Winner
LCBC
Name and location: LCBC, Manheim, Pennsylvania
Denomination: Non-denominational
Pastor: David Ashcraft
Date Founded: 1986
Total Church Membership: 8,000
Website: www.lcbcchurch.com
Outstanding Involvement and Effectiveness in the Fight Against AIDS:
LCBC is committed to educating not only the congregation, but also the community, about AIDS, a disease many believe represents the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. Among LCBC's community outreach:
- Hosted the World Vision Experience: AIDS exhibit
- Student Ministries are assisting people affected by AIDS in the local community
- Congregants have also given “above and beyond”, providing funding for wells, farm animals and, and most recently, $300,000 for a micro-finance program in Tseikuru, Kenya.
The church's goal is to have widespread and sustainable involvement—not by just a few, but by the entire congregation.
Since launching their AIDS initiative in November of 2003, LCBC has raised funds, assembled caregiver kits and provided other resources for World Vision to help address the wholistic needs in the community of Tseikuru. These resources have helped children and families in this community affected by AIDS through education, economic development, life skills, and abstinence-based sex education.
Impact on the Congregation:
Approximately 60 people from the congregation have visited Tseikuru and have become advocates for the greater community of Lancaster County. Also, more than 1,500 families in the area are sponsoring children through World Vision, and one additional church in the area joined LCBC in its efforts.
Pastor's Quote: “We believe that prevention will ultimately occur through the total transformation of a community, especially in the areas of education, economic development, and sharing the hope of Jesus.”
Comments from the Judges: “Very powerful ministry in one of the most theologically conservative areas of the country. Launched with the vision of a senior pastor whose heart was given to this emergency and carried by an entire congregation, LCBC has coalesced business and religious leaders in their community, inviting them to join in their AIDS initiative. Their drive to understand the impact of AIDS and inspire others to appropriate means of involvement is inspiring. To the citizens of a Kenya community, they could not come at a better time.”
