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Wednesday, May 28, 2003

By Mike Ference

Senior Pastor William Galus of West Mifflin's Walnut Grove Assembly of God Church had an idea for the church's ministry to branch out into the community while also raising funds for future events.

	Chris Curtis, the children's pastor at Walnut Grove Assembly of God Church in West Mifflin, during his weeklong tree ministry. (Tony Tye, Post-Gazette)

Children's Pastor Chris Curtis took the fund-raising goal to the next level. He climbed 25 feet into a poplar tree on church property May 18 and stayed for a week in a tent atop a 6- by 8-foot platform built by the church's maintenance man.

Parishioners took turns taking home-cooked meals for Curtis to hoist to his perch, and he excused himself only 15 minutes a day to freshen up. He continued his tree ministry until it was time to descend for Sunday's services.

Curtis brushed his teeth and washed his face and hands in the tree but did not shower during his adventure. He used a small tent heater a few times to combat chilly early-morning temperatures and kept a cell phone with him.

"This is one way to get the church's name out and let people know we're here," he said, adding that Walnut Grove is also raising funds for its summer children's programs, including an outreach program.

It helped Curtis, of course, that as a graduate of Walnut Grove's Royal Rangers program, which centers on camping and other outdoor activities, he's used to roughing it.

The program also incorporates family life, community life, school and church, he said, which functions as a ministry of men of the church teaching young boys in the church.

The girls have a similar program called Missionette, which involves the women of the church ministering to the young girls. It, too, incorporates the home, community, school and church.

Although Curtis has been at Walnut Grove for less than a year, he's already made a big impact. He started his ministry with nine children at the first service and it now averages about 65 children every Sunday.

Many stopped by his makeshift tree stand last week to drop off hand-drawn pictures, snacks and notes.

"We have a day care that operates from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a grade school from kindergarten to seventh grade, so I had plenty of visitors throughout the day," he said.

Curtis commended Dale Smith, the church's maintenance man, on his carpentry skills, saying that the platform he built was nice and level and even had a hand railing for safety.

The pastor conceded having a slight fear of heights, remarked about the swaying of the tree and found gusty winds mildly disconcerting. But overall, he said, he enjoyed "roughing it" for the church's cause.

Anyone interested in participating in the many activities offered by the Walnut Grove Assembly of God Church, or donating to its summer events, may call the church office at 412-469-3010.

Mike Ference is a freelance writer.