Editor’s Observe: A number of PCA church buildings have not too long ago moved into church buildings beforehand utilized by different congregations. Within the course of, every congregation has witnessed the blessings of a bodily worship house and found distinctive alternatives to serve their communities. This week we are going to characteristic their tales of God’s provision.
Bellefonte Presbyterian Church Stewards Its Group’s Historical past
Within the borough of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Bellefonte Presbyterian Church has renewed efforts to succeed in its neighbors by stewarding its historic church constructing.
Bellefonte Presbyterian started in 2022 as a daughter plant of Oakwood Presbyterian Church in State Faculty, Pennsylvania. Owen Hughes, pastor and planter at Bellefonte Presbyterian, turned an affiliate pastor at Oakwood in 2017. Initially, Hughes and Senior Pastor Dan Kiehl spoke usually about planting a church, however the pandemic compelled them to pause these discussions.
The Huge Present
However attendance at Oakwood elevated all through the pandemic in order that by 2021, with attendance at Oakwood between 350-380, discussions of planting resumed. In December 2021, Kiehl noticed a put up on Fb from a church within the close by city of Bellefonte, one of many communities Oakwood’s session had recognized as a possible planting location. The church, First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte (PCUSA), shared that the upcoming Christmas Eve can be the church’s last service.
Kiehl reached out to First Pres to ask about their plans for the church constructing. First Pres instructed him that the plans have been unsure, however, as Hughes recounted, “They wished this church to be a church. They didn’t need it torn down. They didn’t need it used as a brewery or a group middle, or one thing aside from a church.”
Except First Pres would give the constructing to Oakwood, Hughes was uncertain whether or not Oakwood can purchase the church. The 15,000 square-foot constructing was inbuilt 1868 and wanted many repairs. However when Hughes and others from Oakwood met with First Pres, Hughes was shocked to listen to the asking value: $30,000.
“Basically, they gave it to us,” Hughes stated.
After closing on the constructing within the spring of 2022, Oakwood gathered a group of 17 individuals to ship to the Bellefonte plant. Hughes’ launch group met in preparation for eight months, and one other 60 joined through the winter of 2023. January 9, 2023, marked Bellefonte Presbyterian Church’s first worship service, and 125 individuals attended the primary service. Attendance has since grown to just about 160 individuals, and Hughes hopes to particularize in early 2025.
Between buying the constructing and starting worship providers, Hughes and his group had a lot work to do. The roof of the constructing was essentially the most important renovation: the unique roof wasn’t shedding water accurately, compromising the outside wall. Changing the roof required $150,000 – 5 instances the constructing’s buy value – however Oakwood offered for the renovation. Past the roof, the constructing wanted a deep clear, in addition to inside portray and restore work.
“Church buildings which were round so long as this one has have a tendency to gather a number of issues that aren’t used or helpful. We’re nonetheless engaged on updating and freshing up the constructing,” Hughes stated.
As Hughes and his group labored on the church, they started to get to know their neighbors. Locals walked by on church workdays and witnessed the newcomers’ take care of a constructing that held a particular place in the neighborhood. Due to the importance and historical past of the church constructing, Hughes believes that engaged on the constructing blesses the broader group of Bellefonte.
The Authentic Bellefonte Presbyterian Church
The church constructing was actually referred to as Bellefonte Presbyterian from its beginnings. In 1795, a gaggle of settlers wrote a letter asking for Bibles to plant a church in what would change into Centre County, Pennsylvania. 5 years later, Centre County was created, as was Bellefonte Presbyterian.
“Their mission was to place a Bible into the arms of each household in Centre County. And their imaginative and prescient was for biblical literacy and for individuals to know the Phrase of God,” Hughes stated. Over time that imaginative and prescient shifted. The church joined the Presbyterian Church (USA) and altered its title to First Presbyterian of Bellefonte, and over the previous 50 years church membership dwindled, significantly after the COVID pandemic.
When Hughes and his group deliberated on a reputation for his or her church plant, they determined to return to the unique title of the church. Hughes additionally wished to return to a imaginative and prescient nearer to Bellefonte Presbyterian’s unique imaginative and prescient, looking for to like their place properly by the love of God.
Within the years since Bellefonte Presbyterian’s rebirth, the church has partnered with area people organizations, just like the native Rotary Membership, YMCA, and Gardening Membership, to assist them placed on their occasions.
“We consider that we’re liked by God with this love that transforms us and adjustments even the best way we have a look at the place we’re. So we’re now positioned, and we’re positioned right here to be a blessing. So it is a smart way for us to be a blessing – to come back alongside a group and have a good time them,” Hughes stated.
Bellefonte’s partnership with the group has borne fruit. Hughes prayed that the church would see the “saving work” of the Lord and baptize a brand new believer within the first yr of ministry. Inside the first six months of its existence, Bellefonte baptized a person and his two sons, and have since baptized one other new grownup believer in addition to a number of infants.
Bellefonte Presbyterian has attracted believers of all ages. A person in his 80s who was born, baptized, and married at First Pres has returned to worship at Bellefonte Presbyterian due to its renewed gospel focus. Bellefonte Presbyterian has additionally attracted many believers of their 20s and 30s. In accordance with Hughes, the youthful technology needs “the otherly,” which Bellefonte Presbyterian gives.
“Whenever you come into Bellefonte, there’s a way of the otherly, from the stained glass home windows to the pipe organ,” Hughes stated. One of many many blessings of the constructing is that it has “anchored individuals” in one thing solely separate from trendy life.
Nonetheless, Hughes expressed that “with a constructing that previous, there’s all the time one thing that must be up to date, or one thing that could possibly be damaged and must be mounted. We’re making an attempt to be sensible with each saving cash and utilizing that useful resource to assist the constructing, but in addition not letting the constructing change into the grasp… When you find yourself given a constructing, the constructing can simply begin to change into the grasp and never the servant.”
Sarah Reardon is a contributing author for byFaith.
