WITHIN THESE WALLS

This congregation is 162 years old!  That's quite a milestone.  We began as a group of German immigrants who settled in the Steubenville area.  German was the language while everyone struggled to learn the new language--English.  The mission of the early church was to help the newcomers to find housing, find employment, to find basic necessities and to find a place where they could worship together. 

Back then that was the "mission" of this church.  But today what is the mission of a downtown church?  We must begin within these walls to find several goals and then to branch outward into our local community.  It is my sincere hope that with a new interim pastor coming, we will be able to explore some possibilities and make a difference in the tri-state area.

We always will place our worship as the top priority.  "Where 2 or 3 are gathered together, the spirit of our Lord is present.  Even though we are few, there has to be a project in which we can excel.  Years ago we hosted monthly meetings call the "human resources network."  People from different social agencies came together in our building to discuss local needs of the population.  What better way to keep on top of local concerns of our citizens. 

If we are to survive, we must come together and plan, plan, and plan.  Then put that plan into action.  Let us listen to these walls to hear what our Lord is still speaking.

This is our prayer.  In His Name.

AMEN

In Christian Love,

John Diekmann, Council President