Pursuing A Partnership
Pennsylvania/
South Jersey
The Saluda Baptist Association has joined with the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey to form church-to-church partnerships.
During our recent vision trip to the Pittsburgh area, we met with the following pastors and church leaders. These videos and information sheets are for the churches that are willing to receive mission partners.
Once your church has decided who you would like to partner with, please let us know at the Association office. Our missions coordinator is willing to assist you if needed.
Faithbridge Community Church
McKees Rocks, PA
Pastor James Hogan(Teressa)
- Honest/ humble pastor
- Running 145-175
- Most people walk to church
- 5000 homes in a 1 square mile
- He is mentoring/training young church planters
- Offers financial training for the community
- Evangelism is a primary focus
- Outreach – block parties, etc. (Baptism)
- Christmas Backpacks
- Block parties, holiday emphasis, prayer walking, Jesus movies
- Urban decay
- School across the street: gifts for staff, trying to reach students
- This school ranks the lowest in the area
- Government–imposed poverty
- Monday night evangelism groups
- Therapist on staff
- 3-day week meal
- Every other week dinner
- Concession stand giveaway
Prayer needs
- Church next door
- Eric
- 2 worship services (discipleship-focused, community focused)
- Childcare in high school for students with kids
Edinboro Community Church
Edinboro, PA
Pastor Brad Winger(Jill)
(2018 church plant from Millcreek Community Church, founding church)
- Pole barn, 42 acres, LOTS of projects
- Working with an architect to decide if they should transform the horse barn into a church or remove the current structure and build a new building
- Averaging 100-130
- Walking track
- Planting another church
- 10-13,000 people in the area. 90% are unchurched
- College – 21,000
- Poorest zip code 20 minutes away
- Brad is the football team chaplain and the track coach
- Wife’s family is connected in the community
- YMCA connected
- Hotels all around
- Community connected
- Projects – community, nursing homes, town activities, construction, festivals, etc.
Rolling Hills Church
Verona, PA
Greg Drayer(Nicole)
- Used Experiencing God Model
- Food Preparation Team – Food Truck Ministry (Dream)
- “See You Thursday” is a dream for a cooking class for families, using ingredients out of a box
- Light Construction
- Community Festival/ Activities [Penn Hills Parks & Rec]
- Can connect with other churches
- VBS, Backyard
- Multi-ethnic congregation
- Needs a new sound system
- Open to coming to SC to serve a particular church
- 30 people when started
- Greg is on staff at BRN as a Healthy church encourager also
Zion Community Church
Clarion, Pa
Trent Kirkland(Pam)
(Pastor 25 years)
- 150 average
- Michigan native
- “Smiles” from 1st clarion
- Showers & big kitchen
- 45-minute commute for some
- School connection
- Mental health counselor
- Construction – for camp set-up, pre-camp needs
- Camp available for kids – all volunteer run
- Community service projects already happening: washing fleet cars, planting flowers around town, cleaning homes/gutters, yards
- Foster care network
- Don’t want to be a church IN the community but be a church FOR the community
River City Church
Pittsburgh, Pa
Eric Baldwin(Leah)
- Church is located in Swissville, a suburb of Pittsburgh
- Average attendance is 60-70
- Spiritual Warfare, Strife
- Community dinner, one time per month
- True Urban Location: very rich and very poor
- Internships available for students and/or church planters
- VBS Literature, people
- Prayer Walks
- VBS, art camps, date nights, youth nights, community canvassing, etc.
- Currently has a hired nursery worker
- Utilizes radio advertising
- Chairs in meeting area are full, wants to plant another church
- Needs space option
BRN PA/SJ
Baptist Resource Network
Harrisburg, PA
Loving our Neighbors across Pennsylvania & South Jersey #LovePASJ
14 Million People in PA/SJ do not know Jesus.
Reclamation Church
Monroeville, PA
Tom Mitlo (Director)
- Reclamation Church is the sponsoring church, running 500
- Wide variety of ministry opportunities
- Facility – limitless
- Section 8 housing nearby
- Wants to start a Thrift store and medical clinic
- Needs doctors, nurses, dentist to offer medical help
- VBS, Sports camps, construction during the summer
- Offering finance/ job training
- Counseling center
- Celebrate recovery meets in building
- Life Wise – release Time for students
- 500 member church ministry
- “Spoiled poor” is a term he used to describe those living in section 8 housing
- Need showers, flooring, electrical, and lighting
Reclamation Church New Kensington
New Kensington, PA
Brent Phillips(Emily)
Church planter out of Reclamation Church
- Planted by another church
- Passion for New Kensington
- Patiently waiting for start up for 2 years
- Poor neighborhoods
- Urban decay evident in his community and a dangerous area
- He grew up in low-income housing and can relate to his community
- Young family – wife is bought in
- Both have a Biblical counseling degree
- Basic necessities not taken for granted
- Must live in New Kensington
- Needs additional finances – $1,000 – 1,200 per month
Prayer
- Serving school – (principal is atheist)
- [Housing stay - either location]
- Backyard bible clubs, special event cookouts, clean school rooms/grounds, VBS
- Needs homeschool literature, church literature, resources
- Backpacks, socks, shoes, written notes of encouragement to students and staff, clothes, etc.
- Prayer needs
- Financial security, he cannot fundraise full time
- Physical safety
- Disciple children well
- School
Christ Central Church
Pittsburgh, PA
Reggie Johnson(Courtney)
- Started March 19, 2023
- 50 in attendance – 30 covenant members
- Very diverse community, difficult ministry
- Multiple nations and people groups are living in his community
- He uses sports to stay connected to the school and community
- He is building relationships in the local schools
- Backpacks
- Gospel Project Literature
- Uses home for ministry
- Fix up the pastor's house
- Wife is RN
- Started in past prisoner program
- Easter community outreach, building renovations, Basketball camps, festivals, job fairs, Christmas events, etc.
- “Food desert” – food available for people but they have no transportation to stores
- Quarterly community events
- Pillar Church
Prayer/Dream needs
- Financial security
- Elders
- People developed in their faith to join them
Three Rivers Grace Church
Pittsburgh, PA
Ben Reaoch(Stacey)
- Well established church
- Averaging 90-100
- Gave their old building downtown to Reggie Johnson
- May or may not have partnership needs
- Community college in the area
- Had strategic plan in place
- Unique – age group breakdown
- Heart4schools training was offered as a suggestion
- Conferences – marriage, parenting, finances, pastors’ wives
- Prayer walking, block parties, games, art camp, VBS, construction of handicap areas, seminars, etc.
- Needs a student and children’s minister
- Teams could also assist with church plant – Reggie Johnson (Elliot)
- Stay at Warren House
First Baptist Church Clarion
Clarion, PA
Jason Hunter(Shelly)
(Pastor 12 years)
- 1.5 hours from Pittsburg
- Rural community, upper end of the Applachian chain
- Originally from SC
- Averaging 100
- Relaunched 2 years ago
- Some school access
- After covid they embraced technology. Online/physical services
- Median age 60+
- Poverty
- Right next to the courthouse – no one knows they are there
- Backyard Bible clubs, VBS, face painting, games, downtown ministries
- Service projects – church/community, home repairs to community families
- Mission trip to Philly
- Local kids camp 100
- Partner well w/ other pastors(all denominations)
- YMCA showers available
Housing for Visits
More information about housing options when visiting to be added soon about:
Warren House in Pittsburgh
Send Relief Pittsburgh
and First Baptist of Clarion
The Story
Ways To Partner
