Church gives its building to keep ministries alive

The pastors agreed that God answers prayers.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- What a gift!
Central Christian Church is giving itself to another church to benefit the city's South Side.
Central Christian Church, 3000 Market St., will cease to exist as of Dec. 31.
The building and all church property -- "lock, stock, and barrel," said Central's interim pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jim Melick -- will be given to New Beginning Assembly of God, 2615 Market St., a storefront church four blocks to the north.
The Rev. Tom Fortini, the pastor of New Beginning, repeatedly thanked Central Christian for the love it is showing.
"We really were blessed," the Rev. Mr. Fortini said.
The change highlights the commitment both congregations have to minister to the South Side, the pastors agreed.
A rarity: The gift is rare in many ways, especially because a church of one denomination will give its building to another denomination, said the Rev. Mr. Melick. Central Christian is a Disciples of Christ church; New Beginning belongs to the Assemblies of God.
And several people in Central Christian's congregation plan to stay on in the new congregation, Mr. Melick said.
It's rare for a cramped church -- New Beginning's sanctuary is a remodeled machine shop and loading dock -- to go to a much larger facility with beautiful stained-glass windows.
The pastors said the move was proof God answers prayers.
"We had prayed to the Lord to give us a building," said Mr. Fortini.
Mr. Fortini has been running New Beginnings for three years. The church has existed for about four and a half years.
Mr. Melick went to Central Christian for three months as an interim pastor but wound up staying for 31/2 years. During that time, he said, Central was praying for someone to continue its mission.
Merger talks with other Disciples of Christ churches didn't click. The problem in merger talks is that "everyone wants to stay where they are at," Mr. Melick said.
The congregations: Central Christian's congregation is mostly white, older people in their 70s, 80s and 90s. It draws about 60 people each Sunday.
At one point, Central Christian's adult education programs filled the sanctuary and balcony -- perhaps 400 seats -- and had more people than the turnout at church services.
Central Christian began in 1895, first meeting in Davis Hall on West Federal Street. Vindicator records show there were 13 people at the first meeting, but membership eventually reached 1,000. The church was at 113 Market Street until the current building was dedicated in 1950.
The Mahoning County Auditor's Office said the church and land have a market value of about $450,000.
By contrast, New Beginning has a membership of 75, but drew 228 people to its services last Sunday. Its congregation consists of blacks, whites and Hispanics.
Central Christian houses a day-care program that is important to its neighborhood residents. Central wanted it to continue, and it will.
New Beginning houses food and clothing pantries and offers recovery counseling.
"We feed anybody who comes our way," Mr. Fortini said. "That's what God would have us do."
New Beginnings also buses in 170 youths two nights a week for the South Side Winners program that teaches them biblical values.
"We are cramped," Mr. Fortini said. "We use every square inch."
Proposal: Mr. Fortini heard about Central Christian's search and made a proposal for the building. He also works as a chaplain at Forum Health, where Mr. Melick is corporate director of pastoral care.
Central Christian, said Mr. Melick, had other proposals for use of the building but was looking for a ministry with a proven track record. That was New Beginning, he said.
The decision was made in late November. The congregations have already had one joint service, and will have another at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 30. At that time, Central Christian will symbolically give the church to New Beginning, Mr. Melick said.
A meal will follow the service, partly because of the grieving some Central members are going through, Mr. Melick said. There are members who have been a part of Central their entire lives.
Mr. Melick stressed that Central Christian isn't closing but taking on a new life. "It's extending its ministry," he said.
The desire of both churches to minister to the South Side was a key to the agreement, Mr. Fortini said.
Events unfolded so quickly there hasn't been time to decide what programs will be operated at the Central or New Beginning buildings, Mr. Fortini said. The name "New Beginning" will move to the Central Christian church.
"We're just so thrilled," Mr. Fortini said.