westvalley
The prayed for epicenter of a kingdom earthquake (or righteousness-mercy rainstorm) for West Valley Presbyterian Church is the west suburban edge of Allentown, Pennsylvania. The west side of the Lehigh Valley is inhabited by approx. 50,000 people (Emmaus, Macungie and Lower Macungie). Lower Macungie was the fastest growing municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2005-06. As is often the case, the church usually grabs onto the tail end of demographic/cultural change, thereby never catching up to the gospel-need. The exponential West Valley growth is no exception to the trend, leaving a dismal church-to-person ratio.
What makes our target demographic unique is that the West Valley has experienced a beautiful collision of new and old. From "lifers" to NJ transplants, from the arts community in Emmaus to the bedroom community atmosphere of Lower Macungie - we long for a church plant that will bridge the divisions created by the heart of man and honor the diversity of our Creator. (painting "City Rain" by Mary Buckley, used with permission)
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. - Luke 10:2
Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven. - C. Peter Wagner
demographic data:
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Lower Macungie, Pennsylvania
west valley pca
West Valley Presbyterian Church began under the vision of Cornerstone PCA, our mother church 15 minutes away. After a Spring and Summer of planning, on Sunday, 7th September 2008, Cornerstone prayerfully commissioned 30+ adults (and their 40 children) to launch out as a mission church. We are grateful to God for the leadership and sacrificial "put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is" support of Cornerstone. May God continue to bless his church as she equips and releases people to incarnate Christ wherever we live, work and play!
provisional session of elders
West Valley Presbyterian Church is a mission church in the Presbyterian Church in America. As such, it is governed by a provisional (temporary) session of elders from Eastern Pennsylvania Presbytery who jointly shepherd the congregation alongside the churchplanter/pastor. Churches in the PCA are led by a plurality of ruling/lay elders and teaching/pastor elders. (The Greek word for "elder" is presbyteros.) At present there are 4 provisional session elders, who, in addition to their own respective church eldership, are serving Christ by loving West Valley PCA.
TE Jerry Fourroux - New Life Dresher PCA (www.newlifedresher.org)
TE Bob Lacock - Providence PCA (www.providence-pca.org)
RE Bill Parr - New Life Dresher PCA (www.newlifedresher.org)
RE Steve Smith - Lansdale PCA (www.lansdalepca.org)
jim powell, pastor
Jim and Kori were called to the Lehigh Valley in 2006 by Cornerstone PCA to serve as a two-year "Church Planting Apprentice" - after which the vision was to plant a daughter church. By God's grace, WestValley was launched in September 2008. Jim and Kori have four children - Lina (02), Meggie (04), Nate (06) and Oria (2010).
