Return to Missions
Metro Philadelphia Church Planting Partnership
May 2008
"Saturating Metro Philadelphia, South Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania with the Gospel
and Gospel-Centered Churches"
Dear partners in church planting:
Two roads, two countries. Canada, the United States. British Columbia, Washington
state.
Early in April I crossed this border to take a look at an Assessment Center where
church planters are evaluated alongside key lay leaders through the ministry of
Grace Vancouver in Western Canada. My purpose was to discover whether this is a
form of assessment that we might want to reproduce in metro Philadelphia. I expected
to be an observer, a “fly on the wall” who watches the process from
a distance. (Canadians say, “prOcess” with a long “o”) Upon
my arrival, however, I was invited to be a fullfledged assessor.
The scenery of British Columbia was awesome. The city of Vancouver is stunning against
the background of the mountains. And the assessment of church planters and key lay
leaders was impressive. The process includes the typical evaluations of character,
calling and ministry competency that are always a part of the planters-only assessment
which is usually done in Atlanta. But the Vancouver version allows the assessors
to see how prospective church planters interact with gifted lay leaders in the context
of strategic vision-casting and ministry development. And the lay leaders benefit
from an evaluation of their gifts, passions and experience in ways that guide them
to more effective involvement in ministry. My conclusion is that these parallel
roads of assessment present a model that should be replicated in our Partnership
for Philadelphia.
Traveling across borders helps me keep my missionary senses sharp and it reminds
me that our mission to the United States is a small part of God’s greater mission
to the world.
For the third summer in a row I will have the privilege of leading a team from my
local congregation, Covenant Church in Doylestown, on a week-long mission to Casa
Hogar orphanage in Acapulco, Mexico. Toward the end of April I made a brief visit
to Mexico to prepare for the trip and get oriented to the work that the team will
do there this summer.
In this brief time I was reminded of why I love these previous children and why
I love to lead our team to Mexico. And my passion for reaching people in metro Philly
is reignited.
Moving day is fast approach for several of our newest church planters. Though Jim
Powell will not change his residence, in June he will shift his ministry focus away
from Cornerstone Church in Coopersburg, PA to the western edge of the Lehigh Valley
to plant West Valley Church in Lower Macungie. You can track Jim’s progress and
read his reflections on his blog at: http://weakchristian.wordpress.com/.
Also in June Dave Baggett will move with his family to the eastern edge of Delaware
County, just south of the city, to start his work on a new church near Clifton Heights.
In the past decade the Route 1/Instate 95 corridor has transitioned into one of
the most ethnically diverse areas of the near suburbs, offering many challenges
to Dave as he begins his mission.
In the meantime, two prospective church planters are working out the details on
proposals to plant churches in Mullica Hill and Atlantic City. (I have withheld
their names, for now, until their plans become more certain.) If all goes well,
these two men will be preparing their families soon to move on to the harvest fields.
In the past couple of weeks I have had significant conversations with four other
men who are seriously considering church planting somewhere in our partnership.
I am impressed by how deeply each man struggles to understand God’s will and by
their respect for the complexity, risk and need for new Gospel-centered churches
in Philadelphia, south Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.
Debbie and I are pleased to announce that our oldest daughter Kelly will marry Oliver
Störmer on January 17, 2009 at Tenth Church in Philadelphia. Both will complete
their commitments to the U.S. Navy by year’s end. Oliver is in training as a pilot
for Continental Airlines. Kelly will receive a Master of Business Administration
from George Washington University in December. They plan to live in New York City
after the wedding.
News from the four presbyteries in the Partnership:
Eastern Pennsylvania — As our Church Planting Partnership and the presbytery
reach their 3rd anniversaries on July 1, 2008, Eastern Pennsylvania is celebrating
the historic launch of its very first mission church. Jim and Kori Powell will move
out from their mother church, Cornerstone PCA, this summer to plant West Valley
Church.
New Jersey — As Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs (1952–1971) might
say, “Let’s plant two!” After three years of prayer, preparation and
patience, the Church Planting Team in New Jersey is scrambling to work with two
church planters on their proposals to plant in Mullica Hill and Atlantic City. Once
these deals are done, I’ll be able to announcement their names. But for now, the
team members and I are working furiously to see these first churches planted in
New Jersey since the realignment of the presbytery in 1997. These are exciting times
for all concerned.
Philadelphia City — This month the city presbytery will be asked to
recognize a Mission to Albanians, lead by Jason Stryd and Martin Katro. Both men
serve the Lord as missionaries to Albanian speaking immigrants in Northeast Philadelphia.
Thousands of Albanians have fled the troubles in their homeland since 1999, many
settling in our area. The Albanian Mission will give official recognition to their
spiritual needs and to these two good men who serve this population for Christ.
Elder candidates have been examined, the pastor has been called, a commission has
been appointed, and a petition to organized Cresheim Valley Church has been approved
for Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at a service held at Chestnut Hill Academy. Congratulations
to pastor John Leonard, the newly elected Elders, and to the founding members of
this new church.
Philadelphia Metro West — On behalf of the presbytery and our Partnership,
I want to thank Dennis Brown for his long and faithful service to the cause of church
planting in metro Philadelphia. Dennis and his wife Kay have accepted a call to
minister in Taipei, Taiwan and will leave by the end of August. Dennis was a key
leader in the formation of the new presbytery, working to keep church planting a
high priority. He served as the first leader of the Church Planting Team for Metro
West, and as a valued member of my Oversight Counsel for the Partnership. We already
miss him, and he’s not gone yet. I pray for the Father’s riches blessing for Dennis
and Kay as they respond to God’s call.
Praise God for:
- The second season of Church Planter Community, concluding in June, and for this
good fellowship in mission.
- Providing two prospective planters for New Jersey; one for Mullica Hill, the other
for Atlantic City.
- Safe travel north and south of the border in April, and all the great lessons I’m
learning about God’s work.
- The engagement of my daughter Kelly to Oliver, and their love for God and one another.
Pray for:
- Healing mercy for my wife Debbie, from carpel tunnel surgery on both hands, and
for my daughter Kelly, from nasal surgery to repair her sinuses.
- Great grace and wisdom as plans to plant in New Jersey are formed and finalized.
- Men who are currently weighing whether God is calling them to plant in metro Philadelphia.
- God’s help to Jim Powell and Dave Baggett as they move toward planting this summer.
With gratitude for your prayers and support,
Bruce R. Finn
Church Planting Coordinator
PS — Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to: Mission to North America,
1700 N Brown, Suite 101, Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8122, account # 41031175; or online
debit/credit cards: https://processor.pcanet.org/mna/donationsII/donation.cfm?MinistryTypeID=27
or
CLICK HERE. Please use my name or account number #41031175 for all contributions.
Thank you.