January 19, 2022
When Bryan Sands answered the call to serve with Kaimuki Christian Church in Hawaii, he was following two ministers who served a combined 57 years. Sands hasn't regretted the move . . .
As Katie Hughes made her way to her car at the end of another long school day, she reflected on her day in the classroom. After years of studying to become a teacher like her mom and other family members, she felt disappointed and exhausted in her student-teaching experience. The more time she spent in the classroom, the more she questioned her decision to become an educator. Was this really what God had planned for her? A New Plan Katie talked with her parents and began to take an inventory of the gifts and interests God had given her. She
April 1, 2021
I had always assumed suicide rates were higher in the winter months. Cold winds, icy streets, gray skies, and more time alone indoors were all things I equated with sadness and depression. This most recent winter brought an even colder chill—a storm in the form of a pandemic that shut down activities, closed stores, and stopped people from gathering. And with this storm came the gusty wind of political tension. People bundled themselves up with fear, worry, and a deep sadness in what had been lost over the past 12 months. Save.org—a website operated by Suicide Awareness Voices of Education—shares
March 31, 2021
Many churches that offered only taped or livestreamed Easter services last year are excited to be planning in-person gatherings this year. But two churches—Discovery Christian Church in Mars, Pa., and Crestview Christian Church in Manhattan, Kan.—will be celebrating Easter in just-opened buildings
March 18, 2020
By Chris Moon After a weekend of large-scale cancellations of in-person worship services—the result of the COVID-19 pandemic—many Restoration Movement churches are spending this week plotting their next moves. Pastors say they are looking both inward at how their online programming was received and outward at how best to serve their communities in a time of need. They say they are recognizing the way in which “social distancing” recommendations are affecting vulnerable communities, from the elderly to those in poverty. Tyler McKenzie, lead pastor of Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, said his church put together both a weekend service plan
February 20, 2019
Norfolk (Neb.) High School wrestler Conner Cowling capped a dominant season with a state championship over the weekend, and he credited his church with encouraging him along the way. The senior lost his mother and two grandparents during the last few years. Cowling told the Norfolk Daily News that at one point in high school he started to get into trouble and feel depressed. “But my friend . . . introduced me to Fuel—a youth program at my church, First Christian Church [in Norfolk], and I discovered God and Christianity, which really helped me,” Cowling said. Cowling hasn’t missed a youth
November 28, 2018
By Jim Nieman Discovery Christian Church in Broomfield, Colo., is playing a role in helping to solve a low-income housing problem in its well-to-do region north of Denver and east of Boulder. The church is providing a zero-cost lease of about 1.25 acres to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity to build four triplexes for 12 low-income families. The homes will be affordable and energy-efficient, according to an article in the Broomfield Enterprise. “[Lead pastor] Steve Cuss is the catalyst for this,” said Tom Morris, executive pastor of Discovery. “He has worked extensively with the [local] government asking, ‘What are some problems
June 19, 2017
By Justin Horey Discovery Christian Church already has one slightly unconventional building, but its plans for future development are far more progressive and ambitious. Broomfield, Colorado, is a high-tech city with rural roots, so Discovery”s existing building””a 20,000-square-foot, multipurpose structure designed to resemble a barn””is a tribute to the city”s history. With that facility in place, lead pastor Steve Cuss said Discovery plans to use the rest of its 18 acres in radical ways “to meet the needs of our city.” Discovery”s motto is “Loving God and Serving Others,” and the master plan for the church”s site emphasizes those two
December 23, 2016
By Michael C. Mack We conducted a survey through Facebook that asked, “What is the role of greeters in your church?” Respondents could select as many answers as applied. The results are displayed in the chart. “Other” included responses such as: introduce new people to regular attendees, usher to destination (e.g., class or worship center), make sure visitors know where everything is (e.g., nursery, restrooms, information), and just be a friend. Discovery Christian Church in Clearwater, Florida, takes a unique approach to greeting. “We don”t have “˜official” greeters, but everyone is an unofficial greeter,” says minister J. R. Carrel. “That
November 29, 2015
By Bob Mink I had the privilege of planting Discovery Christian Church (originally Moreno Valley Christian Church) in 1984 in a small but rapidly growing distant suburb of Los Angeles. I was 33 years old at the time, and our family moved from the Greater Philadelphia area. On our 30th anniversary in 2014, I stepped down as senior pastor. Looking back, I now realize the transition began in 2011, when one of our associate pastors left our church to become campus minister at his alma mater. I was fully supportive of the move, but after almost 27 years, I was worn down and
November 5, 2015
By Jennifer Johnson Many churches lament their inability to impact the public schools or serve their students. But this fall, Discovery Christian Church is presenting anti-bullying programs in three local elementary and two middle schools in Cranberry Township, PA. “A few years ago we did a summer outreach camp for kids in the community,” says Discovery lead pastor Toney Salva. “We held the event in a park instead of in our church building, and one of the school counselors became aware of us and thought we might be able to help with their anti-bullying initiatives.” Discovery did one very successful assembly in
July 26, 2015
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from Toney Salva, founding and lead pastor, Discovery Christian Church in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. ________ Five individuals have impacted my life in the most profound ways. I grew up without a godly male role model until I met Scott Reinemeyer, my youth minister. He taught me what it meant to be a follower of Jesus and discipled me through my teen years
March 28, 2011
By Robert Mink During my four decades of ministry, my motivation for reading the Bible has progressed through four stages. Not that these stages are distinct with no overlap, but looking in the rearview mirror and assessing my Bible reading today, I see growth. I was in Bible college and serving as a part-time youth minister when I first got serious about reading the Bible. And I got serious because I had to. Many of my classes required me to read the Bible; and teaching the Bible in my youth ministry forced me to read. As a minister, teaching and
September 9, 2010
By Kent E. Fillinger Shining a spotlight on challenges and successes at three churches . . . More to Discovery Did you grow up going to church? I did. Therefore, I don”t know what it feels like to walk into church for the first time as an adult with no church background. Toney Salva, senior minister at Discovery Christian Church, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, on the other hand has used his personal experience of not growing up in a church to design a church that targets people who do not like church, or who have no church background. Through some internal
August 30, 2009
by Darrel Rowland The couple had a simple question: How much does it cost to join the church? That”s when the leaders of Rocky Mountain Christian Church (www.rmcc.org) knew they were hitting their target audience of unchurched people with their first multisite campus. “They said, “˜Don”t you have to pay a membership fee? Do you have to buy tickets? We”ve never been in church before,”” recalls Rick Thielen, who helped launch the new 30-acre site about 17 miles east of Rocky Mountain”s home campus in Niwot, Colorado. “When you start getting those kinds of questions, you”re starting to get
August 30, 2009
 by Darrel Rowland Unexpected complications and challenges are common in the multisite movement. Certainly not every expansion leads to a glowing success story. For example, Discovery Christian Church in Dublin, Ohio, tried to get a site going in a nearby Columbus suburb. It didn”t work. Journey”s Crossing Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, closed a second location in the Washington, D.C., area. Community Christian Church in White Marsh, Maryland (www.communitycc.net), was preparing to launch a second site near Baltimore this year, but those plans are now on hold. Community Christian, averaging about 750 in attendance, already was actively helping plant churches
August 2, 2009
by Toney Salva When I was ordained into ministry, my nonpracticing Roman Catholic father attempted to communicate to his side of the family what I was going to do with my life. He told them I was going to be a priest! That was the best he could do. It was the only word he could find to describe my career choice. Imagine my family”s surprise when I sent out wedding announcements . . . then birth announcements. My father”s struggle to communicate with his Catholic family about my ordination in the Christian church is not that different from the
June 16, 2009
By Jennifer Taylor In 2007, the Places Rated Almanac named Pittsburgh the “most livable city” in the United States. Despite its long winters and reputation as an aging steel town, the city scored strongly for recreation, education, and safety. The chamber of commerce and local politicians enjoyed the victory, but business leaders and families aren”t the only ones moving to Pittsburgh; hundreds of refugees from Myanmar relocate to the city each year. Many of these refugees from the country formerly known as Burma arrive in the United States to escape the ruling military junta and its repression of human rights.
November 4, 2007
Staff Report The Eastern Christian Convention will be celebrating its 40th year when it meets at the Hershey (PA) Lodge and Convention Center on Nov. 16-18. Speakers will include Bob Russell, former longtime senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY; Chuck Sackett of Madison Park Christian Church, Quincy, IL; and Toney Salva of Discovery Christian Church, Cranberry, PA. The convention, which begins Friday afternoon and concludes at noon Sunday, will feature four worship sessions, several workshops, an informative exhibit area, and activities for all ages: nursery, preschool, children, teens, and adults. There will be a Bible Bowl competition
August 23, 2006
By Mark A. Taylor Since 2001 Standard Publishing has partnered with Milligan College in Tennessee to recognize outstanding Christian leaders. It’s a natural joint venture: Milligan’s work is educating men and women who will provide Christian influence in the marketplace as well as from a minister’s office; and Standard Publishing is committed to providing Bible teaching tools for all the leaders a church recruits. CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s goals are equipping, informing, and connecting leaders in our fellowship. So it’s only natural that we should be a major voice in this recognition. Leaders like these are at the center of our mission
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