MINISTRY STORIES: Saved In Sunday School

My years of being on staff at the Cornerstone Church in Akron, Ohio, were some of the most fruitful and exciting days of my life!  Under the influence of Pastor Brenda Young – and her dynamic teaching and leading - this church had become a fast-growing, Spirit-filled, dynamic center for conversion and spiritual growth!

As hard as it is to believe, the foyer would pack with people before the three services that we offered. When the doors were opened, they would run to get the best seats and save them for their family or friends.  The anticipation and expectation were unbelievably high!  

The excitement was palpable as everyone waited for the worship team to begin playing.  The church had gathered and was ready to worship! The make-up of this congregation was 75% ‘first-time believers’!  I’ve never known a church like it! 

During each of the three worship services there were Sunday School options for all ages.  Many would attend Sunday School either before or after worship.  As Lead Associate Pastor, I had the privilege and responsibility for overseeing our adult, youth and children’s ministry leaders. Recruiting and training leaders was an on-going challenge!

As part of my role, I visited every class during each service.  During the first-of-three services I would do so quickly and then participate in worship.  During the other two services I could take more time and observe the classes before moving on.  This also gave me time to welcome and mingle with people arriving for the next service which became a productive time of relationship building.

One of our adult classes met in a small, odd-shaped room adjacent to the worship center. While the worship team was playing, it was often amusingly difficult for the teacher to be heard.  This class was led by one of our younger lay leaders. His name was Ron and he was a charming and engaging leader who also contributed – during periods – on the worship team as a remarkable drummer.

This class was largely made up of newer young and middle-aged couples who had begun attending Cornerstone.  One of the men was known to us all as ‘Skeeter’. He was a highly knowledgeable mechanic and had been attending with his wife for a couple of years.  One Sunday, at the end of the class as Ron was beginning to wrap things up, Skeeter asked Ron a question.

“Ron, I’ve been attending here for a long time now and I hear all this talk about ‘getting saved’.  Just what does it mean to ‘get saved’?”

Ron turned his attention to Skeeter while the rest of us remained silent and prayed.  He carefully and briefly explained the gospel to Skeeter and then asked him if he’d like to be saved right there.  Skeeter indicated that he would, so Ron led him in a prayer of confession and acceptance!  I hope you know how thrilled this class was!  It was SO EXCITING! 

Pastor Brenda always gave a benediction/send-off at the end of each service by raising her hands over the congregation and speaking words of challenge and encouragement. Skeeter immediately began responding to this by raising his own hands to ‘receive’ the good words that she was speaking. 

When questioned about it, he simply said that it was his way of receiving the blessing that the pastor was speaking over him.  It began to catch on until nearly every person in every service also started raising their hands to receive the blessing from Pastor Brenda. 

I haven’t been to Cornerstone in many years, but I often wonder if that’s still being practiced there today?  Maybe someone reading will let us know…

WHEN GOD DRAWS NEAR

I grew up in a church where worship was vibrant and meaningful.  Sunday mornings were a little more formal, but Sunday evenings were more relaxed and casual with a good bit more singing.  Testimonies were common in the evening service where people would give a report of how God had helped or blessed them recently. 

These testimonies were often expressed with great creativity and passion.  Significant joy would be expressed over the way God had intervened in their life to solve a problem, meet a need or answer a prayer.  Some had a unique ability to tell a story with great suspense – even cultivating humor. Occasionally the congregation’s response would be with applause and a chorus of ‘Amens’! 

The congregation clearly had favorite hymns or gospel songs.  Even as a child, I observed that certain songs were highly likely to create a deeply spiritual response.  These times were frequently described as moments when the Spirit fell on the people.  The congregation would sing with passion and enthusiasm!  Full attention was brought to the worship of God!  Even when I was very young, I was sensitive to these times and knew that something supernatural was going on.  Some songs that had great potential to evoke this response were:

·         “It Is Well With My Soul”

·         “And Can It Be”

·         “The Wonderful Grace of Jesus”

·         “Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord”

As the years passed, I went to college, married, attended seminary and then entered the ministry.  Being a twenty-three year old pastor was a challenge.  But gradually, I gained experience and soon started to see kingdom growth in the churches that I served. 

Eventually, I learned new language for what I had experienced so often in my childhood.  It was largely initiated by a book I read titled EXPERIENCING GOD, by Henry Blackaby.

What I had experienced as a child/youth growing up in my home church were simply incidents of experiencing the presence of God!  He drew near to His people – often initiated by the creativity, sensitivity and passion of His people! 

I learned that my role as pastor was to plan and prepare in such a way that we would hopefully be enabled to experience His presence frequently in our worship.  This in no way implies that we could or would manipulate God!  Rather, It meant trying to create an environment of sincerity, deep meaning and worship that would somehow open a divine portal that would allow us to sense the presence of the Divine One! 

This became central to my planning for worship, preaching and involvement of others in the leadership of our worship! 

While leading the Free Methodist Community Church in New Middletown, Ohio, we received an odd request from an organization that was conducting a survey of growing churches across America.  After deliberating on their request to have our people fill out a 10-minute survey DURING WORSHIP, we agreed to participate.  Part of our motivation was that we would receive a complete report of our people’s responses along with an analysis of these responses.

In spite of the awkwardness, our people cooperated on the designated Sunday and the forms were packaged up and mailed the next day.  Weeks later, our Ministry Council received the results and poured over them with great interest!

We gained so much insight from this report and reviewed it repeatedly over the next year. 

The one thing that pleased me most was the fact that a large majority of our people reported that they EXPERIENCED THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN WORSHIP either regularly or frequently!

This became nearly our sole purpose for times when our people met for worship.  How could we plan and prepare in ways that would de-emphasize any one person or group of people – but, instead, keep the focus on God and His consummate goodness!

OBVIOUSLY, at times we were more effective at this than others times.  But our goal remained the same! 

For six years, I served as the Lead Associate pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Akron, Ohio, under the leadership of Pastor Brenda Young.  The church had doubled in size by the time I arrived on the scene, and would double again in the next six years! 

There is no way that I can describe this church adequately in a brief form!  It involved:

·         New converts EVERY WEEK!

·         Three packed out services every Sunday!

·         Powerful, educational, need-meeting preaching!

·         Dynamic prayer ministry!

·         Focused discipleship opportunities – with dynamic, dedicated leaders!

·         Massive, highly organized lay leadership!

You get the picture – right?

Brenda and I had frequent new attenders approach us and report that they couldn’t stop crying throughout the service.  Repeatedly we had the privilege of explaining to them that what they were experiencing was the PRESENCE OF GOD!

I am currently reading through Leviticus in the Old Testament.  It’s a dry, hard read that involves lots of rules about how the sacrificial system worked.

After four verses giving detailed instructions for how the priests should sacrifice a bull and a goat, I ran across these words in chapter 9:

[Moses speaking to Aaron – the high priest – and his sons]

Offer all these things to the LORD, because the LORD will appear to you today.

THAT CAUGHT MY INTEREST!

Then it immediately became boring again as the people were instructed to bring their sacrifices, prepare them properly and – with the help of the priests – offer them to the Lord!  This consumes seventeen verses!!!!!!!!

But then “Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them.” [v.22].

Then Moses and Aaron went into the Meeting Tent!!!!!

Then they came out and blessed the people, and the LORD”S glory came to all the people.

Fire came out from the LORD and burned up the burnt offering and fat on the altar.

When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and bowed facedown on the ground.

[vs. 23-24]

____________________________

WOW! WOW!  I’m thinking that nobody ever forgot THAT day!  What a memorable experience of the presence of God!

____________________________

I wish I could end this differently, but I have to admit that I don’t experience the presence of God very often anymore. 

One of the most disappointing things for me when I attend worship is when we are asked to sing songs that we don’t know!  Singing is one of the most engaging ways for me to enter into the vibrant worship of my God!  I’ve noticed that more hands are raised – in praise to God - while singing, than at any other time during worship.  What does that tell us? 

When I can’t sing [because I don’t know the song], I am deprived of the opportunity to worship!  Needless to say, this frustrates me!

In New Middletown, we introduced new music through offertories, special songs, and pre-service recordings for weeks before we ever asked the people to sing it in worship!  And we never introduced more than one new song at a time!  This allowed the congregation opportunity to be familiar with the song before being asked to sing it.

With music being so crucial to the effectiveness of worship, there is no room for ‘performers’ to ‘show off’ their skill and ability!  Worship teams can be very effective in facilitating meaningful worship, IF THEY MAINTAIN A HUMBLE SPIRIT AND SERVANT ATTITUDE! 

Worship is about PARTICIPATION not PERFORMANCE! 

_______________________________

There’s SO MUCH MORE THAT I COULD SAY HERE, but I must limit myelf to keep this from becoming a book!

Another important factor to helping people to experience the presence of God is by allowing them an opportunity to respond!

My ‘growing-up-church’ encouraged altar prayer!  Everyone knew that you could go to pray at the altar at any time during worship.  If you did go to the altar to pray, there was a high likelihood that someone would come and offer to pray with you.

ALSO – after the message, there was almost always an opportunity given to respond to what we just heard!  Typically, this response was signaled by a raised hand [with all eyes closed and no one looking around], or by coming forward to kneel [or stand] at the altar [where someone – perhaps even the pastor would come and pray with you]. 

It’s easy to notice that many churches are being built today with NO ALTAR!  What does that scream?

Why bother preaching if there’s no call to change?  In so many churches that I’ve attended, the sermon is delivered and then the offering is taken.  WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT COMMUNICATE?  Common sense seems to have gone out the window! 

I hope you realize that there are so many other things we could discuss regarding experiencing GOD in worship:

·         The order for worship: three songs, announcements, prayer, the message, another song and the benediction!  Where is the creativity that is so marvelously illustrated in creation by our AWESOME GOD?

·         Lay participation: In some churches the pastor does just about everything – except for the music.  What about the gifts, passions and ability of our people?  Don’t they have something to offer to the leadership of worship? 

·         Efficient technology: How many times have you been unable to sing in worship because the words aren’t on the screen when you need them?  Make no mistake about it – anger and frustration are the response to this problem!

·         A message that is well-prepared and engaging: This is NOT a Bible study time.  It is a planned, prayed-over, carefully and creatively constructed message designed to educate and challenge people to follow Jesus more faithfully!  Being boring is unacceptable!

This is obviously a topic that I am passionate about. There is so much more that could be said. 

BOTTOM LINE:

People need to experience the presence of God regularly!  Churches and pastors need to prepare with great focus and effort to make the worship experience something that meets people at their points of greatest need! 

Bring your hurts
needs
questions
problems
anxieties
brokenness
frustrations
anger
disappointments
sorrow
grief
pain…

This place is not about a dynamic pastor
an amazing facility
a talented worship leader
an awesome worship team
a gifted speaker

This place is for meeting and experiencing a loving God!  He cares about YOU and wants to walk with you through this life and into the next!

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD - 4

In February, 1997, the hand of God moved us to Akron, Ohio.  We had passed through deep waters as a family and had completely disrupted our lives for four months by essentially becoming homeless by choice.  I had left my appointment to the Spencerville, Maryland Free Methodist Church mid-year due to a family crisis.  After months of struggle, financial distress and utter dependence on God, we landed a job in Akron that provided a home and an income. 

We knew upon our arrival that we would attend the Akron Cornerstone Church, where seminary acquaintances of ours were the pastors: Charlie and Brenda Young. 

From the very first Sunday, Debbie and I, Troy and Tracie were wonderfully received.  Being in this new environment – where few knew me – catalyzed me to change my name from Harold to Hal.  😊  Within weeks, Brenda invited me to join the Cornerstone staff as a part-time associate.  Within a few months, she lost another pastor, and I became the Lead Associate Pastor of the church. 

This was the beginning of nearly six years of engagement that would challenge and grow me in ways I could never have imagined! 

Cornerstone had been led for years by Pastor Charlie [and Brenda].  It had become a healthy church that had built a new sanctuary and a strong, congregation of new believers.  Pastor Charlie had also planted another church during his tenure near Dalton, Ohio!  His passion was recognized and he was elected to be the Ohio Conference Superintendent.  Brenda became the new Lead Pastor at Cornerstone.

The already healthy and growing church nearly doubled in size in the next two years.  Brenda built aggressively on the foundation that she and Charlie had established through many years of persistent and excellent leadership! 

The Haire family arrived in the midst of this growth to see a vibrant church of four hundred with a busy schedule and a staff of part-time leaders. 

LET ME TRY TO DESCRIBE CORNERSTONE CHURCH AT THAT TIME

It was a vibrant church that was packing two services every Sunday morning.  Brenda referred to the congregation as having a mall make-up.  It was as though you went to the local mall and just randomly selected four hundred people and put them together in a church!  There was no common social definer. 

Brenda’s teaching/preaching style was a big key to the growth!  Her profoundly understandable manner of presenting the Word in practical terms simply drew people! 

The worship of the church was dynamic!  For one thing, having a worship center packed with people every Sunday does a lot to generate excitement!  The worship team was amazing!  The raw talent and fresh love for Jesus was evident in this group!  The mood of worship was praise and joy!  A prayer time was always observed when people would come forward and kneel around the altar four-and-five people deep!  It represented a passionate outcry to God and an utter expectation that He would draw near and help! 

[For a vivid picture of Cornerstone at that time, read my blog describing our family’s first visit to the church:  https://hal-lelujah.blogspot.com/2020/04/first-sunday.html]

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING CHURCH THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE!

During my time of service with Brenda, we saw new converts every week!  The church’s outreach was largely based on several ‘feeders’:

1.       Brenda and I each did counseling.  Our intervention in failing marriages was significant! 

2.       The church operated Cornerstone Care, an in-house counseling center that was staffed by several counselors who were an integral part of our congregation.

3.       Jesus Said Ministry was a lay-led outreach to the homeless in downtown Akron every Saturday morning that provided – in an outdoor setting – hot food, free clothing, and vibrant, live worship!  The crowd often numbered around 150.  Many volunteers from various churches participated!

4.       The church offered a free meal every week in our fellowship hall to anyone who needed it!

5.       We operated a Sunday evening program called ‘Champion’s Institute’ that offered classes to help new believers grow in their new-found faith! 

6.       Cornerstone offered several crowd-gathering events each year on the property to gain an influence in people’s lives!

·         An annual outdoor music festival with food booths.

·         An Easter-Egg Hunt that drew hundreds of children and families!

·         A Trunk-n-Treat event over Halloween weekend that engaged the children creatively and generously!

·         A mid-summer cook-out that featured meat grilled by a couple of well-known Akron police officers! 

·         An outdoor Christmas Light-Up event that featured a famous Nativity set that had previously been featured on the roof of a downtown department store.

7.       Cornerstone offered an ongoing NA group, Divorce-Care group, prayer groups, Grief Share group, and a number of other specific opportunities for growth and self-improvement!

Forgive me for failing to mention so many other outreaches and programs that I simply am failing to recall! 

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD!!!!!!

Experiencing God’s presence was the norm at this amazing church!  It’s the only church I know of where 75% of the congregants were first-time believers!  Expectations were high! 

First-time attenders frequently reported that they couldn’t stop crying during worship.  We explained to them that they were experiencing the presence of God!!!!! 

Things got rowdy!  😂

This congregation had NOT been steeped in the traditions of the church!  They didn’t know ‘how to behave during worship’.  😆   Baptisms were greeted with vigorous applause, hoots, clapping and cheers!  People danced in the aisles on occasions to the thrill of the upbeat praise music!  When the doors were opened to the worship center, people ran to get the best seats and save them for others! 

Eventually, the church grew to over seven hundred!  We acknowledged that no one knew everyone anymore – not even Brenda! 

God showed up every Sunday and at every special event!  His presence blessed, healed, renewed, challenged and rescued hundreds of souls! 

There’s so much more that could be said and I feel that I’ve failed to truly and effectively describe this remarkable movement of God.  I know that my family was honored to be a part of this ministry.  When we left Akron, our son, Troy, stayed and became part of the young adult leadership who were beginning to take the church in new directions.  This engagement helped to ground him during critical years of his development!

I haven’t attended Cornerstone Church for a long time!  It is currently under the leadership of Jacob Young – Charlie and Brenda’s youngest son.  Their daughter, Rachel, is also a worship leader and major contributor to the ministry.  I’m confident that the passion is still high and the influence is still great.  When my current responsibilities at The Foundery FMC in Wellsburg, WV end, I hope to visit Cornerstone to reconnect with old friends and make new ones! 

GET UNDER THEIR UMBRELLA

There's a relatively minor incident recorded in Genesis 26 that needs to be unpacked.  

Isaac was living among the Philistines and had led them to believe that Rebekah was his sister (a blatant lie designed to protect him).  During his time here, God was prospering Isaac.  

But one day Abimelech [a Philistine term that equates with the Egyptian term 'Pharaoh'] saw him being affectionate with Rebekah and figured out that they were married.  He was not happy with Isaac.  

What is this you have done to us?  One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.  [v.10]

Abimelech gave orders:

Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.  [v.11]

So Isaac and Rebekah remained in the land in safety with the respect of all the people.  And God prospered them significantly!  That same year, they reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.  [v.12]

Eventually, Isaac became so wealthy that he made himself a threat to the Philistines.  He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.  [v.14]

As a result, Abimelech said to him, Move away from us;  you have become too powerful for us.  [v.16]

Isaac moved to the Valley of Gerar - where his father, Abraham had previously lived - and settled there.

During this time, God renewed His covenant with Isaac - the same covenant He had made with Abraham:  I am with you;  I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants...  [v.24]

Meanwhile, one day Abimelech showed up along with his personal advisor and the commander of his forces.  He spoke to Isaac:  

We saw clearly that the LORD was with you;  so we said, 'There ought to be a sworn agreement between us - between us and you.  Let us make a treaty with you that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace.  And now you are blessed by the LORD.'  [vs.28-29]

 After a feast, they made their agreement:  Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.  [v.31]

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I believe this incidental story sends a message:  If and when you find someone who is experiencing the blessing of God - get under their umbrella!

Isaac was clearly experiencing the blessing of God!  Abimelech was enough of a man of faith to recognize that what was happening to Isaac was supernatural.  Abimelech was smart enough to figure it out and act accordingly.  His thinking was:  "I don't want this man as an enemy!  God is clearly favoring him!  I want this man as a friend!"  Then he made a long journey and sought out a treaty to insure that they were in a good relationship.  He realized that he had potentially offended Isaac by asking him to leave.  Smart leader - good-thinking man.

We see illustrations of this principle throughout the scriptures:

• Joshua aligned himself with Moses and learned from him!
• Jonathan saw God's blessing on David and entered into a covenant friendship with David as a result!
• Elisha recognized the Spirit of God at work in Elijah and decided to follow him and eventually to succeed him as a prophet of God.
• Twelve men (and a small group of women) saw something divine in Jesus and gave up everything to be with Him.  
• A long list of men (and some women) noticed the deep commitment of the Apostle Paul and how God was with him and consequently travelled with him.

While I attended seminary at Asbury Theological, I felt like I was walking among spiritual giants.  I spent as much time as I could with leaders like:  Dr. Don Demaray, Dr. Don Joy, Pastor Clyde Van Valin, Dr. Gilbert James and many others.  I watched them.  I learned from them.  I imitated them.  I soaked up some of the blessing that was so evident in their lives.  

Later in life, God moved me to Akron, Ohio, where I aligned myself with Pastor Brenda Young for nearly six years.  I watched her.  I listened carefully to everything she said.  I followed her lead and example.  And I grew as a result!  I stayed under her umbrella until she and God nudged me out into new territory.  :-)

It's a solid principle!  When God brings you into the purview of someone He is blessing - STAY THERE UNTIL HE MOVES YOU ON!

Watch!  Listen!  Submit!  Learn!  Soak in the blessing that has settled on this person!  Let God grow you through their influence and experience.  

VERY IMPORTANT!  Don't worship them!  Worship the God who is blessing them!  God has a plan for your life and He's brought you to this person/place for a reason.  Don't resist or thwart His providential leadership!  Maximize your opportunity.  Stay soft in His hands and let Him work out His perfect will in your life!  FOR HIS GLORY!  AMEN!

FIRST SUNDAY

When the Haire family arrived in Akron in late February, 1997, we knew that we would probably attend the Cornerstone Church where Charlie Young had been pastor for many years.  He had since been elected Conference Superintendent and Brenda (his wife) was now the Lead Pastor.  The church had exploded with growth from 200 to 400.  So, upon arriving in Cuyahoga Falls, I called for time and directions.

Sunday morning, we arrived early and waited at the side of the foyer.  The first service was already meeting.  The longer we waited, the more people arrived.  Finally, it started to become uncomfortably crowded.  Now, we were being pressed into the corner where the entrance to the office suite was located.  Troy (17 at the time), being a head taller than most, leaned down and said, “Dad, I think I’m gonna like this church!  There are some gorgeous girls here!”  😉  Finally, the foyer was packed.  I wondered how the people would get out of the service!  Then, Dave Potter, an usher, opened the sanctuary doors and the people started flooding out!  It was one of the most amazing moments of my life!  Everyone in the foyer made a hole and the crowd passed through – high-fiving us and telling us what to expect when we got into the sanctuary!  The excitement was higher than what you’d find at an NFL football game!  People were pumped!  We couldn’t wait to get into the sanctuary.  People literally ran to get good seats and save them for their friends and family!  I had never seen a church like this before!  Things couldn’t start soon enough for us!  Every seat was filled!  

David Haydu and the worship team came out and he started leading us in worship.  I had never heard these songs.  Here’s one that I remember:

[Verse 1]

Down the mountain, the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes
Through the valleys and over the fields
The river is rushing and the river is here

[Chorus]
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter
And we rejoice for the river is here

[Verse 2]
The river of God is teeming with life
And all who touch it can be revived
And those who linger on this river's shore
Will come back thirsting for more of the Lord

[Verse 3]
Up to the mountain, we love to go
To find the presence of the Lord
Along the banks of the river, we run
We dance with laughter giving praise to the Son

I'll never forget it!  I later learned that seventy-five percent of this congregation were first-time believers!  They didn't know the rules!  They were dancing in the aisles!!!!!  This music made you want to dance!  Did you know that the Aramaic word for 'dance' and 'rejoice' is the same word?  There probably ought to be a lot more "rejoicing" in most of our churches...

Everything was WONDERFUL and the excitement was off the charts!  Then, came the prayer time and people seemed to rush the altar.  Others came and crowded around them to pray WITH them!  There was weeping and genuine sincerity!  It was hard to take in!  And finally came Pastor Brenda and her message and we were mesmerized!  What an incredible teacher!  Her passion shines through and she points you to Jesus!  The worship team came back with an invitation.  And finally, we sang the ‘river song’ again and were dismissed!  IT WAS AMAZING!  We knew we’d found our church!  

We talked briefly with Pastor Brenda after worship.  They were saying 'good-bye' to an associate pastor that very Sunday.  She asked if I was available and so we quickly told her about our new job.  I told her I would ask our new employer.  Shelter Care gave me permission to work part-time, so Brenda hired me.  By June, another Associate Pastor left and she asked me to become the Lead Associate!  I was honored and privileged to be part of this amazing movement of God for nearly six years!  When I left, it was a growing church of over 700!!!!! with three services every Sunday morning!  I learned so much and was so impacted by so many including Charlie Young, Brenda Young, Jim Stetler, and a group of staff members who were deeply committed and sacrificial!  They were highlight years of my forty three years in ministry!  God was SO GOOD!

Oh, hey, by the way, Cornerstone Church is still there and still giving out great ministry!  Along with many of you, I'm now worshipping online as a result of the Co-Vid 19 virus.  I now "go to church" about three different places every Sunday morning.  One of my stops is always Cornerstone.  It's cutting edge, vibrant, relevant and won't let you change channels!  😁  If you'd like to join them, they worship at 9 AM, 11 AM, 5PM & 7 PM - you can find them here: https://www.cornerstonechurch.info/

BLESSINGS ON CORNERSTONE

Our family showed up at Cornerstone Church in March, 1996.  We arrived after a spiraling period of confusion and chaos.  After leading a church in Spencerville, MD for two-and-a-half years, I resigned because of a family crisis.  We packed all our belongings up in the two-car garage (with the church's permission) and headed for the Whippo family farm in western Pennsylvania.

After a month with Debbie's parents, we moved to an apartment in an empty building in Chester, WV (rent-free, courtesy of a special friend).  I spent the next several months looking for any kind of a job that would produce income.  Finally, Debbie and I interviewed with the Shelter Care social serving agency in Akron, OH.  Short story:  we were hired and began work about two weeks later.

At first, we lived in Cuyahoga Falls.  On Sunday, we knew we'd attend the Cornerstone Church;  we had attended seminary at the same time as Charlie and Brenda Young.  We'd heard of the stability, vision and growth of this congregation and were excited to be a part of their ministry. 

I called ahead to get the times for worship.  We arrived early:  me, Debbie, Troy (15) and Tracie (14).  We stood in the foyer waiting for the first service to end.  As the service time grew closer, the foyer began to fill!  Eventually, we were pushed over to the entrance to the office suite.  More and more people crowded into this limited space.  We could hear the worship team leading the congregation in the closing song.  Excitement was building!  By now the room was so packed with people, I wondered how anyone would get out of the service.  

Suddenly, the ushers (I remember that Dave Potter was one of them) pushed the doors open and people started streaming for the front doors!  Amazingly, the crowd parted as they passed through.  People were high-fiving us as they left the building, giving hints of what we should expect!  At one point Troy (over 6' tall) leaned over to me and told me, "Dad, I think I'm going to like this church!"  We were all feeling the excitement;  I asked him why?  His response was golden:  "There're a lot of good-looking girls that attend here!"  :-)

Gradually, we were able to squeeze through the crowd and enter the sanctuary.  People were literally running to get seats!  Dave Haydu was the worship leader at the time;  he did a great job!  The music was new to us and invigorating spiritually.  Brenda Young's message was on-target!  We knew we had found our new church.

That very day, the congregation was saying farewell to an associate pastor.  As a result, Brenda fairly quickly asked if I was allowed (by Shelter Care) to hold another position.  In a matter of weeks, I started as a part-time associate.  In June, her other associate left to attend seminary.  I stepped into the full-time role of Lead Associate and stayed for nearly six years.

Being free of the lead role, I was able to work in areas of strength and develop relationships.  I trained several Men's Ministry Teams while there.  I did a lot of oversight of the nearly twelve members of the staff (many were part time).  I picked up the nickname of the guy who wore many hats.

Our lives were on full-throttle during these years.  The Cornerstone family accepted us completely.  They also enfolded the many children and youth that we brought from our shelter home!  We felt so blessed to be part of this phenomenal work of God.  Cornerstone is the only church I've ever known where seventy-five percent of the congregation are first-generation believers!  It may sound like an exaggeration to say that we saw commitments to Christ EVERY WEEK - but it's the truth!

Jim Stetler became a role model and dear friend during these years.  He's one of the most amazing evangelists and disciplers that I have personally known.  He was tenacious!  I admire him deeply!

Working with Brenda was a highlight of my career!  I learned so much from watching her and sitting under her ministry!  She is an exceptional leader who invests deeply and places great demands on her staff!  I will be fore ver grateful for the investment she made in my life and ministry!

Our time in Akron was fraught with ongoing family dilemmas and stresses.  Our Cornerstone family coddled us and our kids and our shelter kids.  The prayers of God's people saw us through a seven-year process of recovery.  And praise the Lord, Troy remained in Akron and at Cornerstone even when we moved on to New Middletown.  He became established in his faith and began to participate as a leader in the young adult ministry!  Thanks be to God.

It was when we arrived at Cornerstone that I decided to change my name.  On our first Sunday, I asked Brenda if she would help me do that.  I had always disliked the name Harold, so, with her help everyone in Akron began to know me as Hal.  :-)  [It's short for Hallelujah!]

There are SO MANY stories that could be told.  In the late fall of the same year we arrived, I stepped in temporarily as worship leader.  The connection with the people was so strong that I continued that role until we left in the summer of 2003.  The church grew to three services during that season and we were thrilled to be a small part of it!

We were led into ministries that we would never have dreamed of.  Debbie came to lead a Bible study for a group of women who were trying to break away from destructive life patterns.  She remembers mentioning Moses in the first study meeting;  these women said they'd heard his name, but wanted to know who he really was.  We were called to some of these homes for crisis interventions at all hours of the day (or night).  They became our newest friends!  God was so gracious and kind to work in us and through us during these years!

Gradually, my role emerged to be more of counseling than anything else.  Brenda also counsels.  We also had a counseling center in the church staffed by members of the congregation:  Cornerstone Care!  We were constantly reaching people who were caught in the perils of life and were looking for a lifeline!

Discerning and training leaders was a major part of our role!  No one does that better than Brenda Young!  She taught me to hold the crown over people's heads and let them grow into it!  [Those who know Brenda have heard those words before...]

I feel the pain of the current congregation as they leave a building that has many memories.  However, I am fully confident that He who began a good work in you, WILL COMPLETE IT until the day of Jesus Christ!  Keep the ministry strong, Cornerstone people!  Keep loving and caring for those who need it!  Keep snatching them from the fire!  God isn't finished with you YET!!!!!  Trust Him to cover the details!

Much love and frequent prayers from Pastor Hal!!!!!!!!!