Church settles at High Point

Harvest Life Center has changed its name to reflect its new home.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
A church has taken the name of its new location -- a former softball field -- to show its connection to the community.
High Pointe Assembly of God will build a new church at the closed High Point Park.
The congregation, which had been known as Harvest Life Center, bought 18 acres from the former park and will break ground during an event at 2 p.m. June 22.
And yes, the new facilities will include a couple of new ball fields.
High Point Park is shown on the map made by the Mahoning County Engineer's Office. The property at 5719 Struthers Road is in Poland Township, has a Lowellville mailing address, but is in the Struthers school district and has a Struthers telephone number.
The Rev. Mr. LaGamba added that the High Pointe name, "more clearly identifies us with the community."
"That's kind of why we kept the name," said Rick Lane Foerster, a member of the church's building committee and one of the leaders of its men's ministry.
After acquiring the land in January, the congregation changed its name. The congregation came up with a new spelling -- Pointe -- to set itself apart from the ball fields, Foerster said.
Past and future
The church began in 1987, meeting at Struthers High School. Over the years, it has also met at Struthers Middle School, Heart Reach Ministries in Youngstown, a defunct restaurant and, most recently, the Youngstown Christian School.
"We've been kind of bouncing around. It was time to get settled," said the Rev. Anthony LaGamba, who has been pastor for 11 years.
The new facility will allow the church to expand its outreach programs that have been hampered by a lack of a permanent home.
The church has 120 members. The median age is 40, and the congregation is mostly young couples with children, so the church is building with expansion in mind.
The first building will have 1,200 square feet and will be a multipurpose facility that will seat 350 people. It will also have a cafe, 10 classrooms and six offices. The congregation expects to be in the building by Thanksgiving.
The first phase will cost $750,000.
The building will be erected near Struthers Road, leaving it plenty of room to expand. In five to seven years, High Pointe plans to add a sanctuary. Within 10 to 12 years, it plans to add an outreach facility for its various ministries.
"We want the building to serve as a resource to the community," said Mr. LaGamba.
Ministries
The church's ministries run from a food program to teaching youths life skills to women's programs and, said Foerster, men's ministries that deal with real issues.
The church's letterhead states, "We care about you."
"The real heart of our church is to build relationships," said the pastor.
"The only change is when people change," Mr. LaGamba added, "and people can change only if their heart changes."
The church wants to offer a variety of programs for youths to not only keep them out of trouble, but to help them succeed.
Mr. LaGamba said he's active in Rotary International, which allows him to help youths seeking a career to meet with local businessmen.
Another church program -- on hold due to a lack of space -- was to give youths life skills tests. The church plans to revive the program in the new facility.
In the test, youths are asked to state the salary they would like to make and the cost of the house and car they wanted. Often, the salary and material possessions are extravagant, which the tests show would take years of higher education to achieve. Mr. LaGamba said the students then re-evaluate their goals which ultimately helps reveal the student's talents.
The ground breaking is designed to offer something for everyone.
There will hay rides, games, inflatable toys for children, music and food.
"It's going to be a great time," said Foerster.
wilkinson@vindy.com