Potsdam Area NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH and MEETING HOUSE
315-261-4602
Church Planter: Joe Selenski
Pastor Joe Selenski Has been an American Baptist Pastor since 1996. He began his North Country Ministry as Pastor for First Baptist Church of Malone NY. Four years ago he was the Church Plant Pastor for Lifeway Community Church in North Bangor NY. He remains at Lifeway Community as Senior Pastor today. Lifeway has taken on the new Potsdam Area Church Plant as a Sister Church, allowing Pastor Joe to take on this full-time Neighborhood Church and Meeting House Launch. Joe is also the founder and director for Barnabas House Homeless Shelter, a validated NYS American Baptist Ministry. Before coming to Upstate NY, Pastor Joe managed crisis intervention programs, runaway youth street ministries, Christian Counseling Programs, supervised therapeutic residential centers and assisted in reviving stalled or dying local churches. As an interesting side note, Joe played hockey, and was a coach in professional minor leagues.
Doug Buchanan, Interning Associate Pastor
Doug recently announced his decision to return to an original primary vocation, leaving behind success in other life endeavors, to pursue a life primarily dedicated to be a servant and resource to other believers, and to utilize every opportunity in life to share the Good News of the Gospel, make disciples, and give glory to God.
Doug is a graduate of Wheaton College and though he engaged in his Biblical Studies at this illustrious Evangelical college as did notable Wheaton Alumni such as Billy Graham and Missionary Jim Elliot, Doug sought different paths for close to twenty years of his life. Bouncing back and forth in life, finding, discovering, losing and gaining in his faith walk while working in various professions, spending some time teaching, writing, producing film and video, and most recently was the editor of our local newspaper in Malone, NY. In addition to his pastoral duties, Doug works as a copy editor for the Watertown Daily Times, embracing the 'tentmaker' model exemplified by the Apostle Paul.
Doug has had an interesting life story, finding faith and religion, falling away, and returning with renewed and vigorous love and trust of God that has more than an intellectual expression but a hands on, servant mentality that can only be motivated by the Holy Spirit. He is a great communicator, a lifetime learner, who is relentless in Biblical Study and-or desire to know more about his Lord and Savior. Doug has served with missionary teams in Haiti, completing five trips within two years time.
"NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH & MEETING HOUSE PARTNERS"
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH STAFF AND RESOURCES
NEIGHBORHOOOD CHURCH IS AFFILIATED WITH AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA. ABC USA/NYS celebrates congregational diversity and the right of local churches to make independent decisions. Though we operate with an interdenominational flair, our ABC membership provides needed stability, accountability, nationwide fellowship, and opportunity for resource sharing.
NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH IS ALSO AFFILIATED WITH LIFEWAY COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NORTH BANGOR NY. Lifeway has been our "SISTER" Church providing assistance throughout our launch preparation, with volunteer labor, financial oversight, leadership accountability, resource sharing, while providing permission for their own Pastor, Joe Selenski, to work full time with Neighborhood Church and Meeting House during this two year process to our official launch. The Lifeway Elders and Deacons will continue to provide oversight for accountability until Phase Two, our Full Launch has been achieved. Neighborhood Church will then continue it's own operations with in house leadership.
