13 Evergreen Road, Lebanon, PA 17042-7422
Phone: (717)273-4832, Fax: (717)273-0132
E-mail: midway_cob@juno.com, Web site: www.midwaycob.net
Senior Pastor: Rev. Charles L. Ilyes
Pastor Charlie
I am sure that you have many other things you could be doing, but I am glad you have chosen to read these few words. Probably you know very little about the Midway church and less yet about this Pastor with a strange last name, but I can only assume that you are searching for more information and we would love to give that to you.
God called our family to Midway in March of 2005, but that was not when our ministry began.
I was blessed to be born into a home with a mother and father who both loved the Lord and lived for Him. My father was also a minister in the Church of the Brethren at the church where I grew up, which is the New Fairview Church of the Brethren. Now this was and still is a plural ministry team, meaning each of the ministers has a full-time occupation, but also serves the church. Those who serve in this type of ministry do so with great commitment, because of the time requirements.
It was this same church where I was called into ministry in 1990. For the next three years, I underwent ministry training provided by our denomination and was ordained in January of 1994.
It was at that same time that the Springfield Church of the Brethren called me to Pastor their congregation. We ministered there for eleven years as we continued to further our education at Philadelphia Biblical University and grow in our understanding of God's Word.
I was amazed how God could use us with all our inabilities, but He is faithful. There has been much that we have learned and much more to learn, but this I know. Without question, God is faithful and He has given me a wonderful opportunity to tell the world about who Jesus is - His one and only Son - God in flesh who left Heaven and came and lived among us and died for us and rose from the dead.
Because He lives, we too shall live if we trust Him as Lord and Savior. He has given us His written Word. It is inerrant and infallible. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to preach and teach the truths of His Word.
In March of 2005, God started a new chapter in our lives. My wife, Jane, and I are happy to serve the Lord here at Midway. Our son, Steve, was married in July 2005, our daughter, Elizabeth, attends Grove City College. There are many changes happening in our lives. There are also many changes taking place at Midway as we reach out to the world and strive to have a worship service that is truly worshiping our Lord and Savior.
If you can, come and worship with us. If you have any questions, give me a call or stop in.
I thank the Lord for all He has given me and as long as He gives me life, I want to serve Him.
Maybe you would like to serve Him with us or maybe you just would like to know who Jesus is. If so, come and we will talk, study and pray.
