Christ's Church at Bellefonte
It's a beautiful thing when a plan comes together . . . especially when it is God's plan!
Several years ago God placed the vision of a new church in the hearts of two families living in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Bellefonte is a beautiful, healthy, Victorian community just north of State College, home of Penn State University. Their vision expanded to include leaders of the Howard Christian Church just a few miles from Bellefonte. Before long, the vision burned in the hearts of many Howard Christian Church families. Howard decided to contact Christian Evangelizing Association to form a partnership to plant a church in Bellefonte. CEA captured the vision and passed it on to The Orchard Group who gladly embraced it. A partnership was formed and soon it became clear that God was calling Jeff and Kristy Steppe to lead this new venture. Before long, many churches and individuals caught the vision and the partnership grew. Passion For Planting was presented the vision and another partnership was formed.
Over the course of two years the vision took on form and structure. God continued to gather all the pieces of the partnership puzzle and the vision became a clear, beautiful mosaic called Watermarke! Now that picture is reality! Watermarke - Christ's Church at Bellefonte was launched with 201 in their first service.
It is truly exciting to see what God is doing in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region of our nation. There was little church planting and growth happening twenty-four years ago when I arrived in this area. Now churches are being planted, others are growing, and God is sending more planters who are stepping up to the challenge of this huge mission called the Northeast.
The real beauty of projects like Bellefonte is the mosaic of partnerships that form to realize these church plants. No church or group is too small, too large, too old, or too new to participate in the fulfillment of this commission. No group alone can even begin to accomplish the task. Yet, together in partnership, small, mega, and everyone in between can make a difference. Your church can and should be a vital part of church planting. From day one, Watermarke will start funding a church plant.
CEA would like to thank those visionary Bellefonte families, the Howard Christian Church, the Orchard Group, Passion For Planting, and all the churches and supporters who have made this vision a reality. God is being honored in a new and exciting way.
Now, on to the next community, the next vision! Who will join us?
Church Planting Today For a Greater Harvest Tomorrow!
Don Hamilton, President, Christian Evangelizing Association