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"Jesus with Skin On”: Read about Concord United Methodist Church’s Reasons for Supporting Aliquippa Impact

Associate Pastor, Tom Kennedy, of Concord United Methodist Church explained that the decision to support Aliquippa Impact (AI) was easy due to AI’s vision and plan. “It is a great model and you (AI) have had such a great impact,” he said.

Kennedy explained that Concord United Methodist seeks to provide opportunities for their members to serve internationally, nationally and locally. They also try to support a few ministries from each category. For Kennedy, AI is a local ministry he is happy to support. Kennedy explained that what AI does is directly in-line with Concord United Methodist’s beliefs.

One of Kennedy’s favorite aspects of AI is as follows: “The willingness of the staff to be obedient to God's call to serve and live in town is paramount to being ‘Jesus with skin on’ to the people.” Kennedy believes that serving in community in an active manner and forming relationships is how Christians make the biggest impact for Christ; AI does just that.

Not only are the views of both organizations in alignment, but Kennedy explained some of the impacts he has seen, among even members of his own community, as a result of AI’s ministry. A group of six youth who worked together in Aliquippa last year then went together to do mission work in Costa Rica,” said Kennedy. Many of the church’s members that have served alongside AI later felt the call to serve other forms of missions’ work as well.

While Kennedy enjoys many aspects of AI’s ministry he explained his favorite aspect saying, “Perhaps, the best description of the ministry is that the ministry is based on incarnational leadership. Meaning, you are being Christ in the community, with the community and as part of the community.”

Partnering with The Housing Authority: Read about the Partnership between The Housing Authority of the County of Beaver and Aliquippa Impact

Having partnered with Aliquippa Impact (AI) for nearly a decade, Brian Yaworksy from the Housing Authority of the County of Beaver explained the importance of this partnership. Yaworsky is the deputy executive director of the Housing Authority.

Their mission, according to Yaworksy is “to assist low income families with safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities as they strive to achieve self-sufficiency and improve the quality of their lives.” Their connection with AI is due to the use of the Linmar Terrace Community Center for summer camp.

“The Housing Authority enthusiastically supports Aliquippa Impact and their mission, which clearly is demonstrated in their commitment and passion in serving the residents of Linmar Terrace,” said Yaworsky. He explained that AI has filled a void within the community. According to Yaworksy, throughout the 90’s a government run program called DARE2XL was offered amongst the community. Sometime later, however, the program was discontinued due to government funding. Since that time AI has replaced this program.

Yaworsky believes that AI instills values within the children participating in their programs. These values not only benefit the children, but also indirectly benefit the House Authority. “Our hope is that our partnership with Aliquippa Impact continues to flourish and impact those who contribute their services to the summer programming and to those children who participate,” he said.

Blessed to Serve Children and their Families: Read about Jamyra Harrell’s Experience with Aliquippa Impact (AI) that Led Her to Her Career with AI

Jamyra Harrell was studying at Toccoa Falls College when she first heard about Aliquippa Impact (AI). Joel Repic, found of AI and former student of Toccoa Falls, had given a message that led Harrell to become involved with AI.

“You could say I knew that I wanted to work with at-risk youth, just didn’t know what they would look like,” said Harrell. Her desire to work with at-risk youth was torn between becoming a social worker or teacher. Working at AI’s summer camp helped her decide. “Seeing the teaching at city camp provided me with hope. I saw that I could support students and their families,” said Harrell.

Harrell served AI’s summer camp for four years and then felt God’s call to serve the community of Aliquippa year round. Feeling that call, Harrell relocated and became AI’s asset coordinator. As an asset coordinator Harrell incorporates forty development assets into AI’s three programs: city camp, a future anticipated cohort program and school-based mentoring. Harrell also works at the local elementary school where she matches children with mentors.

Her favorite aspect of working with AI is relationship building. “I love that I have this window of being able to serve kids and their families,” said Harrell. Through relationship building one is able to learn not only more about others, but about themselves and ultimately about God. Harrell explained, “I feel like God has called me to the community to not only serve the people, but to gain a better understanding of who He is and how I need Him in my life.”

Harrell also explained that she has seen a number of changes in the community such as people coming together, supporting one another, coming to Christ, and focusing on the good in one another instead of the negative. “I see walls being broken, it’s slow, but they are breaking,” she said.

Community That Reaches Across Boundaries: Read About Why Ruth Statler Advises Others to Support Aliquippa Impact’s Ministry

“I back them 100%,” said Ruth Statler in regards to Aliquippa Impact’s (AI) ministry. Statler has been involved with (AI) since Joel Repic’s vision for the organization. Her support began by volunteering to bring lunch to AI’s summer camp staff.

Becoming involved with AI was easy for Statler. “I could see the good they were doing,” she said. One of the first differences she noticed occurred in the youth at her church. “At first, they (the youth) would come and wouldn’t look you in the eye. Now they look at you and smile.”

Statler also explained that AI’s mission lines up with her life motto. “I have always been a strong believer that we should all be able to live together, work together and love one another as Christ loves us. There shouldn’t be any limits of who we reach out to,” she said. Statler believes, just like AI, that community should cross boundaries.

Statler also shared her favorite aspect of AI explaining that she strongly believes in the one-to-one personal basis of mentoring. “What goes on in mentoring stays there,” said Statler. She also commented that AI’s mentoring helps not only children, but also the staff.

Having lived near Aliquippa since 1953, Statler said she believes AI has even made a difference in the safety of the town. “I feel safer to go downtown since Aliquippa Impact started,” she said. Statler described seeing a greater sense of friendliness in recent years. “There are more smiles on the people’s faces in the city,” she said.

“Steve Rossi, Joel Repic, Gao Foua Jordan, they do a great job,” said Statler. She continued, “I advise anyone to support it (AI’s ministry). strongly believe in it.”

Giving Support Locally: Read about Ohio United Presbyterian Church’s support

Ohio United Presbyterian (OUP) church is an avid supporter of Aliquippa Impact (AI). Many in the congregation of this church even support AI individually. Ohio United Presbyterian’s mission states, “We believe that Jesus has called us to use all the means and resources available to us, to invite all who have not yet believed into God's ongoing celebration. He has called us to invite believers into a deeper more joyful relationship with Christ.”

OUP also has a special focus on community involvement. Bev Abate, who holds a number of roles in the church, works with the missions department and was able to give some insight as to why OUP supports AI. “We (the church) felt that we lacked participation in our own community. AI is a Christian based organization with direct impact locally and it seemed a perfect fit,” she said.

Abate also explained that the majority of OUP’s congregation are the elderly; that being said they find it important to invest in the younger generation. Abate, herself, serves as a mentor at AI. “So many children have mentioned to me that they are waiting anxiously for their mentor to be assigned. [This shows] an overwhelming desire in the community for direction and improvement,” she said.

One of the most important factors for OUP is investing locally. AI is a local option for OUP that gives the community direction while pointing people towards Christ.