BELLEFONTE — A sea of umbrellas served as the only protection for the dozens of men, women and children who gathered along Buffalo Run Road on April 15, braving a pouring rainstorm to celebrate the groundbreaking of a project several years in the making.
That rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the congregations from three small country churches that united several years ago with a shared goal of building a new church to better serve their Lord and the local community.
As the steady rain continued to soak the congregation, community members, former pastors, friends, neighbors and those instrumental in the building process, shovels entered the earth to mark the first step in that vision — a new Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist Church.
Pastor Jim Jacobs, using a gold shovel with the name of the new church on it, lifted a shovel full of dirt and claimed the ground as “holy ground,” set apart for God’s purposes. A cross with the name of the new church was unveiled, with special rocks at its base representing each of the communities and neighborhoods in the valley, along with people from the congregation and the community.
While the new church is being built, church members will continue to worship at 1667 Buffalo Run Road, with Sunday services beginning at 9:45 a.m. Children’s church is also offered at the same time. Zoom conferences are also offered for those who may not be able to attend the services. Services are recorded and are available on YouTube at gbrvumc.com.
More information can be found on the church Facebook page (GBRVUMC).
