Central Schwenkfelder Church Missions
(Arranged by Local, National and International)
Local Missions
Christ's Home for Children - Located in Warminster and Paradise, Christ's Home serves needy and neglected children and youth by providing a Christian based, stable, caring home while meeting educational, medical, emotional and social needs. Christ’s Home uses the Teaching Family Model form of childcare for use in its residential program for children between three and eleven years of age. Christ’s Home also offers a Retirement Community in Warminster. For more information, visit www.christhomeforchildren.org or call 215-956-2260 (Warminster).
Chinese for Christ Bible Institute (CCBI / American International Culture Exchange Institute (AICEI) - supports the mission of Jesus Christ for Chinese people. The ministry of preaching, training, witnessing, supporting and encouraging includes mission trips to China and participating in the worship and the training of Chinese Christian leaders and the distribution of Chinese Bibles. Youth and young adult cultural exchange programs offer an opportunity to relate information about the faith. Support and encouragement for autistic children, medical care in rural areas, helps educate the poor and gives aid to disaster victims. Rev. Clifford Liu, who oversees CCBI/AICEI is a long time friend of Central Schwenkfelder Church and has visited us bringing updates of his mission trips.
Contact Information:
Rev. Clifford Liu
216 Avondale Drive
North Wales, Pa. 19454
Phone: (215)855-5020
Fax: (215)646-7810
Email: ce2006usa@yahoo.com
Community Housing Services, Inc. (Lansdale) General Fund – The mission of CHS is to provide permanent solutions to housing and related problems faced by the homeless, near homeless, victims of domestic violence, and other housing related issues faced by low and moderate income people. For more information, visit www.communityhs.org or call 215-362-5250.
Gloria Echols, Executive Director, 311 N. Broad St., Lansdale, PA 19446
Community Housing Services, Inc. (Lansdale) Ezra House - Ezra House is a collaborative between Community Housing Services (CHS) and The Church of the Holy Trinity at 4th and Broad Streets in Lansdale. The project provides transitional housing and supportive services to help homeless and near homeless single men become more productive members of society. For more information, visit http://www.communityhs.org/programs/ezraHouse.html
Inter-faith Housing Alliance of Ambler is a non-profit, inter-faith organization composed of volunteers and a small staff. It serves homeless families in Central Montgomery County, providing extended shelter, food and other assistance so that families can make their way to self-sufficiency. They have a 24-hour hotline to provide immediate assistance to those in need. They have established a hospitality network that provides support in one of the compassionate local houses of worship. They also own a facility called Hope Gardens, which is the first transitional housing facility of its kind in Montgomery County. Central Schwenkfelder Church has participated with Inter-faith for a number of years, housing people in the church during the month of November.
Contact Information:
Lois Bowman
215-628-2334
Website: www.inter-faithofambler.org
Keystone Oppurtunity Network (was Indian Valley Interfaith Hospitality Network) – Christian organization serving families in crisis from the North Penn/Indian Valley area, using facilities and volunteers from more than a dozen religious congregations annually. Families receive a place to sleep, meals, and supportive services. Central Schwenkfelder has been hosting families for the month of November since 1999. Keystone’s number is 215-723-8750
Liberty Ministries - Organization that works with inmates to support them as they return to society. Recent construction of a new addition and renovation of existing rooms at Liberty House in Schwenksville allows for increased follow-through with graduates of the program. Housing is available for 20 men. Participation in the recently approved Christian Pre-Release Program ("God Pod" project) with the Montgomery County Correctional Facility at Eagleville where volunteers can provide Christian programs and counseling, is a welcome new opportunity. Liberty Ministries also operates several area thrift stores that help with their funding.
Manna on Main Street, Lansdale - This organization aids the hungry and financially disadvantaged in the North Penn area. Their services include a soup kitchen, food pantry, conflict management (support groups), medical aid, dairy vouchers and holiday dinners. For more information visit www.mannaonmainstreet.org or call 215-855-5454.
Tom Allebach
Executive Director
514 W. Main Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
Neighborhood Crusades, Inc., Reverend Melvin Floyd is a local ministry in inner city Philadelphia. The Rev. Melvin Floyd has been an urban minister since 1966 and has recently been joined in ministry by his daughter and son-in-law, the Rev. Danny Sawyer. Rev. Floyd saw a need to take the message of hope and salvation to the street corners of Philadelphia. Also, in 1993, he started and continues to lead the Mel Floyd School of Evangelism to “recruit and train hundreds of Christians to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their neighborhoods, towns and cities.” This ministry works in inner city Philadelphia in several ways: prison outreach, Melvin Floyd School of Urban Missions and evangelism, a street preaching ministry, and tract distribution at major city events. He travels through neighborhoods in a van blaring invitations to attend evangelistic meetings. Their web site is: www.neighborhoodcrusades.org
New Life Youth and Family Services - Troubled youth and their families receive schooling and counseling with spiritual focus in a day program or residential setting as required. Year round operation of facility and school provides continuity of support and allows youth to finish high school on age appropriate schedule.
Schwenkfelder Missionary Church - The Schwenkfelder Missionary Church began in October 18, 1998. Its objective is to serve the community in mind, body, and spirit, to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ, and to share the history and teachings of the Schwenkfelder churches. The church meets for services at 10:45 a.m. in the chapel at the Mitchum-Wilson Funeral Home located at 1210 South 20th Street. Church School is held every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The church also runs a lunch program at the Mt. Enon Baptist Church on 500 Synder Avenue every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. The church assists with a hospice program. Rev. Ed Winslow is the pastor. Mr. William Dill serves as moderator. Mrs. Charlotte Winslow spearheads the lunch program. Pastor Ed can be reached at 215-334-4658.
Contact Information:
Rev. Edward O. Winslow
2128 Watkins St.
Philadelphia, PA
Teen Haven is a ministry of the Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, PA. Teen Haven’s summer camp serves inner city youth by providing an opportunity to get out of the city and enjoy the supervision and positive influence that has often been life transforming for troubled youth in need. The web is www.wsrm.org/teenhaven.
Why Not Prosper Inc. – This is an Organization that works with women inmates to support them as they return to society assisting them in job skills and readjustment. The goal is to help women become self-sustaining and off of welfare. Michelle Simmons Obalaja is the Director.
Young Life of Montgomery County - Young Life is a high school ministry that brings the good news of Jesus Christ into the lives of adolescents with an approach that is respectful of who kids are and hopeful about who they can be. This is the first step of a lifelong journey; the choices they make today, based upon God's love for them, will impact future decisions, careers chosen, marriages formed and families raised. All ripples from the time when a Young Life leader took time to reach out and enter their world.
Contact Information:
Katie Gorby
Young Life Montco
P.O. Box 1224
Glenside, Pa. 19038
National Missions
Campus Crusade for Christ – This campus ministry is committed to developing ongoing ministries of evangelism and discipleship accessible to every student on every campus.
- Judy & Steve Baker – Steve and Judy live in Kennett Square, PA and are associated with Philly Metro Campus Crusade for Christ at Drexel University, and other colleges in PA, NJ and DE in an effort to establish new campus ministries. They envision a day when:
- Every campus has a sustainable movement of prayer, evangelism and discipleship that is having tangible influence on the campus culture.
- Every believer is challenged toward Christ-likeness, motivated for meaningful ministry to their campus and equipped for Christian service in both the church and the world.
- Every student knows someone who truly follows Jesus, clearly communicates Christ, and welcomes them into fellowship.
- Brad & Lynn Jankowski – Brad and Lynn live in Orlando, Florida and can be reached at bjankow333@aol.com. They have a combined 45 years working on staff with Campus Crusade and continue outreach of mission trips in Germany, Ukraine, Romania, South Africa and in five islands of the Caribbean. The JESUS film is a powerful film project that is part of their ministry. It has been translated into more that 1,050 languages!
Christian Endeavor, Mid Atlantic (PACE) - An organization on the statewide level of various denominations of churches who adhere to the ideals of Christian education and leadership training for the youth of our churches. Life Builders develop leadership skills for teenagers and adults by putting faith into action as they change people’s lives at “Work Camp”, a service geared work week aiding in disaster and poverty relief.
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 1901617 Swamp Pike
Gilbertsville, Pa. 19525
Phone: (610) 369-0207
Fax: (610) 369-0257
www.cemidatlantic.org
Horizon Church of Towson - www.soulhorizon.com/towson This church plant was officially launched in October 2004, and meets in the Towson Commons AMC movie theater in Towson, Maryland. During the week the members meet in homes and apartments in small groups called Link Groups. They are a community that values sharing life together and being a part of transforming the Baltimore area through personal Christian witness and involvement. Ryan Casey, from Central Schwenkfelder Church, is a co-pastor there, where his primary responsibilities include preaching/teaching on Sundays, leading small groups, and developing the leaders of the church.
Idamay Bible Church - A small Bible based church located in Beattyville, KY. The church was founded in the 1960's and grew under the leadership of Rev. Jerry States. Pastor Mark Coburn is currently ministering to the church. Several years ago a group of men from Central helped to expand the church facility.
Joy Ranch - Joy Ranch continues to provide a safe, secure Christian haven for children in distress situations. Consisting of several residential cottages for boys and girls, the Ranch is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The director, Ed Hix, and staff are working towards having an emergency placement cottage in the near future for immediate placement needs and are looking into having a school on their site. E-mail address: joyranch@naxs.net Web Page: http://www.joyranch.org
Kentucky Mountain Mission - A mission outreach which evangelizes through the Youth Haven Bible Camp which runs numerous summer camps and retreats throughout the summer. Work crews from different denominations around the USA assist in the program. Vacation Bible School is run throughout the summer reaching out to area children in need. A Crusader program works in the area schools bringing Christ centered activities to grade school children.
Contact Information:
William Owens
KMM Director
Box 588
Beattyville, Kentucky, 41311
Phone: (606) 464-2960
Website: www. kmminc.org
International Missions
Joan Hunsberger is now retired and is supported through CrossWorld Ministries. For over 25 years we have supported fellow Schwenkfelder, Joan Hunsberger and her work in the Amazon River Basin in Brazil. She has served for many years in the Jet Cadet program and has recently turned over the leadership of this program to others. She corresponded for Christian programming through Trans World Radio, taught at a local Bible College on the history of mission and translated children's stories into Portuguese for use by Sunday School teachers. She also works with national women's organization and the Child Evangelism Board.
Arab World Ministries (David and Rachel Vos) - Their focus is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Muslims in the Arab World. The Arab world is thirsty and our ministries bring “Living Water” to the people. New technology is also being used to reach out to people who may never hear the Gospel otherwise.
Christian Concern Mission (Rev. S.J. Joseph) – CCM is a faith-based ministry in Shamshabad, India that reaches out to help the needy in rural communities. They offer health education, counseling, training programs, relief services, and other ministries. They also operate the Compassion Home, a haven for orphaned, homeless, and abandoned girls. See their website at www.ccmission-shamshabad.org.
Church Ministries, International - CMI is an evangelical, interdenominational, nonprofit organization dedicated to creating churches through its Encounter with God program in the 20 Latin American capitol cities. Their goal is to reproduce churches to evangelize their nations. Ten Latin America countries now have reproducing churches. E-mail address: CMIOFFICEACHURCHMINISTRIES.ORG Web page: www.Church Ministries.org
European Christian Mission North America - ECM is an international and interdenominational organization, founded in 1904. It is comprised of evangelical Christians called by God and commissioned by local churches to serve in partnership in the evangelization of the peoples of Europe. ECM North American plants churches in Europe and develops Christian leaders for service in the church. Currently Rev. Dr. H. Drake Williams from the Central Schwenkfelder family serves, through ECM North America, at the Tyndale Theological Seminary in The Netherlands. He is the Academic Dean, Vice-President, and Associate Professor of New Testament Language and Literature. Tyndale Theological Seminary stands as a witness for Christ in multi-cultural Europe, equipping leaders to reach Europe and the world with the gospel.
European Christian Mission, North America
P O Box 1006
Point Roberts, WA 98281
USA
email: ecmnainc@dccnet.com
Phone: (604) 946-6236
Fax: (604) 946-6206
Tyndale Theological Seminary
Egelantierstraat 1
1171 JM Badhoevedorp
The Netherlands
Website: www.tyndale-europe.edu
Phone: 011 31 20 659 6455
Fax: 011 31 20 659 8303
Williams’ family email: dandawilliams@aol.com
International Teams – International Teams is a nondenominational Christian, evangelical ministry embracing a wide range of backgrounds and styles. The ministry offers education, humanitarian relief, discipleship, outreach to refugees, ministry to children, and an opportunity to learn about the love of Jesus. The team currently supported is Themis and Donna Sirinides. They use all of the ministry possibilities available to them in Athens, Greece where they help to provide food and clothes to refugees as well as share the Gospel. The number of refugees and asylum seekers is often overwhelming. Please pray for the Sirinides as they trust God in this daunting task.
Mid-County Church of Christ “Mission Marseilles” (Craig & Katie Young) - Craig was a former member of Central during his teen years. He and his wife Katie are missionaries associated with the Mid-County Church of Christ proclaiming the gospel in Marseilles, France since 1990. The main thrusts of their mission work include urban church planting (La Chapelle de Fuveau), leadership training (Christians on Mission Bible School), evangelistic music ministries (The Harmony Chorus and Crescendo Trio) and preparation ministries for the next generation (Harmony Bible Camp and Goodfaith Retreat Center). Their website: http://web.mac.com/cgyoung1/mission.
OMF International (Scott & Jennifer Tibbitts) – OMF International (www.omf.org) has a mission of reaching the people in East Asia with the gospel. The Tibbitts family had previously spent 8 years in Lopburi, Central Thailand, helping new believers and a developing church. They are currently living in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, and working as dorm parents for children of other OMF missionary families, while pursuing opportunities to share the gospel with those living around them.
Patkai Foundation, Inc. (Dr. Tuisem Shishak) - Providing quality education as well as knowledge of the Lord to tribal children and youth, the Patkai Christian College in Nagaland, India has grown from 20 students in 1974 to 1,500 students today. Rev. Shishak is the President of the College. Serious threats to Christians in India are of daily concern. Other pressing concerns are meeting the needs for a safe adequate water supply and for generation of sufficient power.
Trans World Radio (Daryl Van Dyken) - Mass communication of the gospel is the goal of TWR founded in 1952. TWR builds and operates radio towers throughout the world broadcasting Christian programs in over 275 languages. Our supported missionaries are Daryl and Carol Van Dyken. The VanDyken’s recently returned from South Africa to Pennsylvania where they continue their work with TWR.
*Note: At their discretion, the Board of Missions may support other missions with Special Projects Funds.
Updated February 22, 2010
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