Situated in the heart of the Rust Belt, Ellwood City Free Methodist Church in Ellwood City, Pa., ministers to a small town that has taken an economic beating since the 1970s. Many in this working class community have had to take on two jobs to make ends meet, and grandparents frequently help raise their grandchildren.
But the church, with an average weekend attendance of 40, is optimistic. It’s celebrating its 100th anniversary this year by investing in its future. With only five children currently in its ministry but after a successful vacation Bible school last summer, the church is planning for future growth and renovated its children’s ministry area to accommodate it.
Church leaders went door to door in the neighborhood, asking residents what they needed and expected from a children’s ministry. They evaluated the responses, and, kick-starting the project with an anonymous donor’s $6,000 gift, renovated that part of the church. Among other things, they installed a projection system, carpeted tile floors and hired a local artist to paint the walls with a colorful island and ocean theme.
“When it came right down to it, we knew we wouldn’t invite friends to our church and wait until they arrived to start to get our house in order,” says Pastor Todd Onink. “We are to walk by faith and not by sight.”
