Mission
For over 200 years, Presbyterians have been responding to the call of Jesus Christ, taking the gospel into all the world and bearing witness to Christ’s saving love to the ends of the earth. Today, Christ Church continues that call and is involved in local and global mission.
Tara Marsh
Overland Missions
4-Step Strategy:
Pioneering
Evangelizing
Discipleship
Leadership
Their mission:
We go to the most remote places in the world to engage neglected and unreached people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through our four-step strategy, we are committed to braving rugged terrain and traveling long distances to communicate the Gospel, disciple believers, and create sustainable leaders. After pioneering and evangelizing a new area, we begin discipleship through weekly revival meetings to worship God and study the Word. Discipleship includes addressing the felt need to communities as we also bring humanitarian care through our transformational development programs. The final step is to pass the ministry to our disciples by empowering them to sustain it and create a viral move of God.
Local Benevolence:
Ellwood City Ministerium: Along with other churches in Ellwood City, we help to support a food pantry for those in need within our community.
Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals and a friendly visit to seniors in their homes. Meals are prepared and delivered by local volunteers. These meals help to prevent isolation and allow seniors to remain in their own homes.
Shenango Senior Care: we help to provide funds for those who have exhausted their own resources so that they do not have to leave the nursing home that has become their home.
Back Pack Program. The program provides weekend breakfast and lunch for needy children. The program is partnered with the Ellwood City School district, and through the Intermediate Unit for Mohawk & Shenango schools.
Police and Fire Chaplain’s Fund provides training and equipment for our Ellwood City Police and Fire Chaplain to support those he ministers to on calls in our community.
Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department provides protection for Ellwood City and the surrounding area for fire, rescue and medical emergencies. Our support goes for equipment and training.
Ellwood City Library Summer Reading Program supports a comprehensive program for all ages, including Wednesday elementary school programs, Puppet Theater Workshop, Bookworms Book Discussion group, Family Film Festival and Fairytale Theater.
Carpenter's Project: The Carpenter’s Project helps local homeowners with home maintenance that they cannot do for themselves. The wide variety of types of assistance offered includes painting, staining, concrete work, brush clearing, landscaping, construction projects of various sizes, wheelchair ramps and porch rebuilding, power washing, and other home repairs. All work is done free of charge. The project is funded by private donations from individuals and churches in the Ellwood City and Riverside areas.
HISTORY
In July 1891 a handful of local Presbyterians gathered at the Old Brick School on Glen Avenue to organize what soon became known as the First Presbyterian Church. The group met at various locations over the next few years until a small brick church, which cost $3,700, was built on the Pittsburgh Circle in 1895. The property, at Spring Avenue and 4th Street, was donated by the Pittsburg Company.
1891 - Shenango Presbytery Sends two Ministers to Ellwood City to Organize a Church
1894 - Church Assigned First Pastor
1895 - Selection of the Site for First Presbyterian Church
1910 - Decision to Build New Church
1911 - Cornerstone Laid for New Church
1912 - Dedication of Church
1950 - Church Sanctuary Destroyed by Fire
1959 - Church Name Changed to Christ Church United Presbyterian
1963 - Dedication of Education Wing
1980 - 1st Boar's Head Presentation
1983 - Church Name Changed to Christ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
1990 - Church Made Handicapped Accessible
1997 - Dedication of New Petty-Madden Organ
1998 - Purchase of Property for Parking Lot Expansion
2000 - Parking Lot Open for Use
2002 - Paving of the Parking Lot with a New Handicapped Entrance into the Library
2006 - Bell Tower Restoration
2015 - Elevator Installed
2015 - Knox Church Joins Christ Presbyterian Church
2016 - 125th Anniversary Celebrated
2019 - Church Kitchen Refurbished
2020 - Third Thursday Community Dinners
2022 - Replaced Pew Cushions
This is our history...
with a foundation of faith...
we look to the future.