A Conference to Expand the Kingdom of God A Missions based Church seeking to Go Farther
by Voice of One Staff Upper Darby PA
Rev Terrence Clark's workshop titled Let's Go Fishing cast Jesus' selection of fishermen to be the first him to follow—strategic. Their daily, nightly, weekly, yearly toil, was turned in a moment by His word, "Cast your nets on the other side." The first four disciples left their businesses and became fishers of men—part of God's kingdom expansion team. Beulah Tabernacle in Upper Darby sets on the west border of Philadelphia Pa. A separate town to itself but still connected to the city. The church has a heart for missions and expanding the kingdom of God to reach people all around—far and near.
Minister Cynthia Hayden head of the church’s missions departments has traveled to Liberia several times to expand the Kingdom of God there. One overseas mission in Bangura County outside of Monrovia, includes building a school that will help children who currently walk four hours to school get there in one.
Their team also supports the mission of Pastor Edith Ricks—COWAAL (Coalition Of Women Against Abuse in Liberia) which helps women in or potentially in abusive situations in that country. Financial support helps this partnership provide schooling and housing so that these young Liberian women would have life alternatives that are within God's will. Beulah is also currently planning a crusade in this same area of West Africa.
Min Hayden deems the three day conference a success. A host of conference speaker, engaged the topic, such as Dr. Tony Hart—Montco Bible Fellowship—Lansdale Pa, who used the analogy of a post office to express that believers are living letters to be read of all. Other kingdom expanding instructions came from speakers including Pastor Emos Heagar—All Nations Christian Church, Rev Racheal Massey—Gates of Heaven, Rev Terrence Clark—The Glory Cloud publications, Elder Kevin Campbell from Open Door True Light Missions. Music was rendered by Matu Saye and Charmaine Douglas. She expects the conference to produce people motivated and on fire about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. People who are doing Mathew 28: 19, 20 going into all the earth and sharing the Gospel, not just in their community, but abroad.
Beulah’s Pastors Keith Thomas explains expansion was the topic for the whole year for his church and the mission department picked up on that theme. The church has a vision for missions.
“It's our ministry to expand the kingdom of God particularly in missions and outreach into our community, says Pastor Thomas. It is important because it is the commission God has given to us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He said its God’s design of the church to be involved in his kingdom and not just the four walls.
“We are not just to be in the four walls but take the gospel to those outside of the church says Pastor Keith. This suburban church has a department called Embracing Life Change in the Community which is an outreach service that serves the homeless in the area within the public school district. Students are referred to the church and the church provides for them. They also assist with the state representative and give out book bags and things of that nature. The police department also gets involve in the outreach. That’s the community part, the evangelism part of the church is called The Peace Project. It’s here where the mission literally declares peace over the community and shares the gospel throughout households in the community.
Beulah divides its outreach ministry into two areas. According to Pastor Keith, a mission pursuit has to be according to the select model. Their model is Community and Evangelism. Community covers missions and service. Evangelism is publishing the Gospel, getting the Word out—The advertisements and the billboards.
“One does the publishing and one does the actual service—hands on touching lives,” again defined the Pastor.
Like the first fishermen disciples who Jesus launch into missions they called for their partners to aid in the abundance of the catch, Beulah Tabernacle partners with other ministries and pastors to do the work of kingdom expansion.
Partnering pastors have begun meeting for prayer monthly. The churches are connecting evangelism programs and supporting each other. They met the Saturday morning of the conference at the busy 69th Street Terminal handing out tracks as people were coming out.
“That’s how we're working together, says the pastor, and it helps to strengthen one another.”