"I grew up here and graduated from Pequea Valley High School (PVHS)," said Jesse Bills, who became the pastor of Pequea Evangelical Congregational (E.C.) Church, 5482 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gap, in July 2021. Bills, who graduated from PVHS in 2009, began attending the church in his 20s. "I didn't go to college," said Bills. "I sold cars at Rocky Ridge in Ephrata for about five years."
About 2018, Bills began to feel the call to ministry. In 2020, he began interning at Grace Community Church in Willow Street and attending Evangelical Seminary in Myerstown. In 2020 and into 2021, while Pequea E.C. worked with an interim pastor, Bills preached there monthly, interned in Willow Street, and attended seminary. He became the solo pastor at Pequea in July 2020. He began working at Grace Community as the pastor of discipleship during that same year, and in May 2022, he graduated from seminary. He continues to serve both churches in those roles.
Pequea has a membership of about 50, and Bills recognizes the congregation's "passion to see children in church again." "The church has a real heart for kids and families," he said, noting that a few young families attend regularly. Church members are preparing the church for the days when they might hear more small feet moving through the building. "They have put a lot of resources into trying to create a nicer nursery and modernizing it," said Bills. "It is their No. 1 desire to see (more) children and youth and families here."
One way the church is working to get to know families in the community is holding a movie night at 6:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month year-round. During the warmer months, the movies are held outside at the church. Starting in November, the event moves to the White Horse Fire Hall depending on availability. Upcoming summer movies include "Moana" on Friday, July 8, at 8:30 p.m. and "Luca" on Friday, Aug. 12, at 8:30 p.m.
During the more difficult days of the pandemic, Pequea worked with The Factory Ministries in Paradise. "We set up as a food collection site (at the church), and we collected food for The Factory Market," said Bills, who noted food was received from church membership and others in the community. "We took over 300 pounds in a week more than once," Bills stated, adding that food is taken to The Factory on a regular basis now. "We try to reach out to the community whenever possible," he said.
The church holds a virtual Bible study each Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Those wishing to take part may connect at http://www.pcchurch.online. Services on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. are available in person or by livestream at the aforementioned website or by searching for "Pequea Church of White Horse" on Facebook. The summer sermon series is based on the book of James. "It's called 'Faith That Perseveres,'" said Bills. "It will run into August."
Bills said that church members are happy to see strangers in their midst. "There is a welcoming unity and strength," he said, pointing out that recently a couple visiting from Connecticut joined the attendees at Sunday worship. "People were up very quickly to greet them," he said.
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