Greater  Parkview Church

OUR HISTORY

Parkview Baptist Church, now known as Greater Parkview Church, was founded in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-Six, by families of the village of Slickville, PA; for the purpose of worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The founding minister was Reverend A.C. Maloy (1923-1940.)  Early members were Deacon Howard Moore and Mother Georgeanne Williams.  The church was a close-knit community of 67 members at that time. In 1926, Mrs. McKee donated land to the church, on which the congregation erected a church edifice.

In 2003, Parkview Baptist Church summoned Reverend Carl E. Jones, Sr. to serve as Pastor.  Reverend Jones immediately began making enhancements to the church and advances in outreach ministries. A membership that had dwindled to five members, increased to 65 members. Many new ministries were added to the church; Men and Women’s Ministry, Sunday School, Youth Church and a Nursing Home ministry.

In 2004, Pastor Jones held a church meeting to expound on the vision that God had given him in moving the church forward to the next dimension. In September 2007, Pastor Jones presented a proposal to change the name of the church from “Parkview Baptist Church” to “Greater Parkview Church”. The reason being, Parkview Baptist was no longer a church to only serve the Baptist faith.  Greater Parkview Church would be a nondenominational, multicultural church; one that would look like heaven with all cultural and denominational backgrounds. Since the name change, under Pastor Jones’ teaching and boundless enthusiasm, Greater Parkview Church, has attracted members from all cultural and denominational backgrounds.

In January 2008, a church in downtown Greensburg became available.  In March 2009, by faith, a new church edifice was purchased. This new edifice was located at 103 Westminster Avenue in Greensburg, PA., which is the current location of Greater Parkview Church. The new location of Greater Parkview Church was dedicated in July 2009.  New ministries have since been established which include: the GPC Clothing Closet (clothing for the under-privileged), Joshua’s Men’s Ministry, Esther’s Women’s Ministry, Youth Church, Church Nursery, Mime Ministry known as “Silent Praise", Youth Choir, Ladies Connect, and a Youth & College Ministry to serve the church’s youth and the local universities and colleges. GPC also has a Van Ministry which transports members and area college students to and from church services and special functions. Bible Study and Sunday School are ongoing as well as New Member Classes and Gift Assessments.

In September 2013, the Each One Teach One Daycare Learning Center and the Before & After School Care Program was launched; now in 2017 the vision is being realized as the Center is growing to near capacity. In addition, the church is moving forward in implementing after school tutoring, SAT/ACT Prep, GED qualification and accreditation in the second quarter of 2019.  Some of our community activities include, but are not limited to, participating with local churches and fellowshipping with one another; participating in co-sponsoring for the Westmoreland County Food Bank program since 2015 known as Operation Fresh Express wherein we help feed those in need within the community. During these Operation Fresh Express food giveaways, we help distribute over 200,000 lbs. of food to over 1600 families. Additionally, we participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project, in providing Christmas gifts to needy children.

As God continues to lead GPC, we will stay focused on the “Vision”, focused on the “Ministry” He’s given us and continually be resilient in our pursuit of Excellence.  We recognize that as we strive toward the Mark of the High Calling of God in Christ, it’s not what lies before us, nor what lies behind us but He who lives in Us that has and will cause all these blessings and favors to come to pass.