COATESVILLE, Pa. — Send Philadelphia Church Planter Josh Crans of Providence Church in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, joined with two other churches to celebrate and serve during this Christmas season.
On Christmas Eve Providence Church along with Gateway Church and Coatesville Bible Fellowship decided to worship together. The leaders rented out the Coatesville High School auditorium and held three services: 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
The theme for the evening was “Come and See.” Leading up to the Christmas Eve service, the three pastors exchanged pulpits and preached in separate churches that Sunday leading up to the Christmas Eve service.
On Christmas Eve, Dwayne Walton, a Providence Church pastor, preached all three services and the Providence Church children’s ministry director Nora shared the Christmas with the children in attendance.
Around 2,000 individuals attended the Christmas Eve service and heard the Gospel! In addition, these churches partnered to meet some real needs:
1. 750 Care Packages (toiletries, socks, etc.) were distributed to families in need.
2. These churches partnered with RIP Medical Debt, an organization that matches 100% of what is donated towards paying off medical debt for people living below the poverty line. In Chester (in Montgomery and Delaware Counties), there is $1.9 million in medical debt. The churches’ goal was to raise $19,000. They ended up raising $35,000! This money will go to pay off debt in three more counties in Pennsylvania. Praise God!!!
This speaks to the power of partnership. Grateful for the vision to reach folks on the margins struggling with overwhelming debt and hopelessness. God was glorified and needs were met.
Josh Crans is pastor of Providence Church, Coatesville. Kyle Canty is Send City Missionary/Church Plant Catalyst in Philadelphia for the North American Mission Board.
