Annual Report 2020
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ANNUAL REPORT LEARNING, LIVING AND SHARING THE GOOD NEWS2020 OF JESUS Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. - 2 Corinthians 3:3a FROM OUR LEAD PASTOR As I was praying and asking and truth in His word, is conveyed in 1 Corinthians God for a word from God 15:58: “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and concerning Calvary Church immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for for 2021, I initially thought of you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” these scriptures: During 2020 and into 2021, Covid-19 has restricted “Don’t just pretend to love us to a degree. There are many things we did in past others. Really love them. Hate years that the pandemic hindered us from doing, but what is wrong. Hold tightly to there are many things that Covid-19 has not stopped what is good.” Romans 12:9 us from doing--and should never stop us from do- ing! “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to Learning – God’s word is still being taught on what we believe.” Hebrews 4:14 Sundays and in our various Life Groups during the week. “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.” Revelation 3:11 Living – The pandemic has not stopped us from encouraging one another, praying for one Then I felt the Lord was saying to me that the another, and living righteously and morally. church needs to not only hold on, but to press on. We need the determination of Paul who wrote; Sharing – In this report book you will see pictures and read about various ways we have “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the continued to share the love of Jesus with those heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is call- in our community. ing us.” Philippians 3:14 The 2020 pandemic, as well as the political and cultural strife, have tested the faith of Christians. It is Holding on should not be interpreted as an invitation not so much that our faith in Christian doctrine has to passivity, as if we are to hold on to what we have been tested. Rather, the past year has tested and as we sit back and wait for Jesus. Holding on must revealed the depth of our faith. Faith is ultimately be accompanied by pressing on. displayed through faithfulness because our beliefs The idea of pressing on in our service to the Lord (what is true) inform our values (what is important); while we are holding on to our faith in his promises our values motivate our actions. Our actions then have revealed to us the relative strength or weak- ness of our faith. On that note, I want to especially thank those who have been committed to joining us in prayer during one or more of the four weekly Facebook Live cor- porate prayer times. I believe God has used this commitment to agree together in prayer to sustain all of us who have participated, as well as those we have prayed for. We are currently still holding hour-long prayer meetings three times each week. The church sanc- tuary is open for those who want to join these prayer times in person instead of via Facebook. I am prayerfully anticipating that 2021 will bring all God’s people back home from our pandemic exile. When the redeemed of the Lord return it will be with joyful singing and a renewed vision which will reinvigorate our mission until the day Jesus returns. On that day, when he takes us home for good, there will be no more sorrow or mourning, only joy and Ken Liples has done a great job this past year di- gladness for all eternity. Until that day let’s HOLD recting Son Shine Early Learning Center in spite of a ON to the person of JESUS and PRESS ON in the three-month shutdown due to Covid-19. He kept the purpose of Jesus. staff together and they have gradually grown the enrollment to being close to pre-Covid levels. I continue to be grateful to God for the Calvary Church staff and board. This last year has challenged Last, but certainly not least, I am also grateful to us. We had endured some painful moments but Je- Ilona Mifflin for the blessing she has been through sus has walked us through. the work she performs in the area of administration and bookkeeping. God is good and we are better I want to thank Pastor Dana McCrewell, Pastor Tom together! Tweedle, Christine Eliason, and Mehnmah Washing- ton for the work they do to pastor (lead, guide, care) the Calvary Church family along with me. NOTABLE OCCASIONS - New babies born to the Calvary Family in 2020: - New members welcomed: Shaquin Davis, Stephen Judiah Davis, Riley Hood, Kai Ortiz, Elizabeth Ravenell, Davis, Carla Donaldson, Chris (Malik) Donaldson, Jordan Joshua Saint-Fleur, and Logan Marie Thermitus Hamim, Baree Smith-Jackson, Angela Johnson, Jewelle Jones, Kevin Morris Louise Smith, Andrea Swift - Calvary Members who have “run the race and finished the course” and entered into the presence - Six baptisms in water: Christelle Belly Laurent, Chris of their Lord and Savior: Louella Best and Barbara Donaldson, Merlineda LaTouche, Ian McEwan, Sandy Howe McEwan, Elijah Wollyung OUTREACH CHOSEN 300: We started strong in January 2020 with our worship service and feeding over 160 guests. We saw growth in the volunteer team, a new worship team, team Gbemiye-Etta making sure no one left without receiving socks and toiletries, and the wonderful ladies that prepared the awesome meal for the guest lead by Gwen Thomas. We were looking forward to growing our partnership with Chosen 300 in 2020. When the pandemic hit in March, it stopped us from having the opportunity of ministering to the guests, however, we were still able to deliver meals, socks and toiletries throughout the remainder of 2020. I would like to thank our faithful core group (you FOOD PANTRY: know who you are!) and the new volunteers for your desire to SHOW the Love of Jesus Christ and In 2020, under Julie Hood’s leadership, the Food TELL of His Goodness. May God Bless and Keep you Pantry was looking to expand. Then the Covid-19 and your families pandemic occurred. We thought this would cause a slowdown with the Food Pantry, however, it was just the opposite. There became a greater need for food assistance. Julie and her awesome team answered the call for more food assistance. Instead of serving the community once a month, Julie and her team found themselves serving the community at least four times a month. The Pantry once again partnered with Cheltenham High School, Food Share Program, and National Optometric Student Associations of Salus University to provide approximately 75 Thanksgiving baskets for our annual Basket of Blessings. The team also provided Baskets of Blessings for Christmas, as well. Lastly, while serving the community, Julie along with her amazing husband expanded the Food Pantry space by removing the old shelving and replacing it with new and more functional shelving. They also purchased a new commercial grade refrigerator. Julie, Devin and the Food Pantry team, Calvary Church is so grateful for your hearts of compassion, seeing the need of others and so selflessly attending to them. May the Favor of the Lord rest upon all of you and your household! If you want to volunteer in the Food Pantry, donate food, or money for supplies, you can contact Julie Hood at [email protected]. ANGEL TREE: PHILADELPHIA DREAM CENTER: The Angel Tree ministry partners with churches We had the opportunity to partner with Pastor for the purpose of providing gifts and the Gospel David Dominguez and his team in preparing to children who have a parent who is incarcerated lunches for the children of his community during during the Christmas season. summer. We also assisted them in wrapping Christmas gifts for 1,000 children to receive. In December, Calvary Church partnered with Angel Tree Ministry under the leadership of Rita Leinheiser. Because of Calvary Church’s generosity, Rita and her team were able to bless families throughout the Philadelphia area with Christmas gifts and the Gospel. Remember: when we Show the Love of Christ it Can Change Everything. Thank you to Rita and her team for being Angels. May God continue to do in your lives exceedingly, abundantly above all that you can ask for and imagine! ILLUMINATE YOUTH When 2020 started, I was excited. IYM was gaining momentum and coming off a very strong end to 2019. Attendance was up. Teens and adult leaders were excited. Students were beginning to take leadership roles in ministry, as some began making plans for fundraisers to raise money for Speed the Light missionaries. $150 was raised by the teens when they partnered with G2:24 and watched kids during G2:24’s Valentine’s weekend event. Plans were made to take 12 teens in mid-March to Lead The Generation, a student leadership conference. I was excited as I was doing my best to empower and equip our teenagers to step up and start leading ministries. But a giant “Pause” button was pressed about a week before that conference. And we waited… As the weather got better and Covid seemed to slow, we met outside at my house over the While waiting, I got excited.