MOON, Pennsylvania (BRN) – The Baptist Resource Network congratulates Anthony (Tony) Durnell on his new role as senior pastor of West Hills Baptist Church in Moon, Pennsylvania.
Since 2017, Durnell has served at the church, first as a deacon and then as a youth pastor before stepping into the post vacated by retiring Pastor Larry Walker on January 1, 2021.
He earned an associate degree in criminal justice, which he obtained while in the military. He also holds a bachelor of science degree in theology and biblical studies from Liberty University and is now in his final year of work for his master of divinity degree, also from Liberty.
Durnell says he always remembers being involved in church, as his father, a school teacher, served as an elder at a Christian Missionary Alliance Church.
“If they were washing the windows, we filled the pews and watched them wash the windows!” he quipped. “We were just always in church.”
He saw the godly example of his father leading his family through church, so he followed by serving in the church, too, even while serving in the military.
He shares how he got a little stuck at the E-6 military rank, so he pursued his baccalaureate degree to advance more quickly. Soon, God put chaplaincy on his heart. Now he serves as second lieutenant as a chaplain in the United States Army Reserves, endorsed by the Liberty Baptist Fellowship.
In the military, after a tour in Iraq, Durnell was a ground combat instructor, where he learned he had a knack for teaching, something that carried over into his ministry teaching youth at West Hills.
All the while there, Pastor Walker mentored Durnell, who is now 36, giving him the tools to succeed.
“He just offered constant encouragement, for which I was so grateful,” Durnell said, noting that Walker was very gracious. “It bore a lot of fruit in [the church’s] teens.”
He also credits his graduate work, which focuses on apologetics, something that he thinks is necessary in today’s post-Christian world. Previously, the presence of God was just assumed, he explained, but now we have to argue for the presence of God. He says he fields a lot of questions from youth about the existence of God and about the authority of God’s Word.
Before he left, Walker oversaw a smooth transition to Durnell, a time which allowed the congregation to accept their new pastor. Walker had been their pastor for 20 years, and before handing over the reigns, he helped the church members to process the changes.
“Naturally, people fear change a little bit, but we had time to process this. And we had time to honor his service—his very godly service” and just “change hands naturally. It was good,” he said.
“God has just given me such a love for these people,” he said, pointing to the about 60-70 people who show up on Sunday mornings. But he also has a heart for the local community near the Pittsburgh Airport where West Hills Baptist Church is located.
The community recently has had an influx of young families moving in, he explained. The population is mainly Catholic in background, so church members are trying to connect through service.
“If Jesus can wash the feet of his disciples, then we can serve our Catholic neighbors,” he said. “Just live the gospel first, and then after that, use words, if necessary.”
The church is shifting around some priorities so they can meet their neighbors right where they are at, he added, hoping the revitalized presence in the community will help them convey that the church loves them and more importantly, that God loves them, too.
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has added some complications to the process, but they are pressing on with the “ministry of presence,” he said.
How to pray for the Durnells:
Durnell and his wife, Kristen, have been married 16 years. They have three children, Jonah, 15; Cadence, 13; and Evie, 6.
Please pray that they would be faithful and available as they minister and process changes with the older congregation. Using the analogy of a sports car, he said, if you take your time and stay in your lane, it will be an enjoyable ride and you will see God’s blessing. But if you put your foot to the floor and start weaving in and out of traffic, you will run into problems. He knows he naturally wants to put his foot to the floor but he knows the slow lane is biblical and profitable.
Want to encourage the Durnells? Contact them through their church website, www.westhillsbaptist.com, or email Tony at tdurnell17@gmail.com.
