Pastor Christopher Sidwell

“There’s a real family atmosphere,” is how one newer member described Bible Presbyterian Church of Apollo. Another member said, “There is real concern for each other”. Pastor Christopher C. Sidwell said there is a “good spirit in the church” and noted its unity and being problem free.

That unity and closeness is seen in the congregation and ministry of the church. The first Sunday of every month they have a family fellowship dinner after the service. Youth activities are held every month. They hold game nights, bowling, skating, paintball and other activities. Each summer pre-teens to teens get the opportunity to attend a one-week camp session in Ohio.

The church reaches out by visiting retirement homes and singing for the residents and distributing gifts and literature to Wheel on Meals participants. Every summer Vacation Bible Club is held and is open to everyone. Pastor Sidwell says there is a “real desire to reach out to others” by the congregation. The church is also very mission oriented and supports a number of missionaries around the world.

Last spring the church held an Investigative Bible Study for six weeks that was open to the public. The study investigates basic Christianity for those interested in learning more. Pastor Sidwell also noted that an annual Bible Conference is held in April and this year a minister from England will preach for the four-day conference.

Bible Presbyterian Church

The church is looking to grow and part of that process is considering new facilities. Founded in 1972, they bought an old church at 214 Railroad Avenue in Apollo that had been a Baptist Church. “To grow and be effective,” Pastor Sidwell stated, “may involve a new building in the long term”.

Pastor Chris Sidwell was called to Bible Presbyterian Church in December 2003. He had been supplying the pulpit frequently for a number of months after the former pastor; Keith Coleman (father of Jeff Coleman, former State Representative) had left for church work in Baltimore, MD. He had pastored the church for 15 years.

Pastor Sidwell began his ministry in church planting and then ministered at Bible Baptist Church in South Hills for almost eight years. He accepted a full time assistant pastor and youth director position at another Kiski Valley church prior to coming to Bible Presbyterian. He graduated from Bob Jones University with a Bachelor of Arts in the Bible and Master of Arts in the Bible. He currently is studying for his Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburgh. He is married to Cheryl and has two boys ages one and three.

Sunday school starts at 10 a.m. and Sunday worship at 11 a.m. There is a Bible study Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesdays the Good News Club is held for pre-school through 6th graders at 7 p.m. Prayer and Bible study for adults is at 7 p.m. If you go, the church is located at 214 Railroad Avenue in Apollo. The church telephone is 724-478-3556.

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