In 2000, the Trinity Lutheran Church of Yeadon, PA closed.
In the summer of 2001, the Rev Patricia Davenport was named the mission developer to start the Spirit & Truth Worship Center. Rev Davanport and her husband the late Joel Davenport began by ministering on the streets, knocking on doors and forging partnerships with unchurched residents in Yeadon. God blessed with growth from a few members meeting in the basement for Bible study and service to 179 charter members by December 4, 2005. Spirit & Truth was accepted as a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (2005) and the Southeastern Pennsylvannia Synod (May 2006).
Spirit & Truth continued to grow by developing an active Council of Elders with operating ministries of Congregational Life, Ministry Management and Outreach. In addition, there was a Spirit-filled child care center catering to children ages 3-6 and an after-school program for children ages 6-12. The dedication of Jack and Jean Hillegass made generous financial donations to support the ministry. Spirit & Truth was built on the premise the we are ‘Blessed to be a Blessing’ by being centered on the Word, witness and works of service to the community.
In 2007, God called Rev Davenport to the position of Assistant to the Bishop and Spirit & Truth was without a pastor. Over the next three years, the membership would begin to decline and building issues caused the day care and after school to close.
During this time, Spirit & Truth would be served by two Interim Pastors, Rev Lynette Chapman (1 year) and Rev Diane Gilbert (3 months) and one Bridge Pastor Rev Leah Schade (1 years). Rev Schade took on the challenge by working with the congregation, replacing the boiler, forming partnerships with sister churches Tabernacle Lutheran of Philadelphia and St James of Limerick and beginning the process of preparing the building for once again operating a day care. During the final months of Rev Schade’s service, she partnered with Rev Robert Kilby II to help Spirit & Truth prepare for their next pastor.
Rev Robert Kilby II was called as Pastor of Sprit & Truth in May 2011. We have begun building on a good foundation with the cornerstone scripture ‘Being confident of this very thing, that He which begun a good work in you shall perform (it) until the day of Jesus Christ’ Phil 1:6. With a vision to build the Kingdom of God, we have begun to develop a Youth Ministry, establish a non-profit entitled ‘Hope Realized’, continue needed building renovations and develop a food ministry in our neighborhood and with the local homeless shelter.
