The public is invited to attend a special presentation by the Bob Jones University Ministry Team at Faith Baptist Church, 498 Seaward Avenue, Bradford, on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 P.M. Find out more HERE

Labels: bradford, church

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Local Groups Partner Together To Clean Up City

Local residents will be working together to help clean up Bradford this Saturday, thanks to some initiative from a local church and Bradford Mayor Tom Riel.

Complaining about the trash along the sides of the road was not an acceptable solution for Open Arms Media Coordinator Josh Hatcher, "I decided rather than complain about the trash strewn along the roads, that it would be better to just pick it up. But to be honest, it's a much bigger job than I can do."

"No one of us can do it all, not as a person or an organization," said Open Arms Pastor Mike McAvoy. "but together we all can accomplish a much bigger work in our community to make it a great place to live."

Hatcher contacted Mayor Tom Riel about a clean up of some problem areas. "Tom had already been in touch with area residents about their concerns, and he took my on a drive to show me what areas need to be cleaned up," said Hatcher.

Hatcher invited members from Open Arms Community Church to join him for the clean up efforts, as well as extending the invite to the greater community as well. Members of the City Police Department, and the Special Crimes Task Force will also be helping with the project.

"I think it's great that the police and the mayor have taken an interest in making this happen," said Hatcher. He says that a few volunteers from other churches, including Grace Lutheran have stepped up to help as well.

Hatcher says he also wants to clear up a few misconceptions about the project, "We're not just going in and cleaning up after irresponsible landowners. A lot of this trash is in right of ways along the roads and railroad tracks. There are a couple yards that have been covered in trash by irresponsible neighbors as well, and we are working with the current landowners to clean up that trash. They will be working to help us on this project. It's not just a free bailout. It's a cooperative effort to clean up the trash."

Wal-Mart has also donated supplies needed for the clean-up.

McAvoy said, "It's our privilege to serve our city. We believe in Bradford-- both the people and the community, God's plan for Bradford, and believe that God loves us and wants to bless us and this is our opportunity to be a part of that blessing."

Volunteers wanting to help should meet in the parking lot at Grace Lutheran Community Church at 8:30 AM Saturday.

Labels: bradford, church, environment, mckean, open arms, Tom Riel

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A handful of area residents bound for Africa next month will repair a deteriorating schoolhouse and share missionary skills with hundreds of pastors.

Six members of Open Arms Community Church of Bradford will spend from March 1 through March 11 in Conakry, Guinea, as part of a missions trip.

During the week and a half long stay, they will lead a pastor's conference, equipping about 200-250 ministers from West Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cote d' Ivoire.

"Part of our goal in working with these pastors is to help train them to meet the needs in their communities," said Open Arms Multimedia Coordinator Josh Hatcher. "Not just spiritual needs, but physical and social needs as well."

He said he plans to produce a documentary focusing on the daily lives of Sierra Leone refugees, as well as their escape to Guinea.

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but video is infinitely more valuable," he said. "I'm very excited to be able to use the talents that I have to do this."

Members will also assist the teachers with children, as well as repair parts of the school building.

Among those making the trip include Open Arms Pastor Mike McAvoy, Shawn Murphy, Dr. Brad MacNeill and his two daughters, Jennifer and Bethany MacNeill and Hatcher.

"All my children have been on mission trips to the Indian/African subcontinents and have told me that I should go, because I'll never be the same," said Dr.MacNeill, a veterinarian from McKean County Animal Hospital. "I know I will be changed forever, but at this point, I just don't know how much and in what direction."

"I've heard people say that we shouldn't be helping people in Africa. We have poor people right here," Hatcher said. "The truth is, the poorest of our poor have food, shelter, education and often cable TV. These kids in Africa have nothing. They live on less than a dollar a day. They don't have access to the basic things they need for survival."

After watching a movie and reading a book detailing the civil war in Sierra Leone, Hatcher said he felt compelled to find a way to help the refugees and victims.

"When I read the story of this young boy who was conscripted to fight in an army, hopped up in drugs, and forced to kill at such a young age, I started to pray for a way to help," he said.

His prayer was answered. Hatcher received an e-mail from David Coker, pastor of New Family Church and Administrator of Gateway International School in Conakry, Guinea, requesting that his church and Open Arms team up.

"I get so many scams in my inbox, that I couldn't believe it," he said. "To get an unsolicited email from the exact people group in the exact city that I was praying for just seemed too strange, but they checked out, and we've been in close communication for a couple years now."

Since then, Hatcher and McAvoy have sent sermon notes, e-mails and money to Coker's church, and they have worked closely with a representative from a humanitarian non-profit organization from Texas called The Baobob Foundation.

More details are available by calling Open Arms at (814) 368-8846 or e-mailing openarms@openarmsbradford.org.

Photo of Shawn Murphy, Mike McAvoy, Dr. Brad MacNeill and Josh Hatcher by Ariel Campbell
Additional Photos: Children from New Family Church in Conakry Guniea, and Members of New Family Church at a river baptism service

To listen to McAvoy and Hatcher talk about the trip on LiveLine, click HERE.

To give financially to support the trip online, click HERE.
Or make Checks payable to:
Open Arms Community Church
1289 East Main Street
Bradford, PA 16701
with "Africa Trip" in the memo

Labels: africa, bradford, church, josh hatcher, mckean

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BRADFORD, Pa -- A ministry that will help those dealing with a variety of personal struggles will be launched in November at the Open Arms Community Church on East Main Street in Bradford.

"Celebrate Recovery" sessions will start at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 after the regular church service and will continue every Saturday.
Brian Mahaney, member of the leadership team for Celebrate Recovery, says the sessions will vary from other recovery efforts that solely focus on alcohol, or drugs.

This ministry is meant to help people find freedom from a number of issues, including drugs and alcohol, as well as other issues, like gambling addiction, sexual addictions,and food addictions, he said. The program also addresses emotional issues stemming from divorce, domestic violence, and codependency.

"Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to overcome and conquer any hurts, hang-ups, or habits that are negatively affecting someone's life," Mahaney said. "If your pain is stronger than the fear of ridding one's life of their issues, this is the place to get help."

Celebrate Recovery will focus on scripture principles to guide members into grasping personal responsibility, forgiveness, and finding strength to overcome temptations.

"People should expect to come out of Celebrate Recovery with a new life," he said. "One without the weight of past baggage hanging around their neck" Mahaney remembers a 17-year long battle to rid of drug and alcohol dependency. Those events led him to immerse himself in the Bible.

"I applied what I was learning through Christ to break addictions and deal with past hurts," he said. "The beauty of Celebrate Recovery is that God wants the best for your life. You just need to accept that help and apply what God wants for you. It is a challenge, but so is covering up your hurts hangups and habits."

Additional information is available at the church's website, www.openarmsbradford.org

Labels: church, mckean, open arms

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