West Philadelphia: More than Praise, Worship and Service

Churchgoers are getting more out of church. Members of the Christian Stronghold Church do not only attend services for the sermons, but for the continuous motivation to develop their personal relationship with God through service, employment or education.

The church encourages its members to participate in serve activities as a way to honor God and develop spiritual friendships. Traditionally, a church member’s function is to offer their skills to a particular ministry. However, deciding the right area of service might be challenging. Passion for the activity, devoted time commitment and faithfulness to the ministry are variables in successful ministry service. Many church members do not look at serving as strenuous work, but rather reverence to God.

Amanda Davis sings soprano on the Christian Sounds Choir—one of six musical ministries. As a young adult, singing on the choir is more than a monotonous Sunday morning routine.

“It’s important for me to serve in ministry because it’s an opportunity for me to give back to God the gifts that He has given me. At the same time, it blesses other people,” Davis said.

There are over fifty active ministries in CSC. African American Cultural Awareness, Audio Visual, Bookstore Workers, Children’s Church, Community Action Council, Evangelism Ministry, Job and Career Management, Men’s Discipleship, Photography Ministry, Singles Ministry and the Youth Ministry are many of the operating ministries in the church.

Another opportunity for church members is to receive employment from the church. There are numerous administrative positions that keep CSC well organized. Tenora Rogers, information processor and graphic artist, designs all flyers and banners for various ministry events and creates the weekly Sunday church bulletins—generally six to ten pages in length. As a recent Temple University alumna, Rogers uses her advertisement degree for the service in the church.

April 30th, 2010 will celebrate Roger’s tenth year as member of CSC. Over the years, she has been involved with the Singles Ministry and served as a youth worker for the Youth Ministry. She smiles at the many years of service and enjoys her new position.

“I am able to use my natural gift of art for God’s people,” Rogers said.

When pastors are not preaching, hymns are still being song and the Bible remains open Monday through Friday for spiritual growth and academic progress. CSC serves as a Christian school. Both Creative World Learning Center—teaching six months to five years old and Destiny Learning Academy—teaching kindergarten to sixth grade—provide Christian education. The schools are apart of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Established in 1992, both schools’ vision focuses on the “shared responsibility for [a] child’s growth and development.” According to school records, students who graduate from these programs are generally two grades above national levels and are in the top ten percent in area charter middle schools.

Executive director, Reginald Dunston, has managed the schools for the past three years. His experience with the schools are rewarding because the outreach to the African American community has been a success.

“My favorite part is the impact we have on young people’s lives spiritually and academically,” Dunston said.

The vision to increase membership yearly, create new church ministries and advance the Christian schools academic standards was given to Rev. Dr. Willie Richardson, senior pastor at CSC. In 1966, Richardson received the call to pastor over a church—this refers to the belief that God spoke to him with the spiritual vision.

Forty-four years ago, Christian Stronghold Church’s (CSC) membership started at six people. Now, there are over 4,000 active members.

According to the 1st Quarterly Report of 2010—January 1st to March 31st—total membership in CSC was 4,058 people. Men made up 1,338 and 33 percent of the members. With larger numbers, there were 2,061 women who accounted for 51 percent membership. The youth, between 12 to 17 years old, accounted for 11 percent. Lastly, there were 214 younger children. This was approximately 5 percent of membership.

Compared to the last quarter of 2009—October 1st to December 31st, 2010—the membership was 3,977. Since then, 81 people received membership. These growing rates could contribute to the mental refreshment of a person’s spirituality—the idea of starting off right for the new year.

Yet, CBC members are more than a statistical number. Despite the large congregation, CSC calls its members the “church family” because there is a close community among the members.

Richardson expanded CSC to others by preaching, teaching, and counseling locally, nationally and throughout the world. His workshops, seminars, sermons and lectures at college seminary campuses, are focused on reaching “families of all ethic backgrounds.” CSC has been a blessing in many lives in many communities.

His works were even recognized by former President George W. Bush—who invited Richardson to the White House to help organize “Faith Base Initiatives.”

In 2000, Richardson began to create a new plan to cater to the needs of his large and growing congregation. CSC became a cell church by “glorifying Christ, amplifying the Bible and edifying people.” Through his leadership, members meet at other member’s homes weekly for fellowship, prayer groups and Bible study lessons.

Richardson’s life scripture is Acts 26:18 which says, “To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by that is in me.”