About Us

what we value

We Value Belonging
Cultural Reality: People want to belong, even when they don’t know how to do it.
Our Value: We take the first step toward including others. We go first.
Be intentional. Pursue others.

We Value Authenticity
Cultural Reality: People crave realness, even when they want to hide.
Our Value: We are intentionally (and appropriately) vulnerable.
Recognize life can be hard. Invite others in.

We Value Exploration
Cultural Reality: People long for truth but often struggle to know where to find it. 
Our Value: We believe Jesus is big enough for our questions, doubts and fears.
Investigate faith. Encounter Jesus.

We Value People
Cultural Reality:It is tempting to reduce people to their positions and not their humanity. 
Our Value: We consider people valuable for who they are (and it’s ok if we disagree).
Cheer people on and disagree well. 

Meet the crums

Josh + Bethany Crum have been married for 19 years and have four stellar kids in their brood: Bauer (14), Izzy (12), Callyn (10), and Mathis (7). They both grew up in the church (as pastor’s kids) and have been involved in ministry since 2004 with Josh serving in pastoral leadership roles at several churches over the past 15 years. They love the greater Philadelphia area. There’s just something about this region that fits and feels like home. (And they've tried other areas...midwest...ahem...we're looking at you...) Maybe it’s the history. Maybe it’s the landscape. Maybe it’s the pace of life. Whatever else it is, it’s definitely the cheesesteaks.

Josh Crum

Lead Pastor

Bethany Crum

Community Outreach Coordinator

Our Beliefs

Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Godhead–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He was united with a true human nature by a miraculous
conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily made amends for the sins of humankind by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. Jesus rose from the dead in the same body, now glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and humanity, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God 

Matthew 1:18-25, 25:31-46; Mark 10:45; Luke 24; John 1:1, 1:14, 8:58; Acts 1:9-11, 2:22-24; Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Hebrews 2:14-15, 4:14-16; Revelation 11:15-17, 20:11-15, 22:13, 22:20

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God 

Scripture speaks with the authority of God and at the same time reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of the human authors. The Scriptures are presented exactly as God intended and without error in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice, and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God 

Psalm 119:60; Matthew 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 10:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

We believe there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and each of whom is worthy of precisely the same homage, confidence, and obedience 

In the beginning, God created the world and all things out of nothing, thus manifesting the glory of His power, wisdom and goodness. By His sovereign power He continues to sustain His creation. By His providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes 

Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Revelation 1:4-8

The central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with Himself. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man defied God, choosing to go his independent way, and was thus alienated from God. The consequence of this rebellion from God is the corruption of human nature, so that people are unable to please God in any way. The Fall took place at the beginning of human history, and all individuals since have suffered these consequences and are in need of the saving grace of God. The salvation of humanity is, then, wholly a sovereign work of God’s grace, not the result, in whole or in part, of human effort or works of goodness. Salvation becomes a reality in a person’s experience when he or she admits his or her own sinfulness and inability to save himself or herself, and receives God’s gift of forgiveness by faith. By this act of faith, each person acknowledges his or her own need for repentance and solely relies on Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. When God has begun a saving work in the heart of any person, He gives assurance in His word that He will continue performing it until the day of its full consummation 

Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3; Isaiah 64:6-7; Matthew 26:28; John 1:12; John 3:7-18; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:28; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 16:31; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23-28; Romans 4:5-6; Romans 5:1; Romans 5:9-10; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:3; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 10:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 3:21-22; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:4-9; Colossians 3:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Peter 1:3-6; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:13; Jude 24

The essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to humankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength and wisdom, and genuinely endows each believer with gifts for the building of the Church. The Holy Spirit guides believers in understanding and applying Scripture. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible for the believer to lead a life of Christ-like character, referred to as the fruit of the Spirit, to the glory of the Father 

Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:7-10; John 3:5-8, 14:16, 14:26, 16:8, 16:13; Romans 8:9, 8:14-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 12:13; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:16-17, 5:25; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5

The result of union with Jesus Christ is that all believers become members of His body, the Church. The one true Church is composed of all those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Wherever God’s people meet regularly, there is the local expression of the Church. Under the watchful care of elders and other supportive leaders, its members are to work together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to God. Scripture commands all believers to be an active part of a local church body, devoting themselves to worship, prayer, and the teaching of God’s Word. Participation in a local body also includes the observance of believer’s baptism and communion as the sacramental ordinances established by Jesus Christ, fellowship, service to the body, and outreach to the world, thereby glorifying Christ and furthering His purposes 

Matthew 16:18, 28:19-20; Acts 2:41; Romans 12:4-9; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:12; Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 4:10