Community Evaluation - Beaver Falls, PA

I surveyed Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania - Home of Geneva (Bible) College. Beaver Falls is an outskirt of Pittsburgh, right off of the Ohio river it is about 40 minutes North-West from Downtown, Pittsburgh and just 15 minutes East from the boarder of Ohio. This Community once rich with history, once filled with jobs, factories, communities, and wholesome families is not all of what it used to be. Although still a decent community and not too crime ridden, the poverty, unemployment, housing projects, low-income families and housing, and poor education are increasing. However, Geneva College is a light in the community offering great students studying ministry, education, business, human services and more to come into the hospitals, schools, after-school programs, community centers, clinics and more to help out! My sister graduated from Geneva with a double major in student ministries and human services and her husband graduated with a degree in the same field. Throughout her time at Geneva, Emily was able to volunteer/intern at after-school programs and an adoption center.
I surveyed students who have been living in Beaver Falls for a year or more and here is what I learned. The students nominated Beaver Mental Health Association as a great charitable/non-profit. As far as recreation, the students said that the popular things to do are go to the basketball courts or take a walk (obviously not doing much to keep the youth entertained and out of trouble). Beaver Falls Coffee and Tea (BFCAT) and Ignite were chosen as the businesses that give back. These businesses work closely with Geneva Students. The best non-profits are "Tiger Pause" (an after-school program) and "Habitat For Humanity." BFCAT was nominated as the best coffee shop as well and as a place to hang out. The top ten pressures that pose the biggest challenge in their community are:
-resources for low-income families
-sense of commuity
-teen resources
-single parent resources
-cultural tolerance (not just race either)
-crime/violence
-loneliness
-financial pressure
-substance abuse
-education
Students mentioned that resources such as an affordable grocery store would be very helpful. There is a Walmart in the next town over but it is pricey and not within walking distance.
"I am concerned about what is going to happen in the future with all the lower income families who are losing jobs with the economy in our area sucking." - Geneva Student

Linda Evers

Linda Evers was our wonderful guest on Tuesday, April 20. Linda is an attorney! Linda is employed by Stevens & Lee. She is a shareholder or attorney dealing with Energy Law - energy, regulatory, and public utilities. Stevens and Lee have offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Reading. Linda Works in Harrisburg. What makes Linda so awesome (outside her carrer) is her love and passion for Jesus and her servants heart. Linda is a member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Reading, PA. she works with reading to provide 'pro-bono' services for people in need. She is not only working with the legal project there, but helping to organize the counseling and coaching center (legal and financial counseling), the adult literacy center, and the health clinic in the making! It was great for us future church leaders to hear from linda because legal advice and life coaching is a great resource and ministry that all churches should try to get their hands on!

Jason Lamer and Youth Alive

Jason's heart and passion for youth was sparked at a young age. People were impressed with his youth and their passion to worship. Jason began to recognize that God has big plans for him in Youth Ministry. Jason now heads up Youth Alive in the Penndel district of the Assemblies of God and brings teams and assemblies into public schools to reach the kids for Christ. The team goes and does the 7 project. The idea is that the seventh step is accepting Christ. The team brings basketball stunts and skate shows to catch the attention of the youth. The performers share their testimonies and the school assemblies are based on 'doing the right thing.' The school assembly is followed up by inviting all the youth to an evening event where they can present the gospel. The different ministries of Youth alive are:
1. Prayer (prayer zone partners)
2. Campus ministries - raise up students that are challenged and resourced to share their faith.
3. Campus clubs
4. seven project - school assembly
Jason gave us steps/advice for preparing a youth outreaches:
1. Network/ identify the team.
2. Serve/ identify the need(s).
3. Disciple/ identify the teens.
4. Plan/ identify the how to.
5. Evangelize/ identify the opportunities.
6. Resource/ identify the helps.
7. Grow/ identify the person (You).

The idea behind 7.0 is a 7.0 earthquake. Your ministry, your effort, how far does it reach and how long does it last?

Toy Trade & Give Away

I was not able to visit any Church Based Community Organizations, but the Toy Trade and Give Away at Christian Life Assembly of God in Camp Hill, PA sparked my interest. My church and the Network of Hope do 'Give A Gift' every year, but this depends on donations of new toys and is only for low income families. For this ministry, people from the church donate toys that their children do not use anymore, The toys are cleaned and made back into great if not perfect condition, all of the toys are organized by age and gender, and the event happens each year in December just in time for Christmas. Anyone can come and receive 5 tickets per child, however, Single parents and families in more need get to go first. This awesome ministry is focused on giving, and allows parents give presents to their children on Christmas morning, who otherwise would have nothing to give. This is a ministry I would definitely encourage churches to start. This costs next to nothing, they provide cookies and hot beverages, and a man from their church even donates batteries for the toys every year! With enough help and great donations, this event is an easy way to show Christ's love and spread loads of joy!

The Harris Family

The Harris family from Christian Life Assembly of God in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania visited our class on Tuesday, April 6. Curt and his wife Candace both work at the church. Candace is on staff as the Women's Pastor and Curt is the Missions Director. Two of their three children are students here at VFCC. Christian Life AG has about 3,000 regular attenders and more than two dozen ministries. Basically, any area of ministry that fits their congregations needs and passions, they have it. Curt is in charge of keeping his church missional, organizing overseas missions, and supporting career missionaries as a church. The Harris' are actually getting ready to send their daughter, Brittany to China as a Missionary Associate! Candace is in charge of so many projects as the Women's Pastor. Some of Christian Life AgGs ministries include The Crave Young Adult Ministry, Student Ministries, Family Ministry, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Children's Ministry, Royal Rangers, MPact, Bible Quiz, Visitation, Life Groups, Counseling, Women's Softball, a scrap-booking group, Moments for Moms, Toy Trade & Give Away, Quilt 'n Share, Celebrate Recovery, Fine Arts (music, media, and drama), and Project Assist. The love of Christ and obedience to the call is so evident in this faithful family. It was such a blessing to hear from them.

Tim Siminski and Berks County Children and Youth

Child abuse happens, and sexual abuse to children is happening more and more. Tuesday, March 30, Tim Siminski was in our class to discuss this issue with us. Tim leads the Investigation of Child Maltreatment Team of Berks County Children and Youth Services. He works mainly with sexual abuse. I can't even imagine all of the stories and the toll this takes on Tim after working there for 22 years! Tim was discussing with us all of the issues and procedures for church's and ministries. Child sexual abuse happens in church, even though we don't like to think so, it does. However, out of all of the denominations and fellowships, Tim said that the evangelicals are the best equipped, easiest to work with, and first to admit an issue. Further than the Evangelicals Pentecostals specifically and even the Assemblies of God are the most aware and cooperative in dealing with this issue, this was good to hear. When leading a church or ministry we should obviously do everything we can to prevent this with the proper courses and clearances for our leaders, however we also should know the procedures to take if this should happen in our ministry. I was glad to learn a lot and feel it is important that we are equipped in this way.

Pastor KR Mele and Family Life Church

Tuesday, March 23 Pastor KR Mele joined us in our class to share about his ministry and what lead him to where he is today. KR grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, not in a Christian home. He gave his life Christ at the age of 21. KR has his degree in Business and owned/managed a couple of businesses before coming on staff at Sarver Assembly of God in charge of children as well as administrating their Christian school. After some time there God called KR back to the State College area in Central Pennsylvania where he attended college at Penn State University. From there God called him to plant a church in that same area. Pastor KR has been at Family Life Church in Penns Valley, PA for the past six years. The church meets at the Penns Valley Intermediate School in Spring Mills. Pastor KR's current church has been involved with many cool ministries, however the coolest thing, a ministry KR began, is Light the Night. Light the Night is a ministry to reach out to our communities on Halloween rather than hide ourselves. KR's logic says, Why would we turn off all of the lights and hide in the basement on the one day of the year everyone in our neighborhood comes knocking on our door asking us for something. Light the Night is set up like a 'mini-fair' in a yard of someone form the church. A church can have as many sites as they can handle. The sites have food, games, candy, an introduction to the church, a gospel message for kids with puppets, and most importantly, plenty of light, as to not make it a dark scary place, but a warm, happy, welcoming environment. My church started doing Light the Night the year after KR thought of it and we have done it in my yard for the past five years, I love it. At first we received some disagreement from some of our church body about whether doing this outreach would just be justifying the celebration of halloween, but after the success and progress of the first year, mostly everyone came around to the idea. Light the Night is a great ministry, if you do not already participate, present the idea to your church!