Update from Will

Last November, I stopped working and asked God to please open a door that would allow me to serve Him on the "front lines" in full-time ministry.

Approx 2 months passed.

Then I was offered a full-time ministry position w/a Salvation Army church (called a "corps") in Oil City, Pa.

Here's a recent quote from an article by our own Larry Shallenberger about Oil City:

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"Oil City got it's name for being at the epicenter of U.S. Oil Boom. The first oil well was dug in nearby Titusville. Oil City quickly established itself around the hastily tapped wells just miles away.

Prosperity ended when the steel industry left Pittsburgh and Big Oil turned its attention overseas. Oil City is a shell of itself. Will drove me through blocks of blighted neighbors and abandoned businesses. Everyone who could leave Oil City has already left."
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By joining this 3-person ministry team, God has allowed me an incredible opportunity to "learn by doing" and jump directly into all facets of church ministry...and for some people who truly need God's help.

In general, this church is home to a significantly less economically/socially stable congregation than Grace but offers a comparable volume of church programs/services:

Separate (and multi-layered) programs for teens, children, men & women.

Regular Sunday classes, services and worship.

And outreach, outreach, outreach.

For my part, right now, I run the teen ministry programs, help a lot with the children programs, am starting up new men's programs and am being put on the regular rotation for both leading worship and preaching the Sunday service.

There is also lots of great interaction w/folks on county jail work release and those who are "working off" community service obligations.

This 'corps" serves as a city meal center (akin to Erie's city mission)..so we get to eat lunch while also building some great relationships for Christ.

Front lines indeed.

In a nut-shell:

Every day, on the surface, seems like an almost un-winnable battle against sadness, poverty, cynicism and sin.

But just below the surface...are a lot of new "snapshots".

New memories frozen in time for me to keep forever.

All are memories of new faces.

Some are very young.

Some are very old.

Some are kinda dirty.

Some are missing teeth.

One is looking back at me from behind a glass-wall as we talk during a jail visitation.

But the faces in these newly formed memories are smiling.

I simply can not believe that God has allowed me this arena to serve, learn and grow in.

It's an amazing experience.

-Will

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost