HISTORY OF SAYRE WOODS BIBLE CHURCH

1956-2008

On September 13, 1982, a building committee and building fund was established for the purpose of expanding the All Purpose Building.Goal was $100,000.The building committee recommended construction of a 50 ft. X 50 ft. addition.This project was completed in October 1984. It provided for a much larger meeting area for services.

Drive Through the Christmas Story with live animals and people was first held November 29 through December 1, 1984.It was created by Roxanne Tauriello, who directs it each year along withPastor Douglass; she had seen an article about a drivethrough to see Christmas art in California.It starts the Friday after Thanksgiving and lasts through the next ten days.Every year it takes more than 700 people working as volunteers in the 10 scenes and behind the scenes in preparation of publicity, mailing brochures to churches in the community, cleaning, ironing costumes, build the sets, electrical work, props, helping the participants with makeup and costumes, care for the live animals, greet visitors, hand outtape cassettes of the Christmas story and it's true meaning to each car's occupants as they come through.Allthe public is invited since this is a major community outreach project of this church; no fees are charged to those attending.About 100,000 people have gone through the pageant to this date, 2006.The tapes are being translated into the Spanish and Russian languages in order for more people to be able tounderstand the gospel message.

The first youth pastor was Jonathan Stanley from August 1985 until March 1988.Five members called a special business meeting and the membership elected to call Pastor Stanley as a full time youth pastor.Various youth services were ledfrom 1988 through 1996 by men and women of thechurch, summer workers, and youth interns.

Thomas Nelson Detamore, Jr. worked full time as Youth Pastor from May of 1996 through April 2002.He was born November 2, 1972 and started attending the church as a baby.He grew up at Sayre Woods Bible Church and was involved in the Sunday School programs, Youth Programs and the Christian Service Brigade Program.He was the first and only person from the church to receive the highest honor in the Brigade program called the Herald of Christ award.He attended Timothy Christian School and then graduated college with a degree in Youth Ministry from Nyack College.He has a Master in Bible at Philadelphia Biblical University. At present he is the pastor of Ardena Baptist Church, Freehold, NJ, where his ordaination was held on 27 March 2006.

Adam Wormann joined the staff as full-time youth pastor in June 2002. Adam is a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University with a degree in Youth Ministry. He is currently working on a Master’s degree at Biblical Seminary in PA. He was married to JaneAnn Kellyon October 23, 2003. Adam leads the Thursday night Refinery service and teaches Junior High and Senior High Sunday School classes. His office is now across the hall from the All Purpose Room. He and Jane Ann have a son, Owen Christopher, born 28 August 2005,and also a younger son, b. 2008, named Cole.

The Youth program consists of a Jr. High and a Sr. High ministry which meet weekly for Bible study and fellowship.Monthly they have various activities and projects.Each year they have a winter retreat, work in a soup kitchen, and in the summer they have a missions trip as well as other exciting events.All these things are done that they may gain knowledge of God's Word and what it means to live a Christian life.

Golden Fellowship is a senior group of Christian men and women, started in 1996, who met once a month at The Old Country Buffet Restaurant in Old Bridge Gateway Mall. After greetings, prayer, fellowship, and lunch, they have a time of songs, prayer requests, sharing and encouraging one another and sometimes a special speaker with a timely message. Golden Fellowship continues at Buttonwood Manor in 2009, the first Monday of the month at 12 Noon, except in the summer months. The seniors enjoy this time of fellowship and each month one of them takes the program and gives an inspiring message.

Pastor Steve and Liz took the seniors on the first ever trip for seniors in June 2003 to Williamsburg, Va. in June 2003, and we all had a good time of fellowship.In 2005, 14 members of the church took a trip with Pastor Steve and Bill Weaver to"Sight and Sound" in Lancaster, PA to see "Ruth" and "Psalms of David." In 2006, Pastor Steve, his family and Bill Weaver took the seniors to Gettysburg to hear and see the details of the Battle of Gettysburg. In 2008, we went to Plymouth, Massachusetts to visit the first settlement there in 1620.

Pastor Joe explains that Sayre Woods Baptist Church's name was changed to Sayre Woods Bible Church early in 1994 because a lot of feedback was coming in that some people were convicted by the Gospel, but turned away by the word Baptist since they did not understand what a Baptist was. Many thought erroneously that they had to become Baptists if they attended here.In the mindset of some people, they could not divorce the religious title of the church from thinking that if they became Christians they would become of that denomination.

The church sign faces south Rt. 9 for all to see as they drive by. Volunteers place quotes on the sign regularly.

The Church Mortgage, Renovation, Expansion Plans committee (MORE for short) was formed about 1988 with Chairman Lynn Hansen, the Elder Board, and others such as Dave Dalik, Sr., Beth Hale, Ed Namowicz, Ernie Pellegrino, Ron Ralph, Mike Roy, Ray Taureck, Sam Tauriello,to oversee the mortgage refinancing, the education building basement classrooms renovation done in 1991, and the expansion program undertaken in the middle nineties.MYLAR, a Christian church builder, was consulted for a feasibility study, and afterwards the congregation was consulted and informed before the plans were finalized and went forth.

A new building fund was established in June 1994 for the purpose of a larger reception area, nursery,primary Sunday School room, more bathrooms, a steeple, offices for the pastor, associate pastor, and secretary.The ground breaking for this expansion took place in 1996.This addition joined the All Purpose Room to the education building, and when finished in the spring of 1997, the church looked like it does now.The old secretary's office, and Pastor Joe's old office in the All Purpose Building were turned into the church library and the audiotape and storage rooms. In 1998, the buying process of the land next door of approximately two acres was completed. Now we have plenty of room for parking and any future expansions of the church.

In September 1999, the second service on Sunday mornings was started to accommodate more people with comfort in the All Purpose Room.The first service begins at 9:15 AM and the second begins at 11 AM.Sunday School starts at 11 AM.In 2000, the All Purpose Room was newly painted,fully carpeted and audio panels were put on the walls. New draperies were added on the stage.

The sound system was upgraded in 2001 and a new lighting system and ceiling tiles was installed. All of this was done for the purpose of making our facilities more palatable to unbelieving mindsets and further the proclamation of the good news. The church membership numbered 255 in April 2000, but the average attendance was over 400 each Sunday and continues so today.

Al Murr told me he led the worship in song for 29 years here.Then from 1991 until 1996, Debbie Simpson was the choir director and in charge of music.Dr. Douglas Lambertson (Doctor of Optometry) led one of the most talented Praise Bands, Worship Singers and adult choirs and children's choirs anywhere from 1996-2006.Doug and Peggy, his wife, also lent their beautiful voices in praise and leading the singing every Sunday morning and evening services on Thursdays until they moved. For awhile several musical teams led our Sunday morning worship services.

Worship Leader Jeff Markey came to Sayre Woods in 2007. He is a graduate of Montclair State University with a bachelor of arts degree in Music Education. He is from Hopatcong, NJ. His wife is Grace and they have a young daughter Kayla.

We also have a fine audio/visual/tape committee which serves faithfully to support the worship of our Lord and Savior to produce the best visual, audio, and tape reproduction possible.A tape is provided for playback at home to anyone who cannot attend. We will provide CD’s for playback also.

Bill Weaver, a graduate of Northern Arizona University, is a volunteer staff member in charge ofoutreach, evangelism, and he is the small groups coordinator at Sayre Woods.He also teaches a small group every two weeks. He is studying for a Masters degree in Divinity at Bethel Seminary of the East. Bill and his family left Sayre Woods and moved to Pennsylvania in 2008.

Our small groups started successfully (because of training and good leadership) years ago for adults and seniors.These groups meet in the church or members' homes twice a month, the purpose being to establish fellowship, encourage, and strengthen relationships through study of the Word.

Every year we have adult retreats, sometimes at Willow Valley and at Camp of the Woods in the winter.We also have a men's retreat and ladies retreat in the spring or fall, usually held at Harvey Cedars Bible Conference Facility in Long Beach Island, NJ or in Ocean Grove, NJ. Or perhaps other places. Early in 2001, we purchased a new Church van.

Pastor Joe Douglass has been with us since 1976; under his guidance, the church has made many strides forward. In 2001-03, Pastor Joe says that

" we are seeing people become more open to the Gospel because of insecurity raised by the September 11th World Trade Center bombing, also more people who have stopped in the past are coming back here for guidance and to hear the Word. More and more families are coming in who have children in the AWANA program which began in 1999. We are seeing people saved by faith here."

In the fall of 2002, the AWANA program was turned over to John and Linda Terracciano.Since then some children and some parents have been saved after hearing the gospel. The AWANA program has grown significantly under their leadership and is a program of Bible study and activities for children of all ages.

In April 2003, we have 246 members (202 voting, 44 non voting).

Renovations done around the church in 2003 were in the music room with new carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, desks and chairs. Those involved with the music ministry are the Band, Choir, Joyful Noise (children), instrumentalists, soloists, worship singers, and visual teams.

A new audio-visual booth was built in the All Purpose Room in 2003.The church parking lot and area around the church was freshly paved in spring of 2003.Soon after the kitchen was remodeled and new appliances were installed.A new audio-visual booth has been built in the All Purpose Room, and we purchaseda new VDP, wireless lapel microphone for the pastor, and computer. Stage/platform lighting was reconfigured for better visibility of the Worship Band and the pastors.

The church officers elected June 1, 2003 are as follows:

Board of Elders: Matt Crogan, Bob Galvin, Lynn Hansen, Drake Kijowski, Bob Rosano, Bill Weaver.Board of Deacons: Marcos Guevara, Vince Hladek, Scott Hutchinson, Norman Kramer, Bob Malool, Sam Tauriello, Colin Tisch.Board of Deaconesses: Sharlene Ciejak, Loyda Gonzalez, Gina Lang, Pam MGovern, Cathy Samaniego, Jan Starozytnyk, Lisa Wurth.Board of Missions: Amy Catalano, John Fonterosa, Alex Habib, Susan O'Leary, Elaine Walker. Treasurer: Rosanne Ingolia. Board of Christian Education: Margarita Hladek, Jason Browning.Sunday School Superintendent: Linda Terracciano.Moderator Ron Ralph. Clerk Dorothy Osbahr.Envelope Chairman Liz Tisch.Assistant TreasurersKim Asciutto, Bob Dacus, Stan Clayton, Dorothy Haines, Eileen Kulcsar, Brad MacNiven, Tom McGovern, Dennis O'Leary, Cesar Samaniego, Eric Weidman.Auditing Commitee Kathy Browning, Lionel Roneree .

The new kitchen was finished in the fall of 2003, and it is a beauty!We have a freezer, refrigerator and stove, the latest in appliances, a new pantry, and very competent chefs in the kitchen.The project cost was less then expected due to all the volunteers who contributed their talents.We continue to haveevening dinners at the church during the year except during the summer .Evening services are held at 7:30PM all year.During the summer 0f 2004, the older bathrooms next to theassembly room were renovated completely.

Jason Browning became the Christian Education chairman in November 2003.Other changes which took place in 2004 is the child safety initiative program. This program puts into place precautions to protect our children from abuse and monitors for their protection.A program is being planned and put in effect for all workers to see the educational video, arranging for backgrounds checks, etc.Sunday School teachers will be trained to teach and other worthwhile projects are being planned to make Sunday School a vital partof the Christian's life at Sayre Woods.

In April 2004, we have 257 members (198 voting, 57 non-voting).

The church officers electedJune 1, 2004 are as follows:Board of Elders: Matt Crogan, Bob Galvin, Hector Gonzales, Lynn Hansen, Bob Rosano, Bill Weaver.Board of Deacons: Marcos Guervara, Norman Kramer, Joe Land, Bob Malool, Sam Tauriello, Tom Watson, Maury Wells .Board of Deaconesses: Sharlene Ciejak, Loyda Gonzalez, Cathy Samaniego, Jan Starozytnyk, Christy Weaver, Lisa Wurth .Board of Missions:Mike DeRisi, Noah Lang, Jean Smith, Mike Vitiello, Elaine Walker .Treasurer:Tom McGovern.Board of Christian Education:Jason Browning.Sunday School Superintendent::June Beans .Clerk: Dorothy Osbahr.EnvelopeChairman:Deb Garthe.AssistantTreasurers: Kim Asciutto, Bob Dacus, Dorothy Haines, Lilian Hansen, Eileen Kulcsar, Brad MacNiven, Dennis O'Leary. Cesar Samaniego, Eric Weidman.Auditing Committee:June Beans, Kathy Browning, Lionel Roneree.

In the fall of 2004, we went through the 40 Days of Purpose Campaign with the strength of God. There were reports of 14 people who were converted, and of people growing in their faith and in their fellowship with other believers.Attendance jumped and over 468 people were involved in small groups, 107 of them outside of our church.The goal was to continue the momentum after the 40 days campaign.After the Christmas holidays, about 15 groups continued in the spring, and then again in the summer of 2005 and fall of 2005.

On April 24, 2005 Al Murr, one of the most active and loyal members of the church for many years, passed away in North Carolina where he lived.A memorial service was held in the church for him, with his wife, family,friends, relatives, and many past members of this church in attendance to honor his memory .

In June 2005, a church consultant came to Sayre Woods to help us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the church and ways to address the needs that should be addressed.The leadership is constantly praying and working to correct these areas: shepherding, ministry definition, and support.

As of April 2005, we have 255 members (211 voting , 44 non-voting).

Adam Wormann, youth pastor, has been able to go into the public school system to give"Straight Talk," an abstinence presentation, to over 1000 students in the past year. In July, Adam took some of the teenagers to a disadvantaged area in Hurley, Virginia to help the people there.Awana attendance has jumped to around 170 kids on Tuesday night, about 60% of them come from outside the church.Several kids came to faith and many kids and parents were exposed to the Gospel for the first time.God is good.In 2006, they go to New Orleans in August to help out Hurricane Katrina victims.

The Missions board has been very active.They sponsored a trip to Shanghai, China in July 2005 where several of our members taught the Chinese students English and shared the Gospel with them.In the fall, two trips to help the Hurricane Katrina victims were undertaken by some men of the church.A fall festival was held in the fall and all proceeds went to New Orleans. Our church is temporarily supporting the missionaries of Berean Bible Church, New Orleans where Pastor Steve used to be the youth pastor.Our church supports quite a few full time missionaries around the world.Full details about missions can be read on the missionary pages here.

Pastor Joe and Mike Vitello went to see four of our missionaries, two Americans and two nationals in the former Soviet Union. A trip for volunteers was planned to Russia and to New Orleans in the summer (2006).

As of April 2006, we have 242 members (209 voting, 27 inactive, 6 non-voting).

Officers 2006 are: Elders: Bill Weaver, Marcos Guevera, Rich Haines, Hector Gonzalez;Deacons: Rich Ingoglia, Todd Rowan, Ian Struthers, Tom Watson, Maury Wells, Maury Wells, Sr;Deaconesses: Loyda Gonzalez, Pam McGovern, Sharlene Ciejak, Amy Catalano, Dawn Struthers, Christy Weaver, Peggy Wells; Christian Education; Jason Browning; Treasurer: Tom McGovern; Assistant Treasurer: Eric Weidman and eight others.Greg Sylvester, Moderator; Dot Osbahr, Church Clerk; Sunday School Superintendent, June Beans; Auditing Committee: Mike Asciutto, Sheryl Davis, Everaldo Hechavarria; Envelope Chairperson, Deb Garthe.

In spring 2006, small groups studied the 40 Days of Purpose in the Community. As our church grows, it's imperative to connect people together, to pray together, and encourage one another through God's Word, where the "one another" commands of Scripture can be lived out on a practical level.

On May 16-20, 2006,Pastor Joe and Pastor Steve were invited to a RickWarren Seminar in Lake Forest, CA. at Saddleback Church. Ourchurch was one of 46 around the world who won the Purpose Driven Life Church Health Award plaque. Many thousands of churches participated and Sayre Woods was singled out for its church health.

Plans are in the making to build additional Christian Education space and later a new sanctuary and other improvements to our buildings.

A few of the traditions at Sayre Woods are the Church picnic held in May, parking lot picnic held around the Fourth of July, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, The New Year's Eve service at which we all join hands and form a circle, singing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds."

Pastor Joe calls it a privilege to be here for over 33 years at Sayre Woods, and the congregation feels blessed and praises God for all three of our excellent pastors: Pastor Joe, Pastor Steve, and Pastor Adam. Recently we had a Pastors’ Appreciation Dinner and an outpouring of love and testimonials for our pastors and their wives.

The church celebrated it's forty-ninth anniversary on October 26, 2005; it's jubilee year (see Leviticus 25:8-10). October 26, 2006 was our fifty years anniversary. As Pastor Joe says, “May each of us, as we enter the second 50 years of Sayre Woods Bible Church, be at God’s disposal to accomplish His purpose for us though His enablement for His Glory.”

Now we have reached February 8, 2009, and our church continues to grow. Soon we will be putting up another new addition to the facilities.

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