Journey of Lifting

What would church look like if you crossed a pastor’s kid with a “train wreck?”  The small town of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania is soon to find out.

Steve DeFrain is not your typical pastor in many senses.  Although he is a pastor’s kid (PK), the current community of believers, and their worship services, do not fit the shapes many have branded into their minds as to what church should look like.  Journey Church, a name that seems to be “borrowed” more and more every day (DeFrain also being a borrower), is located in Limerick, PA, which is west of Philadelphia.

Steve realized people did not really understand who Jesus was; many have a preconceived idea, an idea that has been skewed by improper teaching or poor Christian modeling.  DeFrain believed he needed to “rebrand” Jesus for his generation and community.  The result is Journey Church.  The music is loud, with “driving base,” and the people are youthful, not necessarily saved individuals.  Steve has essentially attempted (successfully) to empty the church of all its busyness, doing only Sunday morning worship “in” the church building.  Small groups are “organic” and in the homes of those willing to host them.  When they grow, the split and grow some more.  Steve makes his “brand” pretty clear up front, noting that if one is not in a small group, they will not be connected to the church; “probably not going to get a call when the [stop showing up on Sundays].  The one thing, the important thing is that Steve DeFrain continues in “lifting up Jesus.”  One of the interesting facts of Journey Church is that this hard church draws a lot of men in, and keeps them.

January 9, 2011 marks a new day for Journey Church and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.  Under the guidance and leadership of Steve DeFrain, Don Heller will become the campus pastor of Journey’s second location.  This new addition to Journey Church will be located in the historic Colonial Theater.

Don Heller described his life prior to coming to Christ as a “train wreck.”  Noting his troubles with alcohol, marital issues that brought him to the brink of divorce, and other personal struggles, Don’s personal testimony of the redemptive saving power of Jesus Christ is inspiring.  Now, under Steve’s discipleship, Don will become the hands and feet of Christ to the city of Phoenixville.

 Exciting days are ahead for the Phoenixville area.  Journey Church will not be a great fit for all peoples, but for those it does fit, may they soon, like their leadership, begin a journey of lifting up Jesus.