Sunday, May 14, 2017
By Justin Wier
AUSTINTOWN
For 25 years, groups of women have been gathering together each September through May to study the Bible at Tabernacle Evangelical Church in Austintown.
It’s part of Community Bible Study, a nondenominational program with an international reach. It first came to the Youngstown area in 1992, and the group celebrated its 25th year in the Valley last week.
It’s an in-depth study, said Ellen Blair, the group’s first teaching director. People don’t just drop in; it requires a 30-week commitment. The first group consisted of 65 people, and this year, 123 adults and 83 children participated. They study a different book of the Bible each year.
“It’s about the study of God’s word and the person of Jesus Christ,” Blair said.
Kristin Steiner, the current teaching director, said there are up to 30 denominations represented in the group. Blair added that there are people from the tri-county region and western Pennsylvania.
“We have babies, and we have over 90-year-olds in our ministry, which is a beautiful thing,” Steiner said. “One of the things that’s neat about it is that it does appeal to so many people in different places in life.”
Blair said that Community Bible Study is not affiliated with Tabernacle Evangelical Church, but the church has been gracious in accepting the group.
“They’ve opened their doors to us for 25 years,” she said.
Blair led the group for 24 years, before deciding to take a role as an area director for Community Bible Study.
“I had hoped to stay the 25 years just because it’s such a landmark,” she said. “But when they asked me to do that, I realized that’s what I was supposed to be doing.”
Steiner said she was honored to accept the challenge of filling Blair’s shoes.
“It’s a prayerful process; we let God lead the way,” Steiner said. “We were handed this beautiful, healthy ministry that had been growing and thriving for so long. We felt a responsibility to keep it growing and to keep it thriving.”
The group has grown through word of mouth, Blair said.
“When we ask people how many of you came here because one person invited you, it’s probably 99 percent,” she said.
By the end of the year, Blair said there is a sense of community among the group.
“It’s like a big cake,” Steiner added. “It just gets better and better with each layer.”
The group doesn’t intend to stop at 25 years; next year it will be studying Romans, and a night class will study 1 and 2 Corinthians. Those interested in joining the group can find more information at www.communitybiblestudy.org.