|
From the Fall 2011 issue of RCA Today, the magazine of the Reformed Church in America.
Turn-Around Church Raises Up Leaders
"On Sunday, July 1, 2007, the front doors at the Reformed Church of Prince Bay were thrown open, symbolizing a new identity for a once-dying congregation," says Jarene Pagliarulo. "In obedience to God's call, we were committed to becoming the Church that Never Closes, and our sanctuary is open for prayer 24 hours a day." Pagliarulo's husband, Adolf, is the pastor at Reformed Church of Prince Bay.
At that point, the church had only about 10 members. But the focus on prayer has brought new life to the church as the congregation has connected with people who come to pray. The church has also started new social service and outreach programs.
Another symptom of new life at the church? It is raising up leaders for ministry. Since 2007, the church has seen five people from its small congregation attend seminary.
At the same time that the church was resolving to keep its sanctuary open for round-the-clock prayer, a seminary student was drawn to the church. "Peter Sanfilippo was attending New Brunswick Theological Seminary and immediately decided to become involved at our church after transferring from another church on Staten Island," Pagliarulo says. Sanfilippo graduated in May and is currently a candidate for ministry. He now attends a church in New Jersey.
In 2008, the consistory created a fund to provide financial assistance for church members who are attending seminary. The F. Scott Petersen fund is named for a minister who grew up in the church. "Scott attended the Reformed Church of Prince Bay as a child and graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 1991," Pagliarulo says. "He served in several churches in New York and New Jersey before his untimely death from leukemia.
"He was the first and only seminarian from our church in over a century, so it is amazing that we have had five more in the past four years. I believe it is clearly God's work."
John C.K. Chen and Alex Mak started seminary next. Both had come to the Church that Never Closes in a group of a dozen people who had transferred from Grace Christian Church (RCA), also on Staten Island, after the Church that Never Closes opened itself for prayer.
Chen and Mak are both second career seminarians and are balancing their coursework with the demands of their jobs and families.
Seminarians Frank Gravagna and Jodi Kenny are also part-time students. "Frank teaches in a New Jersey state residential facility for troubled youngsters, while Jodi manages a not-for-profit thrift shop," Pagliarulo says.
The four current seminarians are actively involved at the Church that Never Closes. "John is an elder and our elder delegate to the Classis of New York, and Alex leads congregational singing," Pagliarulo says. "Frank is a lector and Jodi leads children's worship services and does a weekly shift as a 'servant of the Lord,' the term we use for church members who staff the building so that when people from the community come in they can be greeted by someone who will offer to pray, listen, or provide more information about the church."
The Church that Never Closes anticipates holding a special service in March 2012 honoring the memory of F. Scott Petersen, with an offering benefiting the scholarship fund. Gregg Mast, president of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, will speak, as will Deborah Petersen, Scott's widow. Similar services were held the past two years.
"These services help to spread the word about the scholarship fund," Pagliarulo says. "We also keep brochures in our sanctuary and distribute them in welcome packets. It is particularly gratifying when we receive contributions from retired pastors, who see this as a way to support those who are following in their footsteps."
| 
