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| Rev. Judy Walker (right), Superintendent of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, presented the 2023 One Matters Award to Forty Fort UMC. Receiving the award were Lay Member Bill Davis (left) and Pastor Richard Bradshaw (center). |
Rev. Judy Walker, Superintendent of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area
During the 2021 appointment season, Forty Fort United Methodist Church in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre District was appointed a new pastor, Pastor Richard Bradshaw, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once a busy church, Forty Fort UMC over the decades had experienced significant decline. During the spring and summer of 2021, the attendance was in the 60s weekly, with zero children. Many ministries and events had ceased, a scary new COVID surge had arrived, and the morale in regard to the future was tempered at best. Forty Fort UMC needed new life — something to give some hope, energy, and a new beginning.
They also realized they needed to begin to work together — pastor, leadership and the congregation — to have a greater impact and to create a vision that would bring unity of purpose. They established a task force with the purpose of sharing ideas and seeking what moves the hearts of this congregation. The task force was supplied with information from the mission insight report, and prayerfully came to the decision that their vision would be to become “A community that reaches the community.”
This simple vision, driven by a heart for their neighbors, has become fruitful. Forty Fort has seen measurable growth in numbers and excitement as they continue to follow Christ in word and deed. This goes beyond Sunday service and beyond their doors. Over the past year, they have had a number of outreaches, both individually and corporately, that continue to focus on their vision and have ongoing impact.
Every opportunity for outreach meets a goal of showing love to their neighbors and intentional sharing of God’s Word with all those they meet. The ministerium and cluster are beginning to shake off the dust of “the same things we’ve always done” with dwindling numbers, and are working together, in connection, on future projects that share the gospel in new and meaningful ways.
Their vision this year is to have 100% of their membership involved in the mission and ministry of the church. They are also beginning the process of evaluating committees and looking to a future where everyone can be involved. Members who have held the positions for years will share their experience and knowledge with new members and build foundational strength. All of this enriches the church as they continue to reach the not-yet-churched and those lost in the margins.
Forty-Fort UMC is pleased to share that they are growing in faith and are part of the greater connectional mission to lead others into a beautiful relationship with Jesus Christ, resulting in “transformation in our world.”
In 2022, their weekly attendance averaged over 90 attendees (up from 60 in 2021) and went from zero professions of faith over at least the past 5 years to 20 professions of faith in 2022. They are excited that there is new life and a purpose in their congregation and a greater realization that everyone is loved, and every one matters.
