What God Is Doing in Our Central Region
Today’s post is written by Nate Howard, EPD District Superintendent
On Sunday evening, September 7, something meaningful happened at Lewisburg Alliance Church.
Seventy-one adults and eleven children came together from across our Central region—not because they had to—but because pastors and church leaders sensed Jesus was calling them to gather.
This wasn’t just another meeting. It was Step 2 in what we’re calling the Path to Regional Multiplication—a Spirit-led journey where churches in a region collaborate to raise up workers, plant churches, and reach people with limited access to the gospel.
Why a Prayer Gathering?
Prayer has always been the foundation of every significant movement of God. Before churches can work together in strategic ways, we must begin by uniting our hearts before Jesus—seeking His direction and power as one.
In the Central region, pastors have been growing in trust and connection over time, thanks to the steady work of our prayer/care network facilitators. This prayer gathering felt like the natural next step: a space to seek God together and ask two simple but courageous questions:
What is Jesus already doing in our region?
What adjustments must we make to join Him more fully?
What We Saw and Heard
I was deeply encouraged that night by the level of participation. Churches from Lewisburg to Berwick, from Iron Mill in Danville to Bloomsburg, were represented, not just by pastors, but by elders and key ministry leaders. A team made up of musicians from multiple churches led us beautifully in worship. It was a glimpse of what regional unity can look like in real time.
But what moved me most was the spiritual clarity and honesty that emerged during our time together. As we listened for what God is already doing, it became obvious that God is advancing His kingdom along relational lines. There’s a real sense that the pastors of this region are coming together with growing trust and care for one another.
We took time to celebrate that. And we should because that kind of relational groundwork is no small thing. It matters. It’s how God builds movements.
As we turned to the second question—what adjustments are needed to fully join Jesus in His work—the honesty in the room was striking. Leaders spoke openly about the need to let go of some familiar ways of “doing church” so they could focus more intentionally on making disciples. These weren’t surface-level observations. They were Spirit-prompted convictions.
We ended the evening with communion, prayer, and by laying hands on our elders and pastors, blessing them as shepherds in this unfolding regional story. Afterward, people lingered, prayed more, shared food, and continued building the kind of relationships that will carry this work forward.
What’s Next in the Central Region
On November 22, they’ll host their Essentials One-Day event—a “taste and see” experience designed to explore the shifts necessary for cultivating a disciple-making culture across multiple churches. Then, on February 20–21, 2026, they’ll begin a 12-month Regional Church Design Lab, where leaders from across the region will develop disciple-making pathways and strategic plans for long-term cultural change.
This is exactly what we saw happen in York region, and now the Central region is embracing the same Spirit-led journey.
Your Region Could Be Next
Here’s something important for all of us to keep in mind: we don’t expect all twelve of our district regions to move through this journey at the same time. Every region is in a different place relationally and spiritually, and that’s okay. God moves at His own pace.
But maybe you’re sensing that God is stirring something in your region—maybe you’re seeing pastors connecting more relationally or sensing a shared desire to reach people in your area who don’t yet know Jesus. If so, I’d love to hear from you and be glad to talk.
The pathway is simple: relational connection, prayer gatherings, training, and collaboration for Gospel multiplication.
The York region is already in motion. The Central region just took a beautiful step forward. What might God be preparing in your part of the district?
The harvest is plentiful. The regions of Eastern PA are ripe. Let’s keep asking together: “Jesus, what are You doing—and how can we join You?”
To learn more about the Path to Regional Multiplication—or to talk about what God might be doing in your region—email nate.howard@epdalliance.org or david.dixon@epdalliance.org.