READING, Pa., (BRN) – Through God’s grace, Anastasis Fellowship Church (AFC) is making a significant presence in the Greater Reading area. AFC’s pastor, Larry Baker, who has been prayer walking and exegeting the community since April, has gone house-to-house to over 1,000 neighbors so far. Many people were happy to answer the survey questions and many expressed a desire to learn about the church and about Jesus. Pastor Larry has been able to pray for many of the residents. AFC partnered with the local business, Rita’s Ice, two times by buying people ice cream when they came over to the AFC table to hear about the church and fill out a community survey. On both occasions, AFC members shared about Jesus. Even the owner of Rita’s was overtaken by tears while we were there!
During the second Rita’s outreach, a man whom Pastor Larry met while going house-to-house, brought his whole baseball team to Rita’s. It was a special field trip for the kids, who also took advantage of the mini golf next to Rita’s. At the end of that outreach, our church team gathered with one of the parents, who prayed over our team in Spanish. It was glorious! The church also has participated in several community Farmer’s Markets, held on the grounds of the Community Center. We have given away free refreshments to guests and offered spiritual conversations. It was a great way to connect with neighbors and to learn more about the community. In addition, the church shared backpacks and collected school supplies from neighbors in two communities and from the church and offered them to the Parent/Teacher League (PTL) of the local elementary school. These items were shared at the PTL table during the Farmers’ Markets and at the school. AFC also partnered with the Antietam Valley Community Partnership (AVCP) on Aug. 13 during their Family Fun/Movie Night. AFC creatively made a life-sized Pac-Man game for the kids and had conversations about Jesus and AFC with the parents while their children played the game. We praise God that Pastor Larry has now been invited to come to the AVCP meetings to help plan future events, which will include activities for an upcoming concert and other community efforts. AFC will partner with the PTL during their Fall Festival as well. We are so thankful for the BRN Evangelism Grants, which helped make this ministry possible!
