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Church takes on second pastor

Good News Lutheran Brethren sees growth in congregation

Sentinel photo by TABITHA GOODLING
Good News Lutheran Brethren Church pastors stand together in the new chapel area of the building. Marc Sperlich, left, is the new associate pastor. Mike Edwards has been senior pastor since 2010.

McALISTERVILLE — For the first time in the 25 year history of Good News Lutheran Brethren Church, there are two pastors ministering.

In addition to Senior Pastor Mike Edwards, Marc Sperlich has been hired to fulfill the position of Associate Pastor of Mission and Discipleship at the church, located in McAlisterville across from East Juniata High School.

The church will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2019. Edwards has been on board with the church since 2010.

Sperlich grew up attending the church, and after marriage began attending the River Church in Mifflintown where he and wife Elizabeth served as youth leaders.

He graduated from East Juniata High School in 2004 and Messiah College in 2008. He later was certified to teach high school math through Penn State University.

Sperlich had not been able to find a ministry position and chose to teach in the mean time.

He served as a long-term substitute teacher in the Juniata County School District. With the recent consolidation, Sperlich was in need of a job.

“Everywhere I applied, God was closing doors,” Sperlich said.

Edwards said Sperlich was considered for a vocational ministry opportunity a couple years ago, however, the timing wasn’t right.

When the position for associate opened a year ago at the church, Sperlich considered applying.

Edwards said Sperlich went through the normal Church of the Lutheran Brethren procedure for application which includes multiple interviews, evaluations and background checks all overseen by a nine-member call committee.

The process took place June of 2017 through November, 2018.

The need for the position came as a result of a 200 percent increase in church attendance since 2010, a membership that more than tripled.

“With this rate of growth it has been increasingly hard for me as a pastor to have a relationship with every one,” Edwards said.

Edwards said the church’s mission is to bring people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and to grow disciples.

“My role is about preaching and teaching,” Edwards said, while the associate pastor’s role is intended “to keep us laser focused on the mission of the church.”

Edwards said sometimes when churches grow rapidly the ministry focus tends to go inward toward the people within the church.

Sperlich’s role is to help the church focus outward and to show Christ in the community.

Sperlich will also oversee children and youth ministries, however he is not the youth pastor. Also part of his role will include preaching when needed, and he will be available in the office during the week.

The rapid growth at GNLB called for an addition to the facility, which was completed in the spring of this year. It now houses additional Sunday School classrooms, a chapel, and additional office space. The addition was a 50 percent increase in square footage.

The church also added an LED sign to the front of the building and is readable along Route 35 from several yards away and also includes electronic images.

Sperlich and his wife Elizabeth became members in April. They have two sons, Elijah, five and Micah, 3.

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