Stepping Out in Faith in Williamsport
There has been a mission in the making in Williamsport for the past 2 years and over a week ago it came to fruition. Sunday, August 21, was the first official gathering of Omega Orthodox Presbyterian Church, a congregation of people who attended New Life OPC just over a week ago.
New Life, which averaged about 125 attendees each Sunday, sent approximately 40 of that number to start a new church in the western part of Williamsport.
It was a joyful, yet sorrowful, Sunday for both Omega and New Life OPC. Although there was much excitement as both churches’ members saw the Word of God shining forth, there were also tears shed for those called to leave the long time fellowship of New Life.
Len Richards, a recently installed deacon for both churches, said, “Each step that we take, [God] has ordained and prepared us to make. There is a twinge of sadness that drapes our hearts, but we have seen the Hand of God clear the path before us as He called out, ‘Come, follow Me.’”
This is the second daughter church the New Life congregation has founded and it is their hope that it will do just as well as, if not better than, the first. Joseph W. Smith III, a ruling elder at New Life, remarked, “We’re excited because our first effort at church-planting -- in Danville -- just finished up with the establishment of that group as a separate, self-sustaining and self-governing congregation. God is good -- and our experience with Him through Redeemer in Danville has made us eager to try it again!”
New Life certainly is trying again and Omega has already made its mark in the community as they converse with the curious neighbors who pop their heads in to see the repairs that are being made to the building Omega is renting.
Drew Adcock is the newly established pastor of Omega and is eager to venture forth on this mission from God. “Drew Adcock is a terrific preacher, and he also has a great heart for ministry and a lot of wisdom in leading and interacting with people,” says Smith.
Adcock graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in 2010, has been attending New Life for a few years and has completed three internships under New Life’s 16 year pastor Paul Browne.
Pastoring at Omega is something that Adcock is very passionate about, as he states, “While I am not certain of the future that God has planned for Omega, I am certain that my commitment to this church plant is long term (as in lifelong).”
He and the rest of the New Life and Omega congregations are confident that Omega will become a permanent assembly in western Williamsport.
They also understand that this area is also home to many other churches, however, as Adcock states, “While it is true that Williamsport has a fair number of churches, more than many cities perhaps, it does not mean that the spiritual condition of this city is well accounted for.”
Williamsport is home to many different kinds of churches with different beliefs and backgrounds. Adcock emphasized the difference between Omega and these churches by saying, “We are not selling anything, we're simply proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ and inviting others to worship Him as befitting His glory.”
The entire congregation of Omega is eager to see her grow into a much bigger gathering and is willing to greet members from the community who wish to learn more about the Omega family. They are located in the Pajama Factory on 1307 Park Ave, Williamsport, and Drew Adcock can be contacted by phone: 570-651-3449 or email: reformedstudent@gmail.com.
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