5TH ANNIVERSARY


 

Blessing in the name of the Lord,

I welcome you to our 5th anniversary. It has been a quick five years yet there are so many things that I could share with you. For a church so  young, we have been through a lot; we are thankful because it has been mostly positive. The vision for the church has not changed even though we have grown. I believe that each member of this church has grown spiritually. The church mission is not only to win the lost, but also includes the building of the saints.

No one, except God, will ever know the extent of sacrifice my family and I have made in order to plant this church but when I look at every on of you and see how you have grown, it is worth everything. I believe with all my heart that we have impacted the world for Christ and we have impacted the body of Christ. We are a family and the love of Christ should be evident in the church and also with us. We have a partnership together to fulfill what God has called us to do. To God be the honor and glory.

CHURCH DESCRIPTION

THE PEOPLE
The Shepherd’s House is a blessed church where people from different nationalities can feel comfortable when they visit. As a multi-cultural and bi-lingual congregation, there is a diversity that is not often found in other churches. We are blessed because we have what the primitive church had - people from different nationalities and ethnic groups. Through Scriptures and experience we learn that it is God’s Spirit that breaks the barriers of language, culture and ethnicity. It is the condition of a man’s soul that is important to God. All men and women have a need for salvation. Salvation is for everyone. What is needed is belief in Christ and accepting Him as Savior. At Shepherd’s House, we find that a diversity of races and cultures serve to enhance fellowship. And because we are able to come together with ONE purpose, ONE goal and we serve ONE God, then truly we are ONE because we all have ONE thing that makes us the same - we are washed by the Blood of the Lamb.

DENOMINATION
The Shepherd’s House is a full-Gospel, Pentecostal church. We practice the Scriptural doctrines such as water baptism, Holy Communion, and believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of tongues. We also believe the infallibility of the Bible because it is the inspired Word of God. (See the Faith page for more information).

SHEPHERD'S HOUSE'S HISTORY

I planned to retire as a police officer in 1999 and move to Florida, but God showed me this was not His plan. It was not grudgingly, but with enthusiasm that I finally yielded. Two other couples and I met on September 21,1997, and decided to start a new church in my home.

We started meeting on Sundays. Soon, we knew we needed another location. On December 5, 1997, we moved into a two family house and converted the second floor into a chapel. We then added a prayer service on Tuesday nights and youth/adult service on Friday nights. We continued to grow and conducted our first baptismal service on May 8, 1998.

The need for a bigger place was evident. I went to the owners of our present location. They showed me a store but it had no basement and the rent was too much. I walked away feeling a little down. I continued to look but could feel the Lord directing me back. I finally went to the owners again and asked if we could rent another little store on the end. It needed a new floor, walls, and ceiling, etc., but the owners said because it was for a church, they would make the repairs and would charge us $950 per month. This is a good price for New York. We didn't have all the money but I felt God would supply. The owners started their work and God started His. In April 1998, Mayda, my wife, and I attended the Eastern Region Conference in Pontiac, Michigan. I didn't know many people there since I was new. I received the church's charter and was asked to give a report on the church. My wife attended the Women's Ministries Luncheon where she met Dayna, the wife of David Rogers, pastor of Bellbrook Community Church of Bellbrook, Ohio. I found out later both David and Dayna felt compassion to help us; David, when I gave the report and Dayna, when she was with Mayda.

The moving date was getting closer. On May 10, we received financial support from Bellbrook. God's time is always the right time. This helped us move and on May 17, we had our first service at our new location in Ozone Park, New York. I kept Bellbrook informed and a friendship developed.

I felt the need for additional space for the future and approached the landlords about a possible expansion. They were excited because they had planned to rent out some additional space behind our church. They told me we helped their business at a time when things weren't going well. I told them we pray for them and that God has blessed them for helping us. We will approximately double the size of the church which will even include a finished basement!

We gave them some money for repairs. Then some big bills came in and our backs were to the wall. Guess whom God used? Bellbrook! When I opened the letter and saw a check large enough to cover the bills, I cried tears of joy for experiencing God's working first hand.

THIS TREMENDOUS MOVE OF GOD REPRESENTS

An established church helping a new church, an Anglo-American church helping a Spanish American culturally mixed church, Christians helping fellow Christians whom they really don't know.

The help is not only financial, but also spiritual. We continue to look for more ways to interact. We are growing. We have eight Sunday school classes, a prayer service, youth nights, Friday services with the children, evangelistic and home worship services. So far, we have peaked on a Sunday to 139 in attendance! Praise God!

Young peoples who grow up speaking English often leave the all Spanish churches. Language is a major reason. Therefore, our services are done in both Spanish and English, to keep the Hispanic culture and the family together.

Because the church has experienced such a growth spurt, we will eventually need a larger temple! We are seeking His guidance and direction to point to that location. We are thankful for this blessing and hope that we may grown not only in number but in Spirit, which is most important. We thank and praise Him for everything. He has truly done great things and will continue to do so. Amen.

Rev Richard F Vedilago
Senior Pastor