Dear ACAC Family,
As I reflect on our 130th anniversary year, I’m overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness and the amazing journey we’ve been on. When our founding pastor, E.D. Whiteside, boldly declared 130 years ago, “I will not superintend the work in Pittsburgh [ACAC], but if the Holy Spirit superintends, I will run His errands,” he captured the heart of who we would become. That’s why “By His Spirit” was the perfect theme for our anniversary celebration last September. The truth that sustained our church through 130 years remains our foundation today… “It is not by might, nor by strength, but by my Spirit says the Lord!” [Zechariah 4:6]
We cannot rely on our programs or buildings, we must depend completely on the Holy Spirit to superintend, while we faithfully run His errands. And what incredible errands He has given us this past year as we have lived out our mission of following Jesus in diverse community.
The strategy for living out our mission is found in three key ideas rooted in Scripture. We are called as a congregation to GATHER [Matt 18:20], GROW [2 Cor 3:18], and GO [Matt 28:19-20]. The countless gatherings we’ve had over this past year are a declaration of God’s faithfulness across generations and cultures. We’ve welcomed new believers into the Kingdom of God as well as new families who have found their home here, drawn not by perfection but by genuine love and acceptance. The financial health reflected in this yearly report shows a church family who gives generously because they believe in what God is doing through us.
The life-changing stories you’ll read aren’t just testimonies, they’re evidence that the same Spirit that began this church is still working today. From restored marriages, broken addictions, healed minds and bodies, and discovered purpose, we’ve watched God turn the broken into something beautiful. In the midst of this, our commitment to Biblical unity has been tested and proven strong. In an increasingly divided world, ACAC remains a place where people from different backgrounds and perspectives become a united family in Jesus. With all that has and continues to occur within our church, we remain committed to going into our neighborhoods and nations, demonstrating and proclaiming the gospel.
I’m convinced our best days are ahead. Not because we’re getting better at running our own plays, but because we’re getting better at discerning His voice and obeying His leading. The same Spirit who has superintended our work for over a century isn’t slowing down, He’s just getting started.
As you read this report, please don’t just see numbers and narratives. See the fingerprints of a faithful God who has been writing our story for 130 years and isn’t finished yet. The next chapter starts now. Let’s write it together by His Spirit!
– Pastor Alan Hannah