An amazing story

By Dom Ruggiero

When you walk into the Amazing Grace Resource Center in Mullica Hill you realize immediately that you are not entering a typical Christian bookstore.

The first thing that strikes you as you drive up to park is the spire of a once vibrant community church. Then as you walk in, the stained glass windows catch your eye. They accent the sudden feeling of reverence you get with their pastel colors and religious themes.

Then straight ahead as you weave your way through the bookstands, racks and displays you notice the altar. It sits there patiently, adorned with more of the proprietors’ wares, waiting for a pastor to approach and deliver a sermon. You may say to yourself ….”wow, how clever was it to make this bookstore look like a church.”

The fact is this bookstore was once a church, Trinity United Methodist to be exact. The original church was on High Street, relocated to Main Street and dates back to 1848. The congregation of Trinity United Methodist Church now meets on Cedar Rd in Mullica Hill.

Fast forward 150+ years and many pastors to 2003. Meet Justine and Randy Greene. They are the proprietors of Amazing Grace Resource Center. It had been their dream to eventually own a Christian bookstore. Feeling led to do so a few years ago, they made an attempt to open one in Pennsylvania. However, just when they thought it would happen, the Lord stepped in and said “not yet, not here.”

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An outreach that reaches way, way out

By Dom Ruggiero

I recently had the pleasure of talking to one of the most interesting people i have ever met. Her name is Mary Materniak, or Pastor Mary as she is known by her volunteers and the many people she helps.

A former missionary, Pastor Mary has been to more places than that fellow in black with a guitar who sings “I’ve been everywhere man, I’ve been everywhere.” India, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa; throw a dart at a world map and chances are Pastor Mary has been there.

During that time she saw many things…….poverty, famine, depression, oppression and sickness. But she always stayed focused on her mission to minister to the people.

“You can’t teach the message of the gospel and Jesus Christ to anyone if their stomach is empty and they are hungry,” she said. “Feed them, clothe them, help them, teach them and they will listen.”

One day about four years ago God came calling.

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A testimony in song and praise

By Dom Ruggiero

After spending about an hour with them for this interview the things that struck me the most were their commitment to their families, to God and their ministry.

The American Heritage dictionary defines compelled as “to force or drive to a course of action, to secure or bring about by force, to overpower, to drive together; to unite by force; to herd.”

After talking to COMPELLED (Matt Russell, Rob Baumiester, Nate Sara and Mike Bruckler), a local band from South Jersey and watching them perform it is evident that the name of their band is not just a name but a feeling and a belief. They have a passion for the Lord and they will tell you that. The Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, “compels’ them to minister through song.

While watching their performances you will see that this group of young men are not a garage band, or a group of kids with instruments making noise………..they are for real! The lyrics are poetic and relate to the everyday struggles and triumphs of being a Christian. The music is powerful yet not overbearing (no heavy metal here!). When you watch Matt sing, Rob play guitar, Mike play drums and Nate play bass you can feel the Holy Spirit being funneled through their voices as they sing and their hands as they play. Their music is their testimony.

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By Matthew Ralph

Joachima Kim Speer was leading worship in a small group with just a guitar when a call came for her to use her love and talent of music to make an impact beyond the four walls of the space where her small group met.

The call came from a worship leader at her church at the time – Chestnut Assembly of God in Vineland – when a family emergency sent him on a Sunday afternoon mission to find someone to fill in for him that night.

“I remember feeling overwhelmed and really scared because I never led with a band before – just me and my guitar for small groups,” Joachima recalled. “I faced the fear that day and stepped into my calling.”

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