Mark Mitchell, Chief Engineer Conestoga Fire Company

Mark Mitchell graduated from high school in 1993. Penn Manor waved goodbye to another one of its boys. Little did Mark know that soon he would be thrown headlong into adulthood. It was not long after graduation that one of Mark’s cousins, Justin, was killed in an automobile accident. Justin was sixteen years old when a drunk driver killed him. Mark and Justin had been very close. Although Mark was not at the accident scene he saw the pictures and talked to some of the firemen that were there.

This single incident shaped much of Mark’s future, though he didn’t recognize it at the time. Looking back now, he can see that Justin’s death was a defining moment.

Mark became a volunteer firefighter himself. (Undoubtedly Mark’s dad planted the seed of  “service” as he was a volunteer firefighter for many years in Millersville Borough.) When Mark heard his family discussing how much they needed and appreciated the firefighters at Justin’s accident, he was motivated to join the volunteers as well. “I guess I never realized the value of their service until it hit so close to home.”

Then in 2008 Mark signed on to serve with Pequea Church’s youth group. Mark says with regret in his voice, “I went through a somewhat rebellious time following Justin’s accident. But I was spared. I want to tell our youth that there is a more rewarding path. I have dealt with the same things that they are facing and that rebellious lifestyle is not all that it is cracked up to be.”

Mark is a Junior High leader on Wednesday nights; Sunday mornings he teaches the Jr. High boys. As Pastor of Family Ministries I see the connection that he has with the kids. Mark uses both his talents and his resources. He has used his fire equipment and fire-call experiences as examples in his lessons.

Mark and his wife Joy, who is also a youth leader, have opened up their home for the youth group. Recently, the “Junior High Messy Games” took place at their home. Mark models the statement that Paul made to the Thessalonians when he said, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” (Thessalonians 2:8) Mark said that he remembers the people that invested in his life when he was in youth group; now he wants to give back.

Mark could have become bitter following his cousin’s death; instead he turned things around and became a role model for our community. Tragedy birthed new beginnings and blessings for the next generation.

If your interested in volunteering at Pequea Church please click here.

(This article first appeared in the Fall 2010 Currents Magazine, written by Pastor Robert Brody. Mark & Joy Mitchell have three boys, Gabe 9, Riley 8, and Kasey 3. They live in Conestoga.)

First is our Small Groups. This is an excellent opportunity to get you “connected” to Pequea Church. Each group will run for just 3 months. The current trimester will run Septenver – November. Most of our small groups meet in peoples homes and study a variety of topics. You can learn more and sign-up by clicking here.

Secondly we offer Specialty Groups. These are groups that focus on a particular subject for those that are going through a certain season of life. Check out all of our Specialty Group options and sign up today by clicking here.

Third we offer Study Groups. Many times people seek to go deeper in their walk with Christ. Study groups are clusters of people that get together, typically on Sunday Morning during each service, to study various topics. Some Study Groups decide to study specific books of the Bible. Other Study Groups discuss current events in the world and how they effect and form our Biblical worldview. Find a Study Group today by clicking here.

We hope that you plan on joining one of the many Grow Groups that we have to offer this semester. If you are interested in learning more about our Grow Group ministry please contact Pastor Daleen Charles who oversees our Grow Group ministry. You can call her at 717.872.5679 or email DCharles@pequeachurch.com

The girls are sleeping in the auditorium and the guys are in the unrefurbished wing, in some offices, probably where the principal was located. I feel like I am suffering through some demented overnight detention. The girls found that if you turn two rows of chairs towards each other they make a great bed.

One downside is the shower facilities. One shower is just a pipe coming out of a ceiling in the middle of a room. The other shower has the water pressure of about two drops per minute! The water has a heavy metallic smell and taste. When I was finished showering I smelled like Iron Man! Luckily most people think I have the build to look like him anyway. Hopefully we’ll find ways to work around the showers for the rest of the week.

Looking forward to getting started on the VBS today.  ~Robert

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The weekend of July 9–12, all roads for North American BIC will lead to Grantham, Pa., as pastors and congregational delegates gather at Messiah College for the 2010 General Conference and focus on the theme “Called to Transformation.” Many of the Pequea Pastors will be on site for daily business sessions and worship services each night. Anyone can watch General Conference business sessions or the worship services each night online by clicking here.

Pre-Registration has now ended but, it’s not to late for your children to attend The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything VBS at Pequea Church, where rock-solid Bible learning rides the high seas of adventure through breathtaking Bible stories, lively worship, action-packed games, amazing science experiences that reinforce Bible truth, and memory-making crafts kids will treasure for years to come. VBS will happen each night from July 14-16 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Questions? Email contact@pequeachurch.com or call 717.872.5679

• Lampeter / Willow Street Ministerium Prayer Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. at Willow Valley Restaurant. Tickets are $2.00 and can be obtained by calling the church office at 717.872.5679 or by emailing contact@pequeachurch.com.
• Students organized at school flagpoles around the county at 7:00 a.m.
• Community Prayer Time at Lancaster Bible College from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Celebration of Prayer with Dr. Tony Evans, Lancaster Bible College, at 6:00 p.m.

More information online by visiting www.lancasterndp.com

This year will be no exception. We will be blessed to have Jessica Shaub Meyer as our auctioneer; we’ll be looking forward to a day of excitement. Some featured items will be Adirondack chairs and a swing-set and picnic table made by the youth.

Consider donating and joining us for the largest youth fundraiser of the year. A pork-BBQ dinner will be served (by donation) on Friday, May 7 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., along with an auction preview. Saturday, May 8, the auction will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue until the last item is raised for sale. Donations may be brought to the church until May 7.

Download a partial list of items to be auctioned

Download a partial list of gift baskets to be auctioned

For 40 Days during the months of May and June- Pequea Church will be focusing on love! Relationships are very important and no one understood this better then Jesus. For 40 Days- as a church we are going to study what Jesus did and said about relationships to help us bring new health and richness to our marriages, families, friendships and all the relationships in our lives.

Here is how you can be involved:

1. Pick up a 40 Days of Love Devotional book- called The Relationship Principles of Jesus. There is a short devotional for each day of the 40 days and we would like each person to use this as part of our journey together. Books are available in the back of the auditorium for a suggested donation of $10. If the Lord has blessed you at this time- you are welcome to give more then $10 and if you are going through a rough time right now- take the book and don’t feel that you need to make a donation. You will want the book so that you can begin the devotionals on May 2.
2. Make sure that you are here each Sunday or Wednesday to hear the message that goes along with the 40 Days of Love Journey that we are doing together as a church.
3. Sign up to be in a small group for the 40 Days of Love. The small groups will be meeting each week to view a special DVD and discuss together the relationship principles of Jesus. You can sign up for a small group online by clicking here. If you would like to lead a small group sign up here. If at this time you are not able for whatever reason to be in a small group- please take this journey of love with us by getting the devotional book.

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