One City Church (GraceConnect eNews)

GraceConnect eNews, No. 190, Week of February 6, 2017

Communication-Conversation-Conservation

The eNewsletter for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches

One City Church

The unforgettable date of September 11 fell on a Sunday in 2016. This made the birth of a new church in Lancaster, Pa., all the more full of hope. Grace Church at Willow Valley (John Smith, lead pastor) dubbed their new church plant in the northeast section of the city "One City Church"… and the congregation has been praying and proclaiming the good news of Jesus ever since.

The five-month-old church is headed by Paster Alec Millen and his family. Pastor Millen has been involved with Willow Valley since 2010 and transitioned into ministry with One City Church. Born in Atlanta, Ga., Pastor Millen first felt God calling him into the ministry in 1993, when he was preparing to graduate from the University of Georgia.

With a growing heart for the city, he did the initial geographic work when Willow Valley first talked about a church plant in Lancaster. As soon as he found a space to meet (renting from a United Methodist Church), Pastor Millen and his leadership team wasted no time in reaching out to the community through Sunday evening services.

Part of the vision for One City Church is for it to be a reflection of the community in which it resides; not just another building. Together with his leadership team of like-minded Christians -- some from Willow Valley and others from neighboring congregations-- they’re reaching out to all the nooks and crannies of the northeast section of the city. In addition to their Sunday services, they also hold a youth ministry on Thursdays. Currently, more than 20 kids from around the neighborhood attend, most of whom have never heard the gospel of Jesus.

“Our vision is that we would be a clear gospel light in our community," says Millen. Leaving behind many rooted friendships at Willow Valley, it is heartwarming for Millen to see new and gospel-centered friendships start to flourish in Lancaster, and he is encouraged by the fellowship of the slowly growing congregation of One City Church.

The growth of One City is also largely a family affair for Pastor Millen. His wife, Tammy, is an active part of the leadership team, and their daughters and son help out in the children’s ministry, led by Kevin Medina. Many other volunteers also lend their time to the ministry and outreach of the church.

“I think the biggest lesson has been the need to involve many people in this work,” the pastor said. “And we want our people to be fully engaged in ministry outside of the church.”

[Connect:]
Click here to send a note of encouragement to Millen and find out how you can pray.

Forward

[Your Turn]

[Vote:]

CapeAble Sensory Products is a small, thriving business run by Winona Lake, Ind. native Marna Pacheo and her business partner, Susan Hickok. Their Fort Wayne, Ind., storefront and online shop offer a wide range of sensory products that help people with autism or sensory issues. Marna is a member of the Winona Lake, Ind., Grace Brethren Church (Bruce Barlow, lead pastor). Recently, they entered the SCORE Small Business Championship, which awards the winning business $25,000.

Read more about CapeAble Sensory Products here and here, and see their Facebook page or click here for more details on how you can vote. Voting runs until February 20.

[Apply:]

"Our internship experience is geared to develop and empower future leaders while gaining practical experience and understanding of how the local church operates. Along the way, we will provide leadership development and coaching."

Movement Church in Columbus, Ohio (Mark Artrip, lead pastor), is offering a 12-week Summer internship program from May 16 to August 8, with focuses in worship, creative arts/social media, design, and pastoral.

Interested? Find out more and apply by clicking here.

[Watch:]

"When Jesus told his followers, 'go and make disciples of all nations', the Greek words he used the word ta ethne, meaning all ethnic groups or people groups. So what is a people group? A people group is basically a group of individuals that have a common sense of history language, beliefs, and identity...while there are about 196 countries in the world today, there are more than 16,000 distinct people groups.

"We must welcome the unreached. Christ commands us to make disciples of all nations. Jesus is alive! His mission for us is clear, yet his mission for us remains incomplete. Together, we can change that."

Check out the below video about unreached people groups, put out by Encompass World Partners.

Events in the FGBC

February 23, 2017 –  Kid (Min): Summit for Children's Ministry Leaders, Goshen, Ind. (CE)
February 24-25, 2017 –  WLS: Spiritual Formation (Spanish), Tampa, Fla. (WGUSA)
March 13-15, 2017 –  South Focus Retreat Haines City, Fla. (FGBC)
March 17, 2017 –  Day Away - North of 55, Ashland, Ohio (AGBC)
March 17-18, 2017 –  WLS: Women & Scripture, Roanoke, Va. (WGUSA)
March 25, 2017 – Connect & Equip East: Regional Mission Conference, Parkesburg, PA. (EWP)
April 5, 2017 –  Pastorpedia Live, Winona Lake, Ind. (CE)
April 7-8, 2017 –  WLS: Spiritual Formation, Frederick, Md. (WGUSA)
April 28, 2017 –  Heritage Event: Shady Maple Smörgåsbord, East Earl, Pa. (CE)
April 28-30, 2017 –  Hispanic Summit,  Atlanta, Ga. (WGUSA)
April 28, 2017 – Heritage Event, East Earl, Pa. (CE)
May 11-17, 2017 –  National Institute Cross Cultural Youth Min.Module, Philadelphia, Pa. (CE)
May 22-24, 2017 –  Northwest Focus Retreat, White Pass, Wash. (FGBC)
June 14, 2017 –  Pastorpedia Live, Winona Lake, Ind. (CE)
June 18 – July 11, 2017 –  Operation Barnabas (CE)
June 26-30, 2017 –  Encounter Atlanta (EWP)
July 5-9, 2017 –  StreetWise, Philadelphia, Pa. (CE)
July 18-23, 2017 –  Momentum Youth Conference, Marion, Ind. (CE)
July 25-27, 2017 –  Access2017, Fremont, Ohio (FGBC)
September 20, 2017 –  Pastorpedia Live, Winona Lake, Ind. (CE)
November 8, 2017 –  Pastorpedia Live, Winona Lake, Ind. (CE)

AGBC – Ashland, Ohio, Grace Brethren Church
CE – CE National
EWP – Encompass World Partners
FGBC – Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
SGCC – Susquehanna Grace Community Church, Wrightsville , Pa.
WGUSA – Women of Grace USA

Send events for the calendar to msanders@bmhbooks.com.

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

GraceConnect

We are located at:
1104A Kings Highway, Winona Lake, IN 46590

Our mailing address is:
Box 544, Winona Lake, IN 46590

unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences forward to a friend