Welcome Pastor Les

Union Baptist Church of Swissvale recently celebrated the ordination and installation of Rev. Les Anton Scales. Pastor Les has been on a long spiritual journey culminating in his ordination and being installed as the Senior Pastor at Union. It was a joy joining the Church family in celebrating this milestone moment. Pastor Les and his wife, Dr. Tiffany Hatcher-Scales, are expecting their first child in the coming months. Congratulations, Union Baptist and Pastor Les,

Excellence in Ministry

Pastor Randall Harris has served for the past year as the Transitional Pastor for Siloam Baptist Church of Norristown, a church that is growing, thriving and making a HUGE difference in their community! The feed and clothe the needy every Friday, have a strong, innovative youth ministry under Rev Nicole Skinner, and gather for inspiring worship and preaching every week. Pastor Randy was named as the recipient of this year's ABCOPAD “Excellence in Ministry” Award, but unfortunately his mother’s health crisis prevented him from attending. This past Sunday, ABCOPAD Vice President Lori Jennings presented him with the award. Congratulations Pastor Randy and Siloam Baptist Church!

Welcome Pastor Apryl

It was a glorious day of celebration as the congregation gathered for the installation & permanent certification service for Pastor Apryl Crownover-Glunt, the newly called pastor of Mill Creek Baptist Church! It was a joy celebrating with Pastor Apryl, her family, and the church family as we prayed with gratefulness for the work of the LORD in the life of His servant & His church.

White Hall Baptist Anniversary

White Hall Baptist Church as they celebrated their 165th Anniversary. Lead Pastor Rev. John McCarty led the worship service, which included many lifelong members sharing heartfelt memories of how the church impacted their lives.

Spaghetti and Marshmallow

At this year's Biennial Leadership Conference.... Some team building activities: “The Marshmallow Challenge” (collaborative efforts to build the tallest tower out of spaghetti, string, tape and one marshmallow). The processes employed were impressive and very revealing in how Baptist life works!

Regional Executive Installation

During the Biennial Leadership Conference, Rev. Mark Mahserjian-Smith was installed as the Executive Regional Pastor of ABCOPAD. It was a special time of celebration and thanksgiving. Pastor Mark has served our region for many years in many capacities. Your prayers are solicited as he begins this new role of leadership.

Now I Am Changed

Hurricane Helene Response

Pastor Dan Cass (Greenfield Baptist Church) sent pictures taken as the team is doing Disaster Relief in North Carolina. They are working with Samaritan's Purse. Pastor Dan shared, “We are cleaning out the yard of Bob and Sherry. Their whole yard was demolished in the wind. Nothing touched the house. We prayed with the family after we gave them a Bible we signed.” Please keep this ABCOPAD Disaster Relief Team in your prayers.

Alzheimer’s Awareness

Rev. Dr. Jeremy Hall led the congregation at North Hills Community Baptist Church in a service focused on Alzheimer’s Awareness, knowing families in the congregation are caring for loved ones battling this challenging health issue. It was an emotional service, as people broke down in tears as they experienced the love and support of their Church family. Along with Pastor Jeremy, Rev. Felicia Zamora, and Dr. Heidi Clark did a marvelous job crafting the worship

Fire @ Calvary Baptist Williamsport

Please be praying for our brothers and sisters at Calvary Baptist Church in Williamsport. There was a two alarm fire at the church this evening that started in the basement and worked its way to the roof. Please be praying for Pastor Howard Woodruff and the congregation as they discover the extent of the damage, grieve the loss from the fire and gather to continue in life and ministry together.

Good News

The folk at Olive Branch Baptist Church in Belle Vernon are now praying and teaching children about Jesus Christ in Frazer Elementary in Perryopolis Pa. We have started a GOOD NEWS CLUB! Through the guidance and help of CHILDRENS EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP, our volunteer leaders have all gone through training, screening, and a lot of prayers to make this all happen. WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM! If you would like information on how you can start a GOOD NEWS CLUB in your schools we can point you in the right direction.

Picnic Time

A  great crowd from Jefferson Baptist Church gathered for its annual picnic following its Sunday worship service. Chicken was provided and, as Baptists are, amazing cooks and bakers prepared so many wonderful foods to choose from. There were about 65ish in attendance with games and a playground available for all ages.

Goin' Green

FBC Norristown hosted over 40 kids for a week of Vacation Bible School under the theme of “Breaker Rock Beach”. They offered music, games, crafts, snacks, Bible lessons and tons of fun for kids entering Kindergarten through 6th grade. Pastor C.G. Coats set a goal for their mission project and offered to let them dye his hair green if they met the goal. See the results!

Brothers in Baptism

Pastor Ken Webster reports, "It was another awesome week at Lower Providence Baptist Church as we welcomed two new members. My brother-in-law through baptism and another young man through transfer of membership from his former church. As a symbolic measure, I always add a little Jordan River water to the baptistry. God continues to do a mighty work among us."

Operation x2

Pastor Clint [ FBC Shinglehouse ] reports on a life-size Operation Game they had at the County Fair. The congregation had 12 teams of 2 each staffing the booth during the week. It was a great opportunity to introduce the community to the church and Operation Christmas Child while offering fair-goers a chance to play the classic game BIG way! 

Camp Judson @ 75

An amazing day at Camp Judson celebrating 75 years of faithful ministry to generations of campers. So good to see so many people attending who had been blessed by the camp in their faith walk and to hear about how, "Jesus changes lives at Camp Judson."

Pastors, Pittsburgh, and Pirates

Pastors at the Pirates. 29 here from ABCOPAD churches. GPS Pastor Randy Powell organized through a grant for our pastors and spouses! They were great seats, great company and great ball game til they lost it in the last inning!! Bummer!

Day Camp Fun

GraceCrossing Community Church wraps up a week-long free day camp offered to the community thanks to ABCOPAD grant funding! Starting at 7:30 am and running until 5pm on Monday through Friday, this camp offered Bible lessons, arts and crafts, games, interactive lessons by special guest artists, and life-skills training (not to mention breakfast, lunch and snacks!) This is the second year we have offered this to the community free of charge and registration filled up fast with repeat attendees from last year. Few of these students attend church anywhere else so this was their first exposure to the Gospel! Kudos to our volunteers who took timely off work to make this happen!

Blest Be The Tie

Pastor Ken Webster at Lower Providence Baptist Church reports:

The Audubon Christian Fellowship (a Chinese congregation) is sharing some of our space at Lower Providence. Yesterday we had a combined worship service. For communion, Pastor Wha-Chi Wang and I presented the elements, me in English, and he in Chinese. To say that it was an awesome morning of worship and fellowship would be an understatement. After communion, we joined hands around the sanctuary and sang the first verse of Blessed Be the Tie That Binds with the lyrics projected in Chinese. To hear it with the combined voices and languages was super powerful. We’ve done this a couple of times in the past, but with the inclusion of communion, it was truly special.”

Kennywood '24

Picnic Time

It was one hot Sunday afternoon when the Ten Mile Association had their summer picnic. Around 75 people braved the heat for a catered lunch. There were 6 churches represented from the association. All enjoyed the water games, bounce house, sidewalk chalk. It was a great time to spend time just hanging out, catching up with one another and laughing together.

Cannon Credentialing

Kudos to Jacob Cannon a recent graduate of ACTS. He was given provisional certification by the Ten Mile Association during its recent meeting at Jefferson Baptist Church.

La Paz '24

An amazing start for our trip to La Paz. FBC Lansdale and Hatboro Baptist Church combining forces to serve our dear friends in La Paz and Los Planes. A part of our group helped to finish a project at the seminary and the other half served in Los Planes at Casa de Dios. We were also blessed to share in worship with Casa De Dios for Los Planes and with the seminary church, Point of Grace.

Valentine Blessings

Happy Birthday, Young Man!

NEPA GPS Tim Schwartz had the opportunity to worship at the First Baptist Church of Abington in Waverly, PA. where he worked as the interim minister at the church years ago. It was a great opportunity to see many familiar faces .... especially his friend, Milt Massey (the guy on the left!), who celebrated his 24th birthday a few weeks ago (.......on February 29th! )

Meet Rev. Dr. Debbie Bullock

Scenes at Siloam

Siloam Baptist Church in Norristown sees itself as a place of Hope, Healing, and Wholeness. Rev. Dr. Randy Harris, is currently serving as the Interim Pastor at the church, and the congregaiton is experiencing a wonderful revival under his leadership. With over 20 recent baptisms and a large group of leaders answering God’s call to become ministers at the church, God is moving among the people. Minister Nicole Skinner serves as worship leader and leads the congregation is an energetic and joyful worship service.

Prepp'n to Thrive

Monongahela Association Gathering

A View at Riverview

Oil Creek Association Gathering

The Oil Creek Association gathered for their spring meeting at Delaware Ave Baptist Church (Erie). It was an encouraging time of fellowship and discussion of our missional purpose both as individual churches and in ministry together.

Cross Walk 2024

An annual tradition --- At Franklin, local clergy took turns leading readings for each of the 14 Stations of the Cross (1st Baptist is always station #2). 130+ participants represented well over a dozen churches, a time to remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.

Easter Baptisms 2024

Recently Pastor Jeff Landfried of 1st Baptist of Greenville (French Creek Association) celebrated the baptism of 8 (!) teens at his church during their Easter celebration. Baptism at Easter is such a fitting reminder that we join Christ in death that we may join him in his resurrection.

Olive Branch Servants

It was a busy day of outreach when a team of men from Olive Branch Baptist Church did some much needed and appreciated yard work for one of the church's senior saints.  Serving hands, Serving hearts.

Parent's Night Out

CBC Allentown held a "Parent's Night Out" in February. The elementary-aged kids watched movies and had pizza while their parents spent a kid-free night out. The kids had a great time. The movie idea was so popular that they have started a new ministry for our "seasoned saints." The church now holds movie matinees for our mature members, including lunch, on the first Tuesday of each month. Fourteen folk attended the first matinee.

Pastor Kevin Zufall

Thrive Community Church

Sweethearts Invited

In February, the Federated Church in East Smithfield planned a lovely Sweethearts Dinner. The fellowship hall was beautifully decorated (candles and roses!) for the occasion. A delicious meal was prepared and there was time for singing, riddles, and conversation around the tables.

Gospel Fest '24

Gospel Fest 2024, at Lower Providence Baptist Church, was an awesome afternoon of praise, testimony and gospel music. To say that the church was rockin’ is putting it mildly!

Mardi Gras

Folk at First English Baptist Church, Bloomsburg, take scriptures seriously! The author of Ecclesiastes writes: “So I recommend having fun because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life”. And the next thing you know ---- there's a party for Mardi Gras!

Scout Sunday

First Baptist Church, Bethlehem, observed Scout Sunday, as several resident scouts helped out with Sunday morning activities. Eight scouts in the church family represent several troops & pack. The scouts helped get coffee ready, greeted folks at the door, handed out bulletins, read Scripture, and helped pass out cake after service!

Olive Branch Baptism

Exciting times at Olive Branch Baptist Church. The congregation had cause to celebrate with a baptism by Pastor Ken Sommerfeldt. What a joy to see Molly receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior and being obedient in baptism.

A Word from our
New Executive Pastor

ABCOPAD
celebrates the appointment of our new
Regional Executive Pastor
Rev. Mark Mahserjian-Smith

Welcome Pastor Fisher

The congregants at Colonial Park Community Baptist Church have welcomed their new shepherd -- Pastor William Fisher. Hailing from Elizabethtown, PA, Pastor Bill is a graduate of Lancaster Bible College and has served as a chaplain and counselor in a variety of settings. Welcome to ABCOPAD!

MLK Day of Service '24

Kudos to the team from FBC Norristown who participated in a local clean-up project during this year's Martin Luther King, Jr, Day of Service. The neighborhood looks so much better thanks to the crew of serving volunteers

Be Prepared!

Ten members of New Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church, Norristown, received CPR and First Aid training. Such excellent teaching, as trainees learned so much! And each person received an American Heart Certification good for 2 years!

Baptized in Christ

More than a dozen new believers gave witness to their faith through the ordinance of baptism. It was a glorious day of rejoicing at Siloam Baptist Church, Norristown.

The Grace Space

When you enter the sanctuary at the Baptist Church of West Chester you’ll see The Grace Space! This quiet space is for those who find it helpful to have more room for their body than a pew can offer. Quiet toys and books are always available. This area is just one way the congregation tries to demonstrate their core value of “Unbiased Hospitality.”

Holiday Tradition

Pastors and spouses from the Northumberland and Northern Tier gathered for their annual post Christmas dinner. All enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the hospitality committee at Muncy Baptist and had great fellowship with one another.

Like Father, Like Son

Welcome Pastor Tim

It was a wonderful day at Hepburn Baptist Church as the congregation gathered to install Tim Schwartz as their new pastor. A number of pastors participated in the worship and celebration. Welcome to the family! 

Let it Snow

Members at FBC Factoryville got creativce on a wintery day. It was a wonderful time of fellowship as a number of women made goodie-bags for residents at the nearby Senior Apartments in Factoryville

MLK Day of Reading

Meals-To-Go

Each month the folk at Hatboro Baptist Church reach out to their community through a "Meals-To-Go" ministry. The drive-thu service has provided over 18,000 meals to needy families. "All Are Welcome --- No Questions Asked."

Gillett Serves