Pastor Phil Gustafson

Facing unique church situations, St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Vandergrift and Reformation Lutheran Church of Keppel Hill have formed a new ministry called New Hope Lutheran Ministries, Inc. Their very first act in 2003 was to invite a new pastor to come and take what they have begun and grow it. This bold step is breaking new ground, and Pastor Phil Gustafson is particularly suited for this innovative approach. Although components of this ministry are done in other areas, it is believed this particular model is a first.

Typically, two churches may share a pastor with a percentage of his time devoted to each. In this case, Pastor Phil Gustafson was asked in February this year to head the newly formed ministry as a cooperative church effort in place of the traditional sharing concept. While each church remains autonomous, they both work on one mission. This has already led to shared Confirmation classes, shared worship, adult bible studies, fellowship, and community service as an outreach program. He also foresees a very strong ministry presence in the Vandergrift area over a three to five year period.

Pastor Gustafson said there has been a "very positive response to the activities." He stated there was a vision of cooperation and an excitement working as two independent churches with a shared mission. He sees their strengths in a strong liturgical presence, weekly communion, and good liturgical worship that both churches have in common.

Some of the outreach has already spilled over to the Vandergrift Ministerium where other churches are discussing cooperative programs to reach the community. Positive results in the early months of New Hope's mission include increased attendance at both churches, stronger programming, and a greater comfort about future direction.

Pastor Gustafson is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania. Over the past years he has gained experience and skills in evangelism and church planting. The last 9 ½ years he pastored a newly planted congregation in Imperial, Missouri.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church is located at 714 Wallace Street in Vandergrift and has a Saturday evening worship service at 6:30 pm, Sunday worship at 11 am with Sunday School at 9:30 am. Telephone 724-567-7781.

Reformation Lutheran Church is located at 1164 Pleasant View Drive in Keppel Hill and has Sunday Worship at 9 am and Sunday School at 10:15 am. Telephone 724-568-2621.