Sheldon Good, Salford
If you want to build it, they will come. Over the past five months, four Franconia Mennonite Conference congregations have traveled to Philadelphia to help construct Oxford Circle’s new church building: Covenant Community Fellowship, Blooming Glen, Franconia and Salem.
Dan Freed and others at Covenant Community Fellowship know the importance of mutual aid for church building. “Franconia Conference helped us at Covenant purchase our current building,” said Freed, an electrician from Bergey’s Electric. “We see this as an opportunity to give to someone in a similar way.”
Freed has trekked down nine times since spring to help remodel the building, which sits caddy-corner to Oxford Circle’s current facility. “I expressed a commitment at the beginning of the project that we could at least wire the sanctuary,” Freed said, “which has now expanded to include the entire first floor – sanctuary, Sunday school rooms, and so on.” Covenant is also a committed financial sponsor of the building.
Bergey’s Electric has been a valuable partner in Freed’s work. The company has provided tools, time off on short notice and helpful advice. So far, 10 other electricians from Franconia Conference congregations have given 19 days of work toward the building project.
“God has orchestrated this to be possible,” reflects Freed. “God is leading in this and providing all these people to come and get this done.”
Leonard Dow, senior pastor at Oxford Circle who went to Christopher Dock with Freed, agrees, “The large pool of professionals from Franconia Conference congregations have helped establish our strong foundation. These relationships aren’t out of the blue. It’s wonderful to build relationships out of a mutual respect and strength.”
A recent relationship has been formed with youth from the Franconia congregation. Mike Ford, Senior High youth pastor at Franconia, led eight youth and two other adults on a project in June. Ford noted how important it is to consider connections both globally and locally, “I’m excited for our youth to meet a need in their backyard.”
Esther Frustino worked with the Franconia group in June and returned in July. “I thought I didn’t know them, though they are still part of God’s family,” said Frustino, who will be a sophomore at Christopher Dock next year. “I wanted to not only meet them but form new friendships through working together.”
Frustino also formed deeper connections with persons in her youth group. “I didn’t feel particularly close to the youth group,” Frustino said. “It was amazing the connections we made, both spiritually and friend-wise. It took going out of Franconia to do that.”
At first, Jacob Ford wondered why Oxford Circle wouldn’t hire a contractor. He then realized the long-term equipping impact of service groups. “With many crews, many people can learn a new skill that they might not otherwise learn,” said Ford, who will be a sophomore next year at Souderton Area High School.
Thanks to a connection with Fred Kauffman, MCC East Coast representative, five youth from the Salem congregation participated in their first service project. Bruce Eglinton-Woods, pastor at Salem, and ten volunteers set up air mattresses, sleeping bags and crockpots in June. But they didn’t need their crockpots for every meal. “On Wednesday night, a family brought pizza for the kids,” said Eglinton-Woods. “Once the work day was done and we had some food, the youth took water bottles and apples and went bowling in the parking lot. Some of the neighborhood kids came over and played with them.”
Amanda Souder, a Salem youth, led a devotional through song the last day the group volunteered. She noted that people sometimes feel alone in the world. The song was a reminder that no one should feel alone; God is always present. “She observed that we’re building this church so that these area kids can know that God is here and they are not alone,” Eglinton-Woods said.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.