Our goal as a regional Network of Women Ministers 

is to support, equip and empower women within PennDel to fulfill their ministerial calling. 

CREDENTIALED WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO A HOST OF RESOURCES. RECOMMENDED 

RESOURCES INCLUDE BOOKS, PODCASTS, QUARTERLY CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER 

CREDENTIALED WOMEN AND ELEVATE. 

BOOKS 

Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual 

Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton 

Catch the Wind of the Spirit: How the 5 Ministry Gifts Can 

Transform Your Church by Carolyn Tennant. 

God’s Women Then and Now by Deborah M. Gill and 

Barbara Cavaness. 

Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without 

Hierarchy General Editors: Ronald W. Pierce, Rebecca 

Merrill Groothuis, and contributing editor Gordon D. Fee. 

Fearless Daughters of the Bible: What You Can Learn from 

22 Women Who Challenged Tradition, Fought Injustice, 

and Dared to Lead by J. Lee Grady. 

Why Not Women? A Fresh Look at Scripture on Women in 

Missions, Ministry, and Leadership by Loren Cunningham, 

David Joel Hamilton, and Janice Roberts. 

PODCAST 

Network of Women Ministers podcast – created for female 

pastors, ministry leaders, and future ministers. 

womenministers.ag.org/podcast 

QUARTERLY CONNECTION WITH OTHER 

CREDENTIALED WOMEN 

Hosted by Lisa Potter and a guest via Zoom. 

womenministers.ag.org/events 

ELEVATE 

Elevate helps credentialed women interact through 

collective experiences while growing deeper in 

transformational leadership. The Elevate app is the Network 

of Women Ministers’ leadership growth track with a sixmonth 

mobilization plan to connect spirit-empowered 

women ministerial leaders across cultures and ministry 

contexts. 

womenministers.ag.org/elevate 

717.795.5921 | alpresbyterfemale@penndel.org 

16 


717.795.5921 | robin@penndel.org 

WOMEN IN MINISTRY RETREAT | ROBIN IMMEL 

I absolutely LOVE being a pastor’s wife! From the time my family accepted the Lord when I was a young teen, I had a keen 

interest in “all things ministry.” God placed a desire in my heart to be at the church whenever I could. I volunteered on 

Saturdays answering phones and filing for the church secretary. I played the piano on Sundays and Wednesdays, and attended 

the Christian School through the week. 

The way God “wired” me, it wasn’t enough to simply ATTEND church. I needed to be on the INSIDE of creating events, 

services and fellowships. What I found most fulfilling was seeing people turn their lives over to the Lord. God began to make 

me aware that He had a special call on my life; to be a PASTOR’S WIFE! I just needed to find a pastor! I was only about fourteen 

years old at the time. Don and I have now been married over forty-two years and I still find JOY in ministry! 

MORE THAN CONQUERORS DIRECTOR | CINDY MCKINLEY 

DID YOU KNOW? 

… Every three minutes, four women become widowed. 

… Widows lose 75% of their friendships. 

… Many widows feel abandoned by the church and forgotten by their friends. 

… 50% of widows leave their church after their husband’s death because there is nothing 

for them. Some will attend another church that offers a ministry for them. Most leave and 

never return to church at all. 

… Three out of four churches do not have a widow’s ministry. 

mtcdirector@penndel.org 

There are a few books that have “walked with me” through the highs and lows of serving in ministry and have become my 

“dear friends.” I pray that these resources will bring joy and strength to you on your ministry journey! 

High Call, High Privilege by Gail MacDonald I was just a teenager when my pastor’s wife 

gifted this book to me. She saw in me a heart for ministry. As I read, flipping the pages as fast as I could, 

the SPARK OF JOY that I felt was indescribable. I cried as I realized that God wanted to use ME in ministry! 

This book, now a classic, has been a reference guide for me through the years. Gail’s story of serving 

with her husband in four churches (from rural to big-city) and raising two children in the parsonage has 

mentored me. (Chapters 7 and 8: “PKs Can Be Ok!” are a must read!) Gail models serving, forgiving, 

learning and loving gracefully. 

Rhythms of Renewal ~ Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose by 

Rebekah Lyons Another favorite! I found Rebekah’s style so inviting. Reading Rhythms… was like 

sitting across the table and having coffee with her. What impacted me was realizing that God created 

Rhythms, and God created REST. Our society (even ministry) is like a “collective panic attack.” Rebekah 

gives some creative ideas for daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly intentional rhythms of rest. 

If you are a member of Study Gateway, you have free access to the beautiful videos that go along with 

this book! 

Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton Life changing! No other 

book has impacted my spiritual life like this one. RHB asks, “How is it with your soul?” She led me on a 

journey of solitude, and I experienced an awareness of God’s presence in ways never before enjoyed. 

Read it in small bites. It’s transformational. 

HERE ARE A FEW RESOURCES TO ASSIST YOU IN FULFILLING 

GOD’S MANDATE TO CARE FOR THE WIDOWED: 

Comfort in Sorrow: Living After the 

Death of a Loved One 

Written by our very own PennDel Pastor, David 

C. McGee, who has served as pastor, hospice 

chaplain and counselor for more than fifty years, 

Comfort in Sorrow is one of the best-kept secrets 

in our Network. It contains ninety-seven units 

(brief, concise themes) on diverse grief-centered 

topics and the various ways loss makes its 

influence known after a loved one dies. 

Barnes & Noble: $11.99 

Experiencing GRIEF written by 

H. Norman Wright 

This small twenty-five-chapter book is a practical 

and healing guide for those who have lost a loved 

one. 

How to Begin a Widows Ministry 

written by Marlene Craft 

A great tool that equips church leaders with 

practical resources for starting a Widow’s Ministry 

Amazon: $12.99 • Widowslink.org 

Grief Share 

Grief Share is a thirteen-week grief recovery 

support group where the grieving can find 

help and healing for the hurt of losing a 

loved one. 

Griefshare.org • 800-395-5755 

“Give to the orphans and 

the widows in your towns, 

so that they may eat and be 

satisfied. Then the Lord your 

God will bless you in all your 

work.” Deuteronomy 14:29 

THIS YEAR WE ARE OFFERING TWO RETREATS: 

More Than Conquerors 

New Horizons Retreat: 

May 31 – June 2 

(You can bless our MTCs by donating 

towards the cost of this retreat.) 

New Horizons & Beyond 

PennDel Widows Retreat: 

October 4-6 

A More Than Conquerors Ministry Event 

(Our first Ministry Network retreat for PennDel widows. 

More Information coming soon.) 

18 


717.795.5921 | tom@penndel.org 

MENS MINISTRY | TOM REES 

A 360Man is committed to living out a full-circle (360 degree) faith 

(Acts 2:42-47). Here are resources to help your men thrive as a 360Man: 

360DISCIPLE 

Jamie Holden’s latest 

book and Mantour 

Saturdays deal with our 

identity in Christ. Love the 

small group questions. 

mantourministries.com 

A 360Man commits to ongoing 

discipleship, and then invests in 

helping other men grow closer 

to Christ. The Men’s Ministries 

App has the 360Man Podcast 

and more than 400 discipleship 

lessons for men and men’s 

groups to use. Available on ALL 

app stores. 

360EQUIP 

The purpose of 360Equip is to come alongside men’s 

leaders in local churches and help them take their men’s 

ministry to the next level. 

Change a man, you change a family. 

Change a family, you change a church. 

Change a church, you change a city. 

Change a city, and the world is at your doorstep. 

It starts with one man. 

THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE 

Each Thursday night 

Scott Caesar and the 

Men’s Discipleship 

Network team bring 

an equipping and encouraging message through 

Zoom that empowers men in their walk with Jesus. 

mensdiscipleshipnetwork.com 

We are excited to announce the 

PennDel Young Adults Fall Retreat 

this November 1 – 3 at the Bongiorno 

Conference Center. 

Bring your group for an incredible time 

of worship services, breakouts, games 

and friends. 

The cost is $99 and registration opens 

on July 1. More info to come soon! 

RESOURCES: 

» App for communicating with your young adult group 

GroupMe 

» Podcast that discusses trends in the church and culture 

Talking Church by River Valley Network 

» Book to help answer those questioning Christianity 

Know Why You Believe by Paul Little 

» Book to help those respond to gender confusion 

Transformation by Linda Seiler 

» Website with articles on doing young adult ministry 

youth.ag.org/YoungAdults by AG Young Adults 

YOUNG ADULTS | ADAM OLSEN & LUKE ADAMS 

FOLLOW US: 

@penndelyoungadults 

on IG for all the updates 

Contact Adam Olson or Luke Adams 

with any questions: 

» aolson@clacamphill.com 

» lukeadams@gtaog.org 

This video series helps men 

discover a healthy vision 

for manhood and become 

who they’re created to be. 

authenticmanhood.com 

A 360Man takes part in worldwide evangelism, because 

reaching the world is God’s mission—and a man of God 

wants to accomplish God’s mission! 

National Men’s Ministries trips are scheduled to Albania, 

El Salvador, Cambodia and Africa. You can sign up at 

men.ag.org/360go. 

360GO TRIPS 

MEN’S MINISTRIES CONSULTING 

This is a FREE service that the national AG Men’s 

Ministries offers to churches who want guidance and 

coaching on starting or reviving a good men’s ministry. 

Gordon Houston will do FREE consultation with anyone 

who wants to work on their Men’s Ministry. You can 

contact Gordon at ghouston@ag.org. 

BREAKING NEWS! Duane Goodling has 

agreed to serve as our PennDel 360Go Leader and will 

be leading trips. You can schedule Duane to come speak 

at your church and share the upcoming trips. 

CHI ALPHA | JOEL SCHREIBER 

RESOURCES: 

» More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell 

Chi Alpha missionary Tom Reigel writes, "After the Bible, I have used More Than 

a Carpenter more than any other book. Once, a student told me, “Jesus was not a 

real person, just an ideal to strive for.” I gave him a copy of More Than a Carpenter 

and asked him to read the chapters entitled “Who Would Die for a Lie” and “Will 

the Real Messiah Please Stand Up.” Long story short, the student returned two 

weeks later having read the whole book, now believed Jesus was a real person 

and wanted to accept Him as Savior… which he did.” 

» Draw the Circle: The 40-Day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson 

» They Speak with Other Tongues: A Skeptic Investigates This Life-Changing Gift 

by John Sherrill 

» Small Group University by Brad Lewis 

» Transforming Discipleship by Greg Ogden 

» The Purple Book by Rice Broocks and Steve Murrell 

» God on Campus: Sacred Causes Global Effects by Trent Sheppard 

Check out details on 

Facebook.com/ 

groups/XAFallRetreat 

» Joel Schreiber 

Joel@ecxa.org 

» Becky Reigel 

beckyreigel@gmail.com 

CHI ALPHA 

BREAKAWAY 

RETREAT 

October 18-20, 2024 

Bongiorno Conference Center 

20 


mike@penndelyouthalive.com 

YOUTH ALIVE | MIKE KUBIS 

A 

general was given orders to equip his troops for an upcoming mission. The mission was six months out, so 

the general thought he had enough time to prepare the troops for the mission. Month after month went 

by, and the time had come for the general and his troops to begin their mission. The problem was that 

the general never equipped the troops for the mission. They didn’t know where they were going, who they were 

fighting, and they didn’t have the resources to complete the mission successfully. They were ill-equipped. 

In his letter to the Ephesian church, the Apostle Paul reminds the church leaders that the church body should not 

be ill-equipped. Paul writes, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, 

the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work 

and build up the church, the body of Christ.” -Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT. As church leaders, we are responsible for 

equipping the church body so that they can help in the mission to build the Kingdom of God by reaching the lost. 

Today, I believe two resources can help church leaders equip the church body to reach the lost. The first is called 

Youth Alive One-Day Trainings. These trainings are geared to help teenagers share Jesus in their schools and 

communities. During these trainings, students will learn to share the gospel message using the Alive In 5 method. 

They will also learn how to start Youth Alive Movements (bible clubs, prayer huddles, evangelistic outreaches, 

etc.) in their schools and communities. At the end of each training, students will be commissioned as Campus 

Missionaries to their schools and communities, and each will receive a new Fire Bible Student Edition. 

The second resource is a book called, Transformation: A Former Transgender Responds to LGBTQ, written by 

Dr. Linda A. Seiler. In her book, Dr. Seiler shares her testimony of how the Lord redeemed her life from same-sex 

attraction and gives detailed information on how to minister to those who identify with the LGBTQ community. This 

book can be a great tool for the entire church body and be utilized as a small group study. 

Because the general and his troops were ill-equipped for the mission, they failed it. Church leaders, I don’t want us 

to forget the mission the Lord has graciously given us. Many people today feel unloved, have no hope and are being 

deceived by the enemy. It’s time to take on the responsibility given to us all and equip God’s people to be missional 

in their schools, workplaces and communities. 

For more information about the Youth Alive One-Day Training and “Transformation: A Former 

Transgender Responds to LGBTQ," scan the QR codes below. 

YOUTH DIRECTOR | JOE CALI 

WORK TOGETHER 

Growing up, I loved to play basketball. I played in 

school and played for fun. I spent hours practicing. 

It was my favorite pastime. The only time I was not 

happy during basketball was when my teammates were not 

playing as a team because it cost us. We would lose games, 

coaches would hold longer practices and drill us on the plays 

we should have run. However, when we were intentional to 

work together, we would have victories and it made the sport 

so much more enjoyable. We had to want to be in unity with 

each other, on and off the court. The Crusaders basketball 

team was at its best when we functioned as a team and the 

Church is at its best when we work together. 

In the book of Genesis, a group of people were unified in 

their goal to build a tower that reached into the heavens. 

The Lord, seeing their successful progress, said, “If as one 

people speaking the same language they have begun to 

do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for 

them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language 

so they will not understand each other” (Genesis 11:6-7). 

God realized because of their unity, these people were about 

to accomplish something impossible. The Tower of Babel was 

a selfish attempt to become famous, elevating themselves to 

a similar level as God and because of this, the Lord quickly 

confused them so they couldn’t work together anymore. 

If unified people in ancient times can accomplish great feats 

for pagan gods or selfish gain, how much more can the bloodbought, 

Holy Ghost empowered, unified body of the Lord 

Jesus Christ accomplish in 2024 and beyond? God calls for his 

Church to work together and has equipped us with his Holy 

Spirit to be the most powerful agent on the face of the earth. 

IMAGINE IF THE CHURCH WAS ABLE TO 

WORK TOGETHER IN COMPLETE UNITY 

• How many students could be reached with the Gospel? 

• What would NextGen ministries look like? 

• How many school campuses would experience a move 

of God? 

• What would the ministry in your church look like? 

• What could be accomplished throughout Pennsylvania 

and Delaware? 

If you are ready to learn more about how to win at NextGen 

ministries, how to grow in your own personal spiritual journey 

or how we can work together as the Church, here are some 

resources that people in our fellowship have written. They can 

both be purchased at myhealthychurch.com 

NEXTGEN HIGH SCORES 

By Lee Rogers 

Want to win at NextGen Ministry? This 

generation needs men and women who 

are willing to stay in the game and this will 

be a great resource encouraging you to 

keep running the race. Plus, you’ll learn 

from pro tips along the way. 

IN JESUS’ NAME 

By Rick DuBose 

A person’s prayer life can often be 

overlooked, Rick DuBose calls us back 

to the altars of prayer. “It’s time to 

storm the altars and pray with humble 

authority that moves heaven and 

unleashes victory here on earth” 

– Rick DuBose 

717.649.6788 | joe@penndel.org 

22 


717.795.5921 | jeremiah@penndel.org 

CHILDREN AND DISCIPLESHIP | JEREMIAH GRUBER 

KIDMIN DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES 

As believers, we are Biblically mandated to make disciples and that process begins 

at an early age. Barna research shows that eighty-three percent of those who give 

their life to Christ do so between the ages of four to fourteen. The Assemblies of God 

and PennDel Kids is “ALL IN” when it comes to discipling the next generation! Here 

are some effective resources to help your ministries to children and families. 

CURRICULUM 

RESOURCES FOR KIDMIN 

KidMinRoadmap.com: This free site 

from the AG includes a yearly roadmap 

for a kids ministry where children grow 

strong in faith, parents feel equipped to 

lead spiritually, and leaders pave a clear 

path for spiritual growth. They offer 

practical tools and simple strategies to 

help you bring this vision to life which 

include: editable scripted lessons, 

themed monthly graphics, teaching 

videos, downloadable activity pages, 

midweek clubs, parent resources and 

leader/volunteer training tools. 

BibleEngagementProject.com: No 

church should have to compromise 

on discipleship. BEP is on a mission 

to make disciples by providing every 

church, regardless of size, location or 

budget with resources that transform 

lives and help people engage the 

Bible. If you are researching curriculum 

possibilities and have questions, please 

reach out to KidMin Director, Jeremiah 

Gruber. 

TRAINING RESOURCES 

FOR KIDMIN 

Hydrate.ag.org: Hydrate offers 

practical digital training that’s affordable 

and flexible. When you go through a 

Hydrate course, your confidence as a 

leader will grow, and you’ll be inspired 

to try new things in your ministry. 

KidMin Leaders Retreat: Each year our 

PennDel KidMin team hosts a retreat 

designed to equip and empower those 

who serve in Kids Ministry. Dates are 

available at penndel.org/kids. 

KIDMIN EVANGELISTS 

AND SPEAKERS 

UniqueKidzMinistry.com: Evangelists 

Dan and Mariah Boll have a passion 

to share the love of Jesus to as many 

people as they can using kid and familyfriendly 

methods. Their prayer is to help 

churches further the kingdom of God 

in their communities. For a list of other 

available speakers to minister at your 

church, please contact Jeremiah Gruber 

at jeremiah@penndel.org. 

KIDMIN SECTION 

REPRESENTATIVES 

We truly believe that our people are our 

greatest resources. PennDel has a team 

of sectional KidMin Reps who are ready 

and willing to help answer questions 

you may have. 

DELAWARE: John Bowman: 

jbowman@calvarydover.org 

EAST CENTRAL: Jessandra 

Blankenbiller: 

jess@thrivingkidsministry.com 

NORTHEAST: Dawn Kollar: 

dkollar@innovationlife.org 

NORTHWEST: Tyler White: 

pastortylerwhite@gmail.com 

SOUTH CENTRAL EAST: David 

Richards: drichards@clacamphill.com 

SOUTH CENTRAL WEST: Nathan Elliott: 

ndawg@juno.com 

GREATER PHILA. / SE: Robyn Geisler: 

robyng@clconline.org 

SOUTHWEST METRO: Tony Andreola: 

tandreola@centralconnect.org 

BONGIORNO CONFERENCE CENTER | CARL REDDING 

DOING LIFE TOGETHER 

As a young leader, I started into full-time ministry as a Children’s and Youth Pastor in Wilkes-Barre, 

Pennsylvania. Our church was growing, and we had a great core of kids and youth who were faithfully 

attending our ministry. I was so excited about the opportunity I was given, yet I felt inadequate. I remember 

asking my pastor if I could attend a Kid’s Ministry Conference at the Bongiorno Conference Center that our 

Ministry Network was hosting. I don’t remember all of the content or presenters, but I do remember sitting 

around a table with others who were just like me. Each of us were trying our best to find our way in ministry 

and life. Some were full-time and some part-time, but all were there to glean from the training and each other. 

I remember listening to others who had gathered around the table with me as they shared their frustrations 

and celebrated their wins. I remember the feeling of identification and community as I realized I was walking 

in and out of the same situations others were navigating. I remember how refreshed I was when I left that 

conference because I was no longer alone. I had people I could talk to and trust who believed in me. 

It’s amazing now I get to help prepare a place where individuals can have the opportunity I had as a 

young pastor to learn and grow. Ministry in itself can be lonely, but you and I are not alone. I love to see 

the investment into lives we see every week at Bongiorno that lasts a lifetime. From leadership retreats to 

conferences, we have a front-row seat. I believe with all my heart that the church is at its best when we are 

together in ministry and in life. I would even go so far as to say that God is pleased with us when we are in 

community together. 

The question becomes, who are you doing life with? Isn’t that what Jesus modeled to us when he walked the 

earth? It’s a great example for us to follow, and we should do so with excitement. We hope to see you soon 

within your context here at Bongiorno. 

717.243.7381 | credding@bccretreats.com 

COACHING RESOURCES 

FOR KIDMIN 

ThrivingKidsMinistry.com: No matter 

how small your ministry or how limited 

your resources, a healthy, thriving 

kids' ministry is essential to the growth 

and effectiveness of the church. 

Thriving Kids Ministry offers coaching, 

consulting, training and resources. 

BOOKS 

Resilient by Valerie Bell: Child 

Discipleship and the Fearless Future of 

the Church 

Children’s Ministry in a New Reality 

by the Barna Group: Building Church 

Communities That Cultivate Lasting 

Faith 

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN: Ronnie Gale: 

rong@calvaryirwin.com 

PARENTING STUDIES 

AND FAMILY FUN VIDEOS 

RightNow Media is the world’s largest 

video-streaming library of Biblical 

resources. For more information, visit 

RightNowMedia.org. Credential 

holders, to receive your free account 

access, email aburgos@penndel.org 

24 


302.379.1580 | rrdirector@penndel.org | pdrangers.org | Facebook: PennDel District Royal Rangers 

ROYAL RANGERS | STEVE STEFFEL 

Royal Rangers provides an exciting discipleship program for boys from 

pre-K to 18. This gender specific program offers spiritual development, skill 

development, one on one discipleship and many adventures for your boys. 

Join many churches in the US and around the world in developing the Next 

Generation of Godly servant leaders. The QR code will link you to many 

useful resources listed below. 

PENNDEL ROYAL RANGER WEBSITE 

AND FACEBOOK PAGE 

INFO ON THE PENNDEL 

ROYAL RANGER CAMP BERRY, 

HONEY GROVE, PA 

A 135-acre natural campground with a farmhouse 

(twenty-six bunks), barn with climbing wall, large 

water slide, zip line, archery, paint ball, shooting 

sports area, gaga ball, life-size foosball, Ranger 

Kid activity area, large areas for camping, five RV 

spots and multiple pavilions. This camp has further 

development goals and could use the support of 

PennDel churches and individuals investing in the 

Next Generation. Contact the Royal Rangers Director 

at rrdirector@penndel.org for more information. 

LEADER TRAINING 

There are several very good online courses for the 

men of your church to take – Ranger Safety and 

Ranger Foundations as well as Section, District and 

National training events. 

EVERY BOY INITIATIVE 

Every boy has the right to know Jesus and develop 

into the man God has created him to be. Learn how 

you can partner with Royal Rangers. 

NEW OUTPOST SCHOLARSHIP 

If your church is starting a Royal Ranger outpost check 

out this scholarship. 

LITERATURE 

Promo, Quick Start Guide, Poster, Books 

NATIONAL ROYAL RANGER 

RESOURCES 

Video Clips 

SEVERAL OTHER BOOKS WE 

RECOMMEND ARE: 

Extreme Prayer by Greg Pruitt 

In Jesus Name – 5 Altars of Prayer that move 

Heaven and Earth by Rick DuBose 

GIRLS MINISTRIES | SHARON POOLE 

GIRLS MINISTRIES RESOURCES 

Resources for Girls Ministries Leaders and those who do gender specific ministry is vital! These listings have been areas I have 

gone to repeatedly for help. The National Girls Ministries website (ngm.ag.org) has many ideas to supplement the program. 

I have also found valuable Leadership Resources in the books listed here. Some are not specifically Christian but have 

principles that are found in God’s Word. As Leaders, we must continue to develop ourselves to provide the most for our 

students. 

TODDLER – 5TH GRADE 

Resources for Rainbows, Daisies, Prims & Stars 

(Includes Small Group Guides and Topics) 

ngm.ag.org/Topics-Resources/Resources/ 

Preschool-Elementary 

TEEN GIRLS 

Includes Hot Topic Discussions 

ngm.ag.org/Topics-Resources/Resources/Teen-Girls 

FOR LEADERS (LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT) 

Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson 

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 

A New Kind of Diversity by Tim Elmore 

Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole 

A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards 

Prisoner of the Last Cell by Gene Edwards 

Girls Clubs Leader Training Guide from My Healthy Church 

724.622.4696 | gmdirector@penndel.org | penndelgirlsministries.org 

This summer, bring your boys and join us 

for Adventure Weekend, June 28-30. 

Our speaker is Jeremiah Gruber. There are 

activities for all ages, life-size foosball, zip 

line, climbing wall, shooting sports, paint 

ball, swimming, water slide and more. 

Go to the Royal Rangers 

website to find out more 

and register. Upcoming 

Events | PennDel Royal 

Rangers (pdrangers.org) 

26 


4651 Westport Drive 

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 

Find us online: penndel.org 

Join us on Social Media: 

PennDel Ministry Network 

PennDelMinistryNetwork 

#penndelag 

HIS FUND AT ITS BEST! 

1 YEAR NOTE 

ON ALL NEW INVESTMENTS 

For more information 

and a prospectus: 

www.hisfund.com • 866-219-0820 (toll free) • 717-796-9784 

APY: Annual Percentage Yield 

Annual Percentage Rate is 5.55%. Penalty may apply for early withdrawal. 

$500 minimum deposit. Funds may not be transferred from an existing account. 

THE INITIAL INTEREST RATE ON ALL NOTES WILL DEPEND ON EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. TERM NOTES PAY INTEREST AT A 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 THE INTEREST RATE ON A DEMAND NOTE, HIS FUND WILL NOTIFY THE HOLDER OF SUCH CHANGE. HIS 

FUND INTEREST RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL FORMS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.HISFUND.COM. 

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 SECURITIES OF HIS 

FUND ARE NOT OFFERED OR SOLD IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE NOT PERMITTED. THE NOTES ARE NOT SAVINGS OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT 

INSURANCE CORPORATION, ANY STATE BANK INSURANCE FUND, THE SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

Network Leader Connexions Spring 2024 - Resource Edition - The Church at its Best

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