Our building Story
Our story is not typical. We did not attend seminary. As pastors, we have grown through obedience to the Holy Spirit, experience, and strong relationships within the Body of Christ. Transparency is very important to us, so we've learned to leverage our weaknesses in a way that takes the focus off us and puts it on the Lord. Only He could craft the miracle that is our story.
Before my husband and I were even married (in the late 90's lol!!!) it was prayed over us that we would be in full time ministry. At the time, we both worked full time in a secular capacity. For the first 15 years of marriage we poured into the vision of someone else's ministry, raised our children, and grew in character. All the while, we had suppressed an urge to be in full time ministry. In 2012, we both felt that God was bringing that desire to fruition. Eventually, in spite of many obstacles, we stepped out in faith, making the decision to leave what was comfortable in a church we were committed to, to start a Bible Study in our home.
One of the Father's in the Faith who helped us start the ministry, encouraged us that our faith would be "dead" if we didn't back it up with actual steps. By faith, our Bible study grew and turned into a Sunday morning gathering in a barn on our property. However, it became obvious after a few years that we needed to move off our personal property so in 2015, we moved from our home to the local YWCA. Though we were appreciative of both the barn and the YWCA we were longing for a permanent home for our fledgling congregation.
While we were meeting in the YWCA we learned of a struggling church who had a 22,000 square foot building for sale. Without any resources to purchase the building we met with their Board of Directors in obedience to what God was speaking to us. In a relatively short time, this Board of Directors made the generous, compassionate, and miraculous decision to DONATE their building to our congregation free of charge. This was a complete game changer! So we fought the urge to think small (even though we were small) and we took another leap!
In the years we've been in the building, resources have always showed up when we've needed them. We've replaced and remodeled most systems in the building. Generous donations have come in to help with missions and feed thousands of people locally. We've ministered to local students at Lycoming College, people struggling with mental health in the area, and those who have experienced practical needs in the community. We've facilitated dozens of community outreach projects. We've been able to do this all this without incurring any debt. God has been faithful to us and we are excited for the future!!!
Before my husband and I were even married (in the late 90's lol!!!) it was prayed over us that we would be in full time ministry. At the time, we both worked full time in a secular capacity. For the first 15 years of marriage we poured into the vision of someone else's ministry, raised our children, and grew in character. All the while, we had suppressed an urge to be in full time ministry. In 2012, we both felt that God was bringing that desire to fruition. Eventually, in spite of many obstacles, we stepped out in faith, making the decision to leave what was comfortable in a church we were committed to, to start a Bible Study in our home.
One of the Father's in the Faith who helped us start the ministry, encouraged us that our faith would be "dead" if we didn't back it up with actual steps. By faith, our Bible study grew and turned into a Sunday morning gathering in a barn on our property. However, it became obvious after a few years that we needed to move off our personal property so in 2015, we moved from our home to the local YWCA. Though we were appreciative of both the barn and the YWCA we were longing for a permanent home for our fledgling congregation.
While we were meeting in the YWCA we learned of a struggling church who had a 22,000 square foot building for sale. Without any resources to purchase the building we met with their Board of Directors in obedience to what God was speaking to us. In a relatively short time, this Board of Directors made the generous, compassionate, and miraculous decision to DONATE their building to our congregation free of charge. This was a complete game changer! So we fought the urge to think small (even though we were small) and we took another leap!
In the years we've been in the building, resources have always showed up when we've needed them. We've replaced and remodeled most systems in the building. Generous donations have come in to help with missions and feed thousands of people locally. We've ministered to local students at Lycoming College, people struggling with mental health in the area, and those who have experienced practical needs in the community. We've facilitated dozens of community outreach projects. We've been able to do this all this without incurring any debt. God has been faithful to us and we are excited for the future!!!
our name
The Well Church name came from the story about the Samaritan woman in John 4. In the story Jesus is leaving Judea to go to Galilee. On the way He "needed" to go through Samaria. Samaritans were known for a religion that mixed both idolatry and Judaism. They were considered "half-breeds" and they were generally hated by the Jews. One might find it odd that Jesus went out of his way to go there, especially midday when the sun was the hottest. Upon entry to the city, Jesus went to Jacob's well. He was obviously thirsty and weary from the journey. It's at this junction that one of the first acts of evangelism of the Christian church is consummated.
Here at The Well, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman. The story alludes to three different reasons why this woman is extremely disadvantaged. She is a woman. In that culture, woman were viewed more as property than person. A man would not have been found dead conversing with her in a public setting. As the story progresses, she also confesses that she is guilty of sexual immorality. And finally as we stated before, she was a Samaritan. She is despised. She has all the labels available for a woman of such repute. She isn't even named, but her story is memorialized for eternity as a testament of the precious living water that is available to all who have a chance encounter with the Lord. God uses her to evangelize her entire city!
When she meets Jesus, He captures her attention by the mere fact that he would treat her with dignity and have a conversation with her. He asks her for water, but by the end of the story, she is the one who goes away refreshed. Jesus proclaims that whoever drinks of His living water will "never thirst." He prophesies that there is a time coming when true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth. The woman's heart is so full that she shares her story with the men of her city. They come to hear and believe.
We believe we are a church called to "Samaritans." We feel a particular call to those who have been marginalized because of race, gender, age, etc., those who are free thinkers and those who are called to leadership but may be a little rough around the edges. Jesus broke all the rules to pursue the call on this woman. We feel led to do the same for our generation.
Here at The Well, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman. The story alludes to three different reasons why this woman is extremely disadvantaged. She is a woman. In that culture, woman were viewed more as property than person. A man would not have been found dead conversing with her in a public setting. As the story progresses, she also confesses that she is guilty of sexual immorality. And finally as we stated before, she was a Samaritan. She is despised. She has all the labels available for a woman of such repute. She isn't even named, but her story is memorialized for eternity as a testament of the precious living water that is available to all who have a chance encounter with the Lord. God uses her to evangelize her entire city!
When she meets Jesus, He captures her attention by the mere fact that he would treat her with dignity and have a conversation with her. He asks her for water, but by the end of the story, she is the one who goes away refreshed. Jesus proclaims that whoever drinks of His living water will "never thirst." He prophesies that there is a time coming when true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth. The woman's heart is so full that she shares her story with the men of her city. They come to hear and believe.
We believe we are a church called to "Samaritans." We feel a particular call to those who have been marginalized because of race, gender, age, etc., those who are free thinkers and those who are called to leadership but may be a little rough around the edges. Jesus broke all the rules to pursue the call on this woman. We feel led to do the same for our generation.