Common Places Church at Newberry meets at West End Christian Community Center

The Common Places Church at Newberry has taken root in the West End Christian Community Center (WECCC), offering worship services at 10 a.m. Pastor Gerry Peña has led the congregation since its founding in October 2024. The church is an outreach of the Common Places Church in Lock Haven, which emphasizes the value of smaller church communities in fostering healthy, connected neighborhoods.

The Common Places Church in Lock Haven describes its approach as one that prioritizes “smaller church families” to build and maintain community. This model encourages starting with simple, smaller gatherings that reach new areas, rather than relying on a single large church in a centralized location. The philosophy reflects a broader trend within certain evangelical networks to adapt church structures to better serve diverse and underserved communities.

Peña, who grew up in a Mexican-American household and attended a Catholic church, transitioned to Protestantism during his college years. He pursued a career in engineering and manufacturing for over a decade before feeling a call to ministry. Peña enrolled in the LEAD CMA program, a leadership development initiative of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which is the denomination behind Common Places Church. The program equips individuals to become ordained ministers and prepares them for church leadership roles.

After completing the LEAD CMA program, Peña and his family sought opportunities to serve. They connected with the Common Places Church in Lock Haven, where they were invited to join as the second Church Planting Resident. The decision to plant a church in Newberry was driven by a desire to address the needs of a neighborhood with a rich history and strong community ties but limited access to churches that resonate with diverse congregations.

Pastor Josh Grimes of the Lock Haven church emphasized the importance of meeting people where they are. “We believe church should be simple, personal, and rooted in the places where people already gather,” he said. The Newberry church aims to create a welcoming, relational faith community that finds Jesus in everyday life. The model reflects a commitment to serving the overlooked and outcast, aligning with the mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance to reach communities through intentional, localized ministry.

The Common Places Church at Newberry exemplifies a growing movement within certain evangelical networks to prioritize community engagement and accessibility. By meeting in existing community spaces like the West End Christian Community Center, the church seeks to build bridges between faith and everyday life, reflecting a vision of ministry that values presence, connection, and service.

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