Six-Month Update: How Jesus is Moving in Newberry
Written by Gerry Peña, Alliance Church Planter
It’s been a wild first six months here in Newberry.
When we planted Common Places Newberry in October 2024, we had no idea just how powerfully Jesus would move. Looking back, we see two incredible themes unfolding in our midst:
Jesus is Drawing People Back to Himself
One of the most powerful things we’ve witnessed is how Jesus is calling people home. Families who had become disillusioned with church—some staying away for years—are now returning, experiencing His love in a fresh and personal way. They’re not just coming back to church; they’re rediscovering Jesus.
But it’s not just those with a church background who are encountering Him. We’ve welcomed people who have never set foot in a church before, including a group of men from a local halfway house. Through authentic community and the power of the Gospel, they are meeting Jesus for the first time.
Jesus is Making Things New
At the end of March, we celebrated the baptism of five people—the exact number we had prayed for when we launched! Coincidence? Hardly. It’s as if Someone has been listening and preparing the way before us.
Beyond baptisms, we have seen miracles unfold. People have been healed. Some have been delivered from deep spiritual oppression. Others have surrendered their brokenness to Jesus and found new life. These transformations are happening despite our limited resources and ministry experience, proving that it’s never about what we bring to the table—it’s about the power of the Gospel at work.
As Philippians 2:13 (NLT) reminds us:"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."
The door is open. And Jesus is moving.
Common Places Newberry was featured in the January 25 edition of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. This article features Josh Grimes, along with Gerry, as they talk about their vision for Common Places all over the region.