Save Our Ministry
Tax deductible
“We’re so sorry but we cannot help you this year.” This is what the First Baptist Church of Pottstown, PA will have to say to the many and varied community services it supports. Born in 1858 by a handful of believers, First Baptist has been serving the peoples of the greater Pottstown area, the United States and the world despite color, creed or sexual orientation since its humble beginnings.
Around 1910 a new beautiful stone edifice with a lovely bell tower was constructed at the site of a more primitive church. This beautiful church has become an Achilles heel during the last several months.
A few months ago a large stone fell from the its top and crashed through the steps of the main entrance. Fortunately no one was injured but the borough of Pottstown has ordered protective fencing blocking the street to passersby and cars at the cost of $3,000 per month. To remove the bell tower and replace it with a less challenging contour will cost approximately $250,000 and to do a complete restoration could cost over $1,000,000. This places our small congregation in a difficult position.
We simply cannot afford this on our own and would welcome any contributions you might be able to give. These would be ever so gratefully received. All contributions, whether large or small, would be tax deductible and your names would be commemorated on a special scroll to be hung in our church.
Just to put our mission as a church in perspective, we are citing our local mission work. We support Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos. Inc. (CCLU) , an afterschool group for Latinos in the area, which meets at our building after school each day; the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities ; Operation Backpack ; Ministry on Main Street and Narcotics Anonymous which meets at our church four times a week.
An explanation of these various groups will allow the reader to grasp how important these charities are to our small congregation. CCLU allows Latino young people to embrace their various heritages and to gather with friends who understand their way of life. The Pottstown Cluster offers many and varied ways of giving from Souper Bowl Sunday (during 2016 the congregation donated 150 cans of soup for this operation), Easter baskets for the little ones, preparing a hot meal once each month for the less fortunate, infant formula in May, school supplies in September, the Crop Walk in October to fight World Hunger, and finally in December provide food for the Holiday Table and toys for the little ones. There are opportunities to give food, clothing and cleaning supplies throughout the year. We support Operation Backpack for youngsters in the community who would otherwise go hungry on weekends. Clothing and personal care items are collected for our local veterans’ homes. Ministreries on Main Street, another local project supported by First Baptist Church, helps the unfortunate homeless to find shelter during the cold winter months. Narcotics Anonymous needs no explanation. The NA organization enables “users” to be clean one day at a time.
On a national basis we support, through American Baptist Churches, the retired Ministers and Missionaries , America for Christ which aids churches in the US and Puerto Rico, One Great Hour of Sharing , used for emergency needs and development programs in the US and blankets, tools, tents and medical supplies for emergencies across the globe. There are also opportunities for giving to White Cross and Gifts of the Heart providing hygiene, school and baby gifts for the less fortunate across our great country.
Internationally we have been providing support to a missionary couple in the Congo of Africa since 2009. We also support God’s Precious Children which creates educational opportunities for the needy in Liberia.
We need YOUR help now to stay alive as the friendly church on the corner. Our membership is only about 60 giving units, and our budget just cannot tolerate the expenses of these past few months and in the near future.
We invite you to join FBC in the effort to continue these ministries. Won’t you please consider a gift of love to our church? We are sure you will feel God’s blessing as well as the gratefulness of our congregation. Through the love of Jesus, our Lord and Savior we leave our fate in your hands.
Around 1910 a new beautiful stone edifice with a lovely bell tower was constructed at the site of a more primitive church. This beautiful church has become an Achilles heel during the last several months.
A few months ago a large stone fell from the its top and crashed through the steps of the main entrance. Fortunately no one was injured but the borough of Pottstown has ordered protective fencing blocking the street to passersby and cars at the cost of $3,000 per month. To remove the bell tower and replace it with a less challenging contour will cost approximately $250,000 and to do a complete restoration could cost over $1,000,000. This places our small congregation in a difficult position.
We simply cannot afford this on our own and would welcome any contributions you might be able to give. These would be ever so gratefully received. All contributions, whether large or small, would be tax deductible and your names would be commemorated on a special scroll to be hung in our church.Just to put our mission as a church in perspective, we are citing our local mission work. We support Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos. Inc. (CCLU) , an afterschool group for Latinos in the area, which meets at our building after school each day; the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities ; Operation Backpack ; Ministry on Main Street and Narcotics Anonymous which meets at our church four times a week.
An explanation of these various groups will allow the reader to grasp how important these charities are to our small congregation. CCLU allows Latino young people to embrace their various heritages and to gather with friends who understand their way of life. The Pottstown Cluster offers many and varied ways of giving from Souper Bowl Sunday (during 2016 the congregation donated 150 cans of soup for this operation), Easter baskets for the little ones, preparing a hot meal once each month for the less fortunate, infant formula in May, school supplies in September, the Crop Walk in October to fight World Hunger, and finally in December provide food for the Holiday Table and toys for the little ones. There are opportunities to give food, clothing and cleaning supplies throughout the year. We support Operation Backpack for youngsters in the community who would otherwise go hungry on weekends. Clothing and personal care items are collected for our local veterans’ homes. Ministreries on Main Street, another local project supported by First Baptist Church, helps the unfortunate homeless to find shelter during the cold winter months. Narcotics Anonymous needs no explanation. The NA organization enables “users” to be clean one day at a time.
On a national basis we support, through American Baptist Churches, the retired Ministers and Missionaries , America for Christ which aids churches in the US and Puerto Rico, One Great Hour of Sharing , used for emergency needs and development programs in the US and blankets, tools, tents and medical supplies for emergencies across the globe. There are also opportunities for giving to White Cross and Gifts of the Heart providing hygiene, school and baby gifts for the less fortunate across our great country.
Internationally we have been providing support to a missionary couple in the Congo of Africa since 2009. We also support God’s Precious Children which creates educational opportunities for the needy in Liberia.
We need YOUR help now to stay alive as the friendly church on the corner. Our membership is only about 60 giving units, and our budget just cannot tolerate the expenses of these past few months and in the near future.
We invite you to join FBC in the effort to continue these ministries. Won’t you please consider a gift of love to our church? We are sure you will feel God’s blessing as well as the gratefulness of our congregation. Through the love of Jesus, our Lord and Savior we leave our fate in your hands.
Organizer
Lisa Eshelman Heffner
Organizer
Pottstown, PA
First Baptist Church (2148)
Beneficiary