A new pastor has been chosen! Pastor Steve and Trisa Silliman have been selected as the new lead pastor. Their first Sunday with us will be August 26th! Pray for the Silliman family as they begin their transition to State College.

We welcome

Pastor Steve & Trisa Silliman

children, Kelsi (17), Mikaila (14), Nicole (12), and Rachel (10).

July 15, 2012 Troy Morgan and the Board of Elders announced that they have chosen a candidate for the lead pastor position. Pastor Steve (and Trisa) Silliman have been invited to candidate on the weekend of July 28-29, 2012. There will be a Meet & Greet on Saturday where the congregation is encouraged to find a time slot to come out to meet them and have an opportunity to ask questions. Pastor Steve will preach on Sunday, followed by a Business Meeting on Wednesday, August 1st at 7 PM. (Pulse Youth and regular children's classes will meet as usual.) At this business meeting voting members will have the opportunity to cast their vote to determine if the Silliman's will be elected to become the lead pastor. Pastor Steve's resume, along with the Meet & Greet schedule will be available at the Information Desk on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings from July 15-29, 2012. See the Meet & Greet schedule below to choose a time slot that fits you.

Pastoral Candidate

Meet & Greet

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Find a time slot below to meet the Pastoral Candidate and have an opportunity to ask questions...

MEET & GREET SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 28, 2012

9 - 10 AM (Kids Chapel)

Missions, Deacon, Trustee Board Members and Spouses

10:15 - 11:15 AM (Kids Chapel) *child care provided during this time slot

Youth, Children, Parents, and Football Leaders

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Kids Chapel)

Young Adults, College Ministry, and Worship Team

12:30 - 2 PM BREAK

2 - 3 PM (Teen Room)

Seniors, Senior Ensemble, Compassion Connection Leaders, Women & Men's Ministry Leaders

3:15 - 4:45 PM (Teen Room) *child care provided during this time slot

All Church Q & A

5:30 PM (Offsite)

Dinner with Elder Board Members and Spouses

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 7 PM Special Business Meeting.

Voting members will have the opportunity to cast their vote to determine if Pastor Steve Silliman is elected to become the new lead pastor. (Pulse Youth and children's classes will meet as scheduled.)

6-10-12 Michael Madeira, Secretary of the board of Elders, gave an update on the pastoral search. He recapped how the board had previously selected a candidate who, after prayerful consideration, declined. He also recounted how the board is diligently meeting together for regular meetings and for special meetings. He stressed the importance of waiting on God in the search to find the right pastor. The Board of Elders came forward and the congregation prayed for them and the search process.

4-29-12 Michael Madeira, Secretary of the Board of Elders, gave an update on the pastoral search. He announced that the board is continuing the process required to select a candidate and hope to have an announcement for the church within the next few weeks.

2-11-12 Michael Madeira, Secretary of the Board of Elders, gave an update on the pastoral search. At the Annual Congregational Meeting (Feb 19, 2012) he announced that they hope to have an update/announcement to make very soon. The Elder Board has been going through resumes and because our process is designed for us to bring the focus down to one individual who we feel that God has led us to, we have formally interviewed an individual and went through the required process with him. We spoke with him about becoming our pastoral candidate, but after prayerful consideration, he and his wife have decided that God's will for them now is to stay where they are (for their children's sake.) While this is not the announcement we had hoped to make, we, as an Elder Board, will step back and not begin again, but go back to the process of looking at the resumes that have been submitted and will continue to seek God's direction for our church.

1-8-12 Pastor Bob Rhoden, Interim Pastor gave a pastoral search update which included the "Pastoral Search Process" presentation (listed below) to refresh memories as to what the process will look like. The Elder Board is currently looking at resumes and prayerfully considering possible candidates.

10-16-11 Pastor Bob Rhoden, Interim Pastor gave a "Pastoral Search Process" presentation to tell the congregation how the search for a new pastor will take place. The process is as follows:

Pastoral Search Process

1. After due diligence, fasting, and prayer, the Elders will select one potential candidate from the list of applicants.

2. The one potential candidate will come for a face-to-face interview with the Elders.

The Elders will meet after the interview and determine if the person interviewed should be the candidate.

3. Once the candidate has been selected, a weekend will be chosen for the candidate and spouse (and possibly their children) to be at the church.

The weekend will include:

Friday night:

- a meal with the Elders and their spouses.

Saturday:

- a time for meetings with various groups in the church for

conversation and Q & A, including a time for anyone in general.

Sunday morning:

- the candidate will preach.

Wednesday night:

- a business meeting will be held for a vote on the candidate.

4. Two Sundays prior to the candidate weekend:

A resume of the candidate will be provided.

A call will be made for a special time of fasting and prayer in preparation for the candidate weekend.

August 28, 2011 As the church moves forward, we know that while we cannot replace Pastor Paul, he will have a successor - someone who can take up the reins where he left off and continue to lead this church with the same strong faith and vision with which Pastor Paul led the congregation. As baby steps are taken, updates will be made here so you can stay informed.

As the Elder Board begins this process, the first thing they have decided to do is to take the month of September just to pray and seek the Lord, to find out, "Where do we go from here?" Pray with us. Seek the Lord and His wisdom. God has a man to be Pastor Paul's successor.

August 12, 2011

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of The Lord, or who became His counselor?...For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Rom 11:34-36 (NASV)

As you know, while all of us have been seeking God for quite some time to heal our pastor, we also recognize that the Lord is sovereign. On Thursday evening, August 11, 2011, our Heavenly Father chose to call our dear brother and pastor, Paul E. Grabill, to be with Him for all eternity. While we deeply miss him, but only for a time, we rejoice in his being in the presence of the Lord, never to suffer again.

Pastor Grabill crossed the finish line victoriously, surrounded by his family. He left an indelible mark of strong faith, abiding love, and leadership excellence on our hearts and lives.

Watch video tributes here...