Pittsburgh Church Receives Outreach Award

The Pittsburgh church’s community service outreach has tripled since 2008, with an estimated 70 percent of its members involved. Jeanette Dare, ACS director for the Pennsylvania Conference, recognized the accomplishment and presented Pastor Dennis Austin with the annual Adventist Community Service (ACS) award during a special presentation at Pennsylvania Conference Camp Meeting.

Story by Pennsylvania Conference Staff

The Pittsburgh church’s community service outreach has tripled since 2008, with an estimated 70 percent of its members involved. Jeanette Dare, ACS director for the Pennsylvania Conference, recognized the accomplishment and presented Pastor Dennis Austin with the annual Adventist Community Service (ACS) award during a special presentation at Pennsylvania Conference Camp Meeting.

Dare presented Austin with a plaque to commemorate the level of excellence and commitment shown by Pittsburgh’s members—young and old—as they “reveal Jesus and make disciples” in their community.

The church purchased a house specifically for community service to help with several ministries. It is used as a temporary shelter for the homeless and for travelers experiencing a crisis or 12-hour layover in Pittsburgh, as well as for Bible worker housing.

Church members also make and give away blankets and bedtime story booklets to children receiving long-term care at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The hospital continually expresses their desire to have this program continue, citing the positive healing effects on the children. Pastor Dennis Austin recently received a letter from a parent who says their daughter became more content and happy after getting her blanket.

Members also prepare and serve meals for tenants at the Ronald McDonald House, which is connected with the children's hospital. They collect food to supply low-income children and their families with meals during the summer when school feeding programs end, and distribute food baskets to tenants in need during the holidays.