717-398-9033
g@freedomvalley.org
- Now a pastor ar a Freedom Valley Church in Gettysburg, PA
- Grew up in Amish lancaster
- Left Amish church for a Pentecostal one who, unlike Amish church, accepted and loved everyone passionately.
- Grew close with the pastor, Omar, who is 10 years older
- Started as youth pastor under his leadership, then a senior pastor after Omar left to be in World Missions
- Omar is now the head of World Missions Eurasia for the AG
- "The Bible teaches us to love people that we don't normally like."
- Was fired and devastated by it…told he was fired because he was too young, but later found out that he was fired because people in the church started a rumor about him to get him fired.
- Lost his best friends and community when he was fired.
- Getting fired from a church is like "sociological rape"
- "Jesus didn't take the cross so we wouldn't have to."
- Left the church after being fired for a while, became depressed…until a passion was birthed in him that made him want to reach those people who were offended and hurt by the church so that they left.
- Went back in the ministry to heal those who were hurt by the ministry
- His church goes after the hurt by church, burnt out by church, people who have weird ideas of church…etc.
- "Planting churches are the best way to make disciples."
- Why? because a new church is desperate and wild eyed
- Felt led to plant a church in Philly, but was called to Gettysburg.
- Asked God for 4 specific things when planting a church:
- Finances
- Prayer meetings monthly
- Will fundraise to take care of family
- Serious about reaching the lost
- Was friends with the owner of Auntie Ann's pretzels…they supported his church plant with about $1,000 per year
- As little as 12% of people go to church monthly.
- A church planting movement is starting today
- To love Jesus means that you have a passion to bring people to Christ.
- Jesus left heaven because He was passionate about people.
- "Religion is the opiate of the masses."
- In The Blood Tattoos on East Carson St. in Pittsburg
- Was filmed by Nightline ABC Gerry Stoltzfoos speaking in tongues…which proved that the speaking of tongues doesn't come from the language part of the brain
- Started a state of the art handicapped facility to minister to severely handicapped by horseback riding
- Shining Stars Therapeutic Ministries
- Starting to minister to mentally handicapped/learning disabled this summer
- They are seeing kids get healed mentally, emotionally, physically
- This ministry brings about 1/3 of the newly baptized people per year.
- Goals for future?
- Buy land for Shining Stars Ministry across the street
- Plant 1000 churches in america, 1000 around the world
- Currently planted 67 churches
- Starting work with unreached people group in Uganda
- Planting a church in Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and possibly Germany
- Northeast is least reached region in America
- Currently recruiting positions on staff for:
- 2 personal interns
- Network developer
- Church planting teams
- Philly Boot Camp…Friday and Saturday
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