Pastor Fred Bernhard

MOUNT JOY, Pa. -- Fred Bernhard, widely-known seminar speaker on church hospitality, will be the featured speaker in three communities this fall.

Salem Mennonite Church, Elida, OH will be the host church for surrounding Mennonite, Church of the Brethren and Brethren congregations in an all-day seminar on Saturday, Sept. 18. Churches of western Pennsylvania will gather at Maple Spring Church of the Brethren in Hollsopple, PA on Saturday, Oct. 9. And on Saturday, Oct. 16, the churches of central Indiana are invited to the Church of the Brethren, 311 W. Lincoln Rd., Kokomo, IN.

In his seminar entitled "Hospitality and the Vital Church," Bernhard, pastor of the 520-member Oakland Church of the Brethren in rural west central Ohio, makes a connection between the church’s health and its willingness to "entertain the stranger in its midst." He presents a model for biblical hospitality that includes practical tips for members wanting to widen their welcome to visitors. He deals with such practical subjects as: what is Biblical hospitality, attitudes about strangers, assimilation of newcomers, planning your own model and a hospitality program that works.

When Bernhard applied the principles he teaches in his seminar, his congregation at Oakland saw a 19% increase in worship attendance and a 36% increase in Sunday school attendance in the first three months. The church, located in Gettysburg, Ohio, continues to grow at the same pace.

A native of Mount Joy, PA, Bernhard has held pastorates in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He has served the wider church as district board member, district and annual conference moderator. He is married to the former Joice Burall.

Bernhard draws heavily on a book he has co-authored with Steve Clapp entitled Widening the Welcome of Your Church. Both Bernhard and Clapp, a consultant from Fort Wayne, IN who has done extensive research in church growth and decline, have held seminars in several churches across the country under the auspices of New Life Ministries, sponsor of the seminars.

Congregations are encouraged to send persons from their churches, including the pastor or pastoral team, outreach committee persons and anyone interested in reaching out more intentionally to their neighbors.

There is a small registration fee for the all-day event which is held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally provided by the host church. More information is available by calling New Life Ministries toll-free at 1-800-774-3360.

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