Dennis Edwards, Peace Fellowship
“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” Luke 12:48These words of Jesus often resonate with me as I have been blessed in many ways yet see those blessings as giving me an awesome responsibility.My childhood in Queens, NY, was fairly ordinary. I grew up in a working class neighborhood, being the middle of seven children. I began attending church with my father and most of my siblings when I was about nine years old. At the time, I was bused to attend public school in a white and wealthier part of Queens. Often I was the only African American, or one of very few, in my classes or involved in certain activities. I did well in school and was very faithful at church.The church, however, was a pretty narrow place, having theological views that I would later learn were at odds with most Christians. Many of the teachings of the church prompted questions from me, but I was not always given helpful answers. Consequently, I became determined to learn as much of the Bible as I could.During my college years at Cornell University I was involved in campus ministry and it helped me to mature in my theological views. At Cornell I met my wife, Susan, who sensed the Lord wanted her to be actively involved, not just a casual churchgoer. By the time I graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, I was not sure I wanted to be an engineer as I sensed the Lord calling me to teach and preach the Bible.After spending a few years as a math and science teacher in New York City, I responded to the Lord’s prompting to attend seminary. The pastor of the church we attended, an Evangelical Free Church of America congregation, encouraged me to attend Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where I graduated cum laude with a Masters of Divinity. While in seminary I was involved in an inner-city congregation in Chicago. Susan and I had been sensing that God wanted us to be active among those who are poorer and had not been given the opportunities we had, especially with regard to education and relatively healthy family life. We had been given much by the Lord, and consequently much was required of us.Susan and I, with our three kids and one on the way, returned to New York City and planted a church in Brooklyn, NY. New Community Evangelical Free Church had a mission to be a cross-cultural fellowship that would reach out to those who did not have much in this world. With hard work, God allowed us to establish a new congregation, but the time came for us to move on.In the mid-1990s, we moved to Washington, DC, for me to serve on the staff of Washington Community Fellowship. I began as an associate pastor, credentialed with the Evangelical Free Church. But in time, after the lead pastor left, I became the lead pastor and was granted a credential through the Virginia Conference of the Mennonite Church USA. After several years of ministry on Capitol Hill, Susan and I realized that there were parts of Washington, DC, with greater need for practical resources and we had a call on our lives: there was a call for us to give since much had been given to us.In 2001 our family moved to the southeast quadrant of DC and planted a church in our home. Peace Fellowship Church was incorporated in 2002 and moved out of our house, eventually winding up in a Veteran of Foreign Wars building. We have not missed the irony of having “peace” in our name, yet meeting in a building with “war” in its name! Our part of Washington, includes some of the poorest residents of the city and we felt God calling us to be as helpful as we could, using all the resources He’s given to us.Through my friendship with Randy Heacock of Doylestown Mennonite Church, I became excited about what God is doing in Franconia Conference. After some meetings with Steve Kriss, our congregation became a Partner in Mission and I transferred my ordination credential from Virginia Conference to Franconia Conference.During several years of ministry in Washington I was able to earn a PhD in Biblical Studies. I am currently an adjunct instructor of Bible and Biblical Greek, hoping to pass on to my students my love for the Scriptures and my passion for relevant urban ministry.
