Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with annual conferences by offering the One Matters Award (OMA) to one eligible congregation at each annual conference. At the 2024 Susquehanna Annual Conference, the One Matters Award was given to one church in each of our districts.
This award has a strong focus on making disciples because, by integrating into the church body, the individual may experience the personal transformation to potentially engage in the church’s mission for the transformation of the world. While most Discipleship Ministries programs focus on existing members, OMA focuses on new members. After all, ONE Matters.
Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC, State College District
Rev. Brenda Leigy, Superintendent
On December 4, 2014, the Holy Spirit moved through the Buffalo Run Valley and three United Methodist congregations: Buffalo Run, Filmore, and Valley View. The three congregations, after much discussion and prayer, took a step of faith to merge and become the Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist Church. The newly formed pioneering congregation has worked diligently over the years to ensure that Christ’s presence will continue to be felt, heard, and seen in the valley.
The construction of the new church building has been decades in the making, beginning in 1999. With the growth and challenges of a 1930’s sanctuary the need was evident for a new sanctuary that could support the growing number of children, young adults, and the elderly’s needs.
Even though the transition had its challenges, the one church is now stronger, more proactive, and provides more robust programs and outreach into the surrounding community.
The Congregation believes that many years ago, God gave them a vision, not only to merge, but that the valley needed a facility where people could worship, grow in their faith, and find fellowship and acceptance. The vision and the prompting of the Holy Spirit weighed on the hearts of many of the members and after many years of prayer and seeking God’s will, the time to begin was before the congregation and, as always in God’s perfect timing, the vision started to become a reality. Even, in the midst of a pandemic the congregation continued to move forward in faith.
When the opportunity to purchase land came about, the church members jumped to secure the space.
On April 15, 2023, Greater Buffalo Run Valley United Methodist Church broke ground on the lot for their new church building. Three crosses symbolically bearing the names of the three churches signifying the beginning of the new church where uncovered, while a cross with stones at its base bear the names of the communities in the Buffalo Run Valley and names of the faithful servants who are responsible for leading, directing and inspiring and believing in the vision and where God was leading.
Together, joyfully, and in the rain and some mud, in one accord we sang:
“I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we’re the church together!”
Construction began in May 2023, shortly after the groundbreaking.
Once the shell of the building was built, members of the congregation used their skills, talents, gifts, time, and hard work to begin the necessary work outside and inside, working together as the vision and reality continued to unfold.
Even though the church has numerous traditional outreach programs the congregation is committed and believes that they can reach out and make a difference in the lives of young adults through “out of the box” programs.
A few of these non-traditional “out of the box” programs that the church has implemented is a kids computer club, (a number of ten and 11-year-olds are now developing their own software programs) and this summer a model rocket club will be formed, teaching engineering design and aerodynamics with actual model rocket launches.
It is through programs like these that an 11-year-old young lady started coming to church and to Sunday school.
Shortly after, the holy spirit was on fire in this young lady. Her newfound love of Christ exuded from her and to say the least, was contagious. Her journey can also be attributed to the nurturing and support of the youth leadership. On her baptism day, the Holy Spirit could be felt throughout the church and she continues to be an inspiration to all around her.
The Greater Buffalo Run Valley UMC is continuing to reach out to the surrounding community and it clearly shows because the congregation is growing and even though they just graced the doorstep of moving into a beautiful new church on April 21, 2024, they may need an addition or a second service sooner than later!
