Pocono News Section

New Church Holds Services in Scranton

New Church Holds Services in Scranton - Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 9:16PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Sunday, Mar 2, 2008 @09:16pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A new church opened for the first time Sunday morning in Lackawanna County.

The Steamtown Church in Scranton has been in the planning stages for more than four years. It is a non-demoninational church. Organizers say the idea started from a street ministry and their message is unique.

Lead Pastor Dennis D'Augostine said he is looking capture parishoners who have lost faith in their church but not in God.

"We're hoping to be a church that actually restores that faith, not only in God, but also in the church and what Jesus was all about," D'Augostine said.

More than 150 people turned out for Sunday's service which is currently being held at the Red Carpet Inn. Many people who turned out are younger in age.

"I thought it was great. They're very friendly and open and they want to worship God and that's great," Jess Pollock of Clarks Summit said.

But not everyone in the crowd was in their teens or early 20s.

"It was very inspiring. The pastor is very knowledgeable and he had a very good delivery," Thomas Shoener of Scranton said.

"I thought it was very interesting. He was a very knowledgeable young man and very dedicated. It was a nice experience," Bernice Shoener said.

The vision for the new Steamtown Church grew out of organizers work with young people on Scranton's westside. They now want to bring their street ministry to the masses.

"The kind of church I was raised in, it was the same thing every day and week. We're trying to add a little variety and make it an experience that people want to come back to," D'Augostine said.

If you're interested in learning more about the new church, their services will be held every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Red Carpet Inn.