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150th anniversary
Western Reserve Community Church celebrates longevity and legacy
By LINDA M. LINONIS
boardman
Throughout its 150-year history, Western Reserve Community Church has thrived on change. It has relocated, had ups and downs in membership and altered its affiliation. “Loving God, restoring his people and building his kingdom” have been the guides.
The Rev. Angelo LaCivita, pastor since 2008, said the church began to take on new identity in 2007, when he was serving as interim pastor. The church changed from Western Reserve Baptist Church to Western Reserve Community Church.
“We wanted to be a church to the community,” Pastor LaCivita said. He added the church became non-denominational but continues an affiliation with the American Baptist Association.
His wife, Nancy LaCivita, added “It’s not about the denomination but about the kingdom.”
The church will celebrate its longevity during a special service at 10:30 a.m. April 10 with guest speaker the Rev. Bob Cassady of Granville, an area minister for American Baptist Association of Ohio. Throughout the year, the church also is having services in recognition of its anniversary. A dinner also is planned for the event.
Pastor LaCivita said the church is grounded in a belief in God, Jesus the son and the Holy Spirit, baptism in immersion of water, the power of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scripture “to be written by man but the words of God.”
Nancy LaCivita, who leads the Women of Worth Bible study, added that the belief in Holy Scripture doesn’t limit miracles to biblical times. “They can happen today ... miracles happen because God heals,” she said. “We believe the word of God as the truth.”
The pillars of faith noted in a weekly bulletin are: proclaiming the authority of God’s word without apology, lifting high the name of Jesus Christ through worship, believing firmly in the power of prayer and sharing the good news of Jesus with boldness.
The church demonstrates a strong belief in prayer. A prayer meeting takes place at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays. A special prayer room near the sanctuary is where the pastor and prayer intercessors take prayer requests. The room, cloaked in filmy material and softly lighted, provides a peaceful place.
Pastor LaCivita said the church is working on membership; it currently has about 50 members. A recent Living Waters service, at 7 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of the month, attracted about 150 participants. “It’s a more laid-back atmosphere,” Pastor LaCivita said. The speaker was lead Pastor David Thomas of Victory Christian Center in Coitsville, where Pastor LaCivita was formerly affiliated.
The church began as First Baptist Church of Youngstown; from 1861 to 1973, it was located in the downtown Youngstown area. Pastor LaCivita noted that one location was on the corner of Boardman and Market streets, now the site of Huntington Bank. He added that he believes the pipes of the organ remain in the walls there.
In 1973, the membership bought nine acres on the corner of Western Reserve and Hitchcock Roads. Along with the sanctuary and prayer room, there is an entrance area, choir loft, office area, fellowship hall and youth department. The church also has an outdoor pavilion.
Lynn Clark, senior deacon, and her husband, Alan Clark, moderator, have belonged since 1990. “I knew people who attended and came and never left,” she said. “There is a warm, welcoming atmosphere here.” Her husband added that “the people make it feel like home.”
The church offers activities. A children’s church meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays and features Scripture, crafts and recreation. The youth group, which meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, is for seventh- through 12th-graders.
The Women of Worth Bible study is at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, while a men’s ministry meets occasionally for a meal and Bible study. A flag ministry also is part of worship at 10:30 a.m. Sundays.
A seniors luncheon is offered at 11 a.m. the first Friday of the month with speaker, entertainment and singing of hymns. A small food pantry receives donations from members. A fellowship meal is on the third Sunday of the month.
New ideas include married-couple activities and family game night.