Our Story

#ToGodBeTheGlory

This Is the story of how Spring City Regeneration Church came to be….
In mid-2016, when my bride was involved in “Hope on the Hill”, a food ministry at Spring City United Methodist Church, I was told by the Pastor there that the church would soon be closing. It was such an icon in the community. Yet through the years the congregation had dwindled and there was no mistaking that it had fallen into a state of disrepair. Still there was something about that old building that pulled at me. I began to have a series of visions of the building becoming a version of her former self. A lighthouse in a dark sea. A lamp on a stand. I remember being awakened night after night and God speaking plainly that this would happen. That many ministries would happen here including help for children, young mothers, homeless, and the Spring City/Royersford Valley. God kept me awake, night after night for three weeks. During this time, I wrestled with what God was telling me. “Not Me, I’m not a pastor.”, I told him… “You’ve got the wrong guy.” Finally, I told Him, “OK! If you just let me get some sleep, I will do what you ask! But it is not going to work! I am just a retired cop! And I play the drums…Those are my only assets.” I told my bride about the visions and she encouraged me to do whatever God was telling me to do. During this time, I relayed my visions to one of the wisest people I know. A man respected throughout the area and a Pastor Emeritus of his original church, Jack Mason. He encouraged me to, “step through any door that opens” and to “Follow God where he leads.” He also told me that a man that belonged to a local pastor’s group in the area, had had the same vision. He told me where that man lived and that I should go speak to him. I knocked on that man’s door and was invited in. He was called to come downstairs. I told him that I heard that he had a vision for the building and that I had one too…and that is how I met Pastor Bill Beck.
Bill explained that he had a vision that was primarily the same, but his vision included a figure of 1000 people and an extremely large sum of funds needed for the ministries. We became fast friends and at one point climbed what Bill referred to as a “staircase”, which was more like Jacob’s ladder if you ask me, to the roof of the bell tower. It was there we prayed over the Valley and prayed for God’s guidance, wisdom and blessing. We both would stop and pray on the steps of the building that God’s vision and will be done. We began to work to make God’s dream come true. Another local pastor and I made a video that I posted online in order to raise funds to purchase the building. It had no success. Bill Beck and I toured the building with a group of respected Pastors who could see the vision and simply restated the encouragement of my first pastor so we started to work!

We spoke to people who also caught the vision. God had given me a dollar figure to offer so we did, having no idea where we would get the money if they accepted. It was during this time that I received a phone call from a woman who I will call “Angel”. Angel said she heard that I had had a vision and asked me to tell her my vision. I related the entire story and at the end she said, “I see your vision. I received some money in an inheritance and want to use it for good. I’ll buy that building for you if you can get them to sell it for that price!” They turned down our offer and put the building on the market. Also at this time another Methodist Church that had toured the building with us offered to take the building and then allow us to use it if we payed all the expenses…that too fell through…We continued to pray. I prayed for open doors, I prayed for closed doors, I prayed God’s will be done. During this time, the vision died for some. But it remained alive too the faithful.
Three times the building was sold. Three times I called to confirm. Twice I was told it fell through. Every once in a while, people would ask about the status of the vision, of the building. Angel and I spoke several times during these years and she always said, “I’m still here. I still see the vision.” At one point I thought that maybe the door was closed, and we were supposed to keep God’s dream alive by renting a storefront…but they were all out of our reach financially. The third time the building sold in April 2019, and I called and got the devastating news. A check was being sent the next day to seal the deal. I reiterated that our original offer still stood, and that God had promised that building to the community, but I was crushed. It must not have been a vision…it must have been me…the building was gone. During this time, I lost touch with Pastor Beck. We all continued in our separate ministries but life seemed a bit hollow when what I began to think that the Vision of God, may not have been a vision at all, but simply something that my mind set itself on…Again, more prayers for closed doors.

Several weeks later I passed by and saw that the building was still listed for sale. A few weeks later the man in charge called me and asked if our vision was till the same. I stated that it was! He asked, "Can I go back to the other trustees with anything more than your original offer?” I told him these exact words, “God hasn’t come to me and said, “hey I was wrong Bill, it is not $80,000. I made a mistake, its $110,000.”, but I will pray about that.” So, I prayed. Every day, sometimes all day, I prayed. God even kept me up a couple nights in prayer. After about two weeks God spoke to me. He said that he felt that I had learned patience. He also said that in faith, I should add $5000.00 of my own savings to the figure. I ran this by my bride as she is my faithful barometer of, “is it me or God”. She said, “If that’s what God is telling you then you should do that. I also returned to my wise mentor pastor Mason who repeated, “keep stepping forward as the Lord opens the doors!”
When I called to tell the listing realtor that we were going to make an offer, he told me if I tried to bring another realtor into the deal,   
he would kill the deal. So, I told my realtor she’d have to sit this one out….and the deal fell flat. When I called the realty company and told them what he had said they drew up a deal and submitted it…it was a deal that expired before the trustees selling the building ever read it…Now I knew God was in this, as the enemy was working so hard to kill this deal. I called my realtor, Devon Wright, and told her to put in an offer and make it a standard contract. When she saw the price of the building, she thought I was crazy…” They’re asking almost $400,000.00 and you want me to put in a contract for $85,000.00 with no inspections and a 30-day settlement? They’ll never accept that!” “Put in the contract and watch the Glory of the Lord!” (A true Pastor Masonism) In a few days they accepted our contract. I realized we did not even have a Spring City Regeneration Church that had contracted to purchase the property!!! After prayer, God gave me the names of those he wanted on the founding board. All but one person accepted, and the founding board was Roy Thompson, John Applebach, Tina Burdette, Kristy Caruso, and me. In 2 ½ weeks, with help from The pastor of Pottstown Bible Church, John Applebach, and many others including an attorney, Bob Snyder, working pro bono, we had a church and a non-profit corporation in PA. Settlement set for September 30th was delayed by the enemy as the Methodists gathered all the documents needed for the title and on October 11, 2019, The young Spring City Regeneration Church had a building. On October 13, 2020, we had our first service with over 60 souls in attendance.
Now what you will not notice here are anything other than the details of what God did. The visions he gave. The faithfulness he maintained…The vision, birthed 3 years ago had occurred in HIS time. Not mine. Every time I tried to take control, I failed. When I let go and Let God…. He brought forth His vision in His time. The confirmations that have come forth, contractors repairing the structure without asking payment, farmers pledging profits from acres of ground, blessings of the borough of Spring City and her Community, highly respected attorneys working pro bono, many churches in the area being excited to help with ministry , donating equipment and sending work teams to us, and last but nowhere near least, Angel’s gift of not $80,000.00 but much, much more, which enables us to get on our feet and function in the community immediately.
We are NOT a church plant. We are simply people following a vision that God has given for this area.
We are a non-denominational, Pentecostal, Ecumenical body of believers, currently working in harmony with Methodist, UCC, Baptist, and other congregations. We are not looking for bodies to warm the pews…God has shown that He will provide and complete His vision. We do “Messy Ministry”. While we acknowledge that handing over a check has its place, our rooms are filled with food    
that we distribute to anyone in need. We have boxes and boxes of clothing that is available to those who need it. We partner with organizations such as The You Are Worth It Foundation that may be secular in nature but are spreading the Love of Christ. Our men’s and women’s groups support those who are in need. Our children’s ministry teaches children the right way to go. The entire staff is volunteer. Nobody gets a paycheck. Every penny we collect goes right back into the community ministry and restoration of the structure that I lovingly like to refer to as,” this old girl.”  We welcome all who simply want to love on people.
Our Pastor is…. you guessed it, Bill Beck…Yep, Bill and I reconnected after numerous phone calls. His vision for the area is the same…slowly we are making inroads to meet the needs of the community. Pastor Bill keeps preaching the Gospel every Sunday at 10:30 AM. And me? I’m just an old cop that can still play the drums, that God trusted with a vision, surrounded by a people who want to do nothing but serve and Love on people. #ToGodBeTheGlory

 
Spring City Regeneration Church has no agenda other than to Love and Serve our Community. “Love God, Love People, Make Disciples” is our Mission Statement. If you want to know more. Reach out. If your church wants to help with ministry, reach out. If you want to help with any ministry, reach out. You do not have to be a member of this church or any church to do ministry here.