How it all started...
In 1997, a small group of believers from Faith Reformed Church in Harborcreek, PA set out as a church plant. They started meeting for their worship services and weekly Bible study in the Knights’ home. This continued for three years, and called themselves West Erie Bible Church. They grew and began looking for a church building. Jerry felt called to do ministry in the inner city of Erie, so the search began for a suitable building. The only place the group could find was a worn down old ice house in downtown Erie. It needed a lot of work but between the hard work and financial resources of the few who set out from Faith Reformed Church, the work was completed, and the church began meeting there. On September 19, 1999 West Erie Bible Church became a particular church in the Presbyterian Church of America. They immediately began to share the Gospel in the neighborhood.
They went witnessing, doing Vacation Bible School programs, and other outreach. They continued with Jerry Knight as their Pastor for about ten years until Jerry felt called teach in Africa in January 2009. After this, they were without a pastor for about a year until they contacted Ted Powers of Mission to North America (the PCA’s church planting organization). Ted gave the elders Marc Miller’s resume. They interviewed him, and eventually extended the call to him in May 2010. He moved to Erie and began preaching in August 2010, and was ordained January 30, 2011. With a new pastor they left the downtown area and moved out to Millcreek where they rent a school for Sunday Worship. They also have a midweek prayer meeting/Bible study. The old building in downtown Erie is still in use as a new church “Straight Way Narrow Gate” ministry is meeting there.
Our New Home
The congregation of WEPCA stands amazed at the faithfulness of God in providing a place for us to gather together for worship and declare the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We stand even further amazed that the Lord has provided funds through the generosity of His people to pay the building off in full. To all those who prayed for our need and gave towards the building we thank you! The Lord has done “exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think”. To God be all the glory!