The former Philadelphia Christian Center is making a new beginning.

Friday, December 21, 2001

The former Philadelphia Christian Center is making a new beginning.

The church has become Our Father’s House, a name which signifies a new nature as a church, said Kip Jentoft, pastor.

The church began in 1974 and has been in its current facility on Highway 69 south of Albert Lea since 1984. Jentoft became the pastor in 1989.

&uot;We had thought about the name change a few years ago,&uot; Jentoft said. &uot;In September 2000, we brought the idea to a congregational meeting, where it was received very favorably.&uot;

This began a year-long process, during which time church members submitted names.

&uot;We had almost 25 names submitted over several months,&uot; Jentoft said.

&uot;A name is important in scripture. It reflects the character of an individual or place,&uot; Jentoft said. &uot;Just about all of them (the names submitted) had an aspect of who we were.&uot;

The church membership voted to accept new articles of incorporation and the new name on Sept. 23.

The pastor said the new name comes from John 14:6, which states that Jesus is the way. &uot;He’s the way to the Father and to the Father’s House,&uot; he said.

What’s more, Jentoft said the new name conveys a sense of the Father’s family, and a segment of his large family.

&uot;We’re increasingly reaching out to the community,&uot; he said.

That includes a missions vision. &uot;Ten percent of the congregation has been on an outreach outside the local congregation,&uot; he said.

In the 21st Century, Jentoft said, the Lord is revealing himself more and more as a father.

&uot;He’s coming on the scene in a greater way than he ever has,&uot; he added.