How University Christian Fellowship Started and Progressed

1. Early Eighties - A vision for ministry at M.U. was discussed by members of the Lancaster Conference of the Mennonite Church, but not acted on.



2. 1991 - God began speaking to Dave & Carol Witmer, Duane & Kris Metzler, and Dan & Amy Yocom at different places and in different ways concerning campus ministry at M.U.



3. 1992 - The Church was planted in prayer with Dave Witmer leading as Church Planter. Three Sunday Celebrations were held in room 161 of the Student Memorial Center.



4. 1993 - A core group of community members and students began meeting regularly for worship in the Multi-Purpose room of the Student Memorial Center at 4pm on Sundays. Average attendance was 26.



5. 1994 - Official membership was established, by-laws approved by the University, and Pastor Duane Metzler was designated as primary pastor. Average attendance about 28.



6. 1995 - Worship location moved to Chryst Hall with Sunday attendance averaging 40. Cell group attendance was averaging 60 people in 7 cell groups.



7. 1996 - Pastor Duane Metzler was ordained and cell group coordinators were appointed to help oversee the cell ministry. Attendance for Sunday worship increased to 60.



8. 1997 - Began with a Weekend of Prayer. Initiated Mission trip with much planning being done in the fall. Spring Break prayer teams were sent out to various locations. UCF hosted a church-wide conference on Cell Churches. Cell group attendance average 70 in 10 cells.



9. 1998 - Began with first Mission trip to Venezuela. Average attendance was around 70 people weekly, still meting in Chryst Hall. UCF presented a "Relationships Seminar" and later in the year, commissioned a group of members to plant a new church called Living Hope Community Church.



10. 1999 - Began with "Renewing the Vision" as a church. More members went to Venezuela on mission trips, a bus load spent a day at the Bowery Mission in NYC, and a Spring Break service project was done in Florida. UCF also hosted a Worship Conference in Lyte Auditorium. We commissioned our largest group of graduates in May, and also sent missionaries to Thailand and Mexico.



11. 2001 - A season of growth, moving from 75 attending in the Spring, to 105 average in the Fall. A mission team went to Africa for two weeks.



12. 2002 - The Spring semester launched the vision for care groups in every dorm and target group. We moved our Sunday worship location to First United Methodist Church due to church growth.

• 2003 - We continue to change and grow as God leads. The first baby was added to our church in many years in November. Spring Break took several teams out of PA through Mennonite Disaster Service to help those devastated from hurricanes.

• 2004 - Average attendance was about 130 for Sunday worship. Our church hosted a "Mind Games" Conference in October through Probe Ministries, TX. We sent a team of 18 missionaries to Peru for two weeks. Kris Metzler and Jon Knaub were added to the staff of University Christian fellowship as pastoral assistants. We commissioned our largest group of graduating seniors (17) in May.

• 2005 - The year started off with a winter retreat in Coatesville for the church. Sunday sermon series included one on the Song of Solomon and one on the Armor of God. We celebrated with six believers in baptism in the spring. Students were able to join a UCF choir and Pastor Duane reached out to Greek life. 21 Graduates Commissioned.

• 2006 - We started a new ministry strategy of "dorm representatives" which are students who live in a specific dorm and are those who help connect students with various ministries within UCF. The year also experienced the launching of L.I.L.I.E.S (Ladies In Leadership Intentional Encouragment and Support). A mission team was sent to Alaska for the first time and to Peru for the second time.
  34 seniors were commissioned to continue serving the Lord wherever he leads them.

• 2007 - We purchased our first laptop computer which provided much needed flexibility for worship and presentations. We volunteered at Gretna Glen for spring cleanup. Biggest news of the year was moving Sunday Morning worship to the Multi-Purpose Room of the Student Memorial Center in the fall and adding a Hospitality Team ministry. A second mission team went to Alaska.

• 2008 - UCF coordinated move-in volunteers better known as the JAM crew. A third mission team went to Alaska and Peru. Pastor Duane took a 2 month sabbatical in the spring.

Each year, there were baptisms, new members, new leaders, leadership retreats, and ongoing worship teams.