Muhlenberg Area Community Church began in 2006 after Pastor George Hege, his wife Linda and a few others began meeting in the Hege home to explore the possibility of starting a church plant in Muhlenberg Township. The Heges’ vision of a church plant dovetailed with a similar vision of some folks from Fleetwood Bible Church in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. Although there was as yet no established place to worship, this small group met on a monthly basis to worship, plan and conduct several outreach activities in Muhlenberg Township.
On January 7, 2007, because of increased interest, the fledgling church held the Next Step Event at Fleetwood Bible Church. This event, attended by forty people, marked the first step along the path to becoming a church with a permanent home in Muhlenberg Township. For the next several months, the group met in FBC’s social hall, using the concept of “table church,” in which worshipers sat at round tables, with a combination of whole group teaching and “table time,” where participants interacted with others at their table for discussion and prayer. Muhlenberg Area Community Church, better known as MACC, was growing and attracting committed believers who wanted to be a part of this exciting endeavor.
In May of 2007 the fifteen members of MACC’s Core Team attended a weekend retreat at Lake Wynona. After an intense weekend of praying, teaching and sharing, the Core Team reached consensus on Mission and Vision Statements, and the Core Values of Muhlenberg Area Community Church. The team also set short term and long term goals and strategies for MACC for the next two years.
June 2007 marked the start of MACC officially meeting in Muhlenberg Township. The weekly celebrations were held on Saturday evenings at Faith Evangelical Congregational Church in Temple. These Saturday Celebrations continued the MACC practice of being a table church, with much interaction among worshipers. The MACC tradition of Saturday Snacks began, in addition to monthly Agape Meals.
Over the next several months the members of MACC, who became known as MACCies, sought to further acquaint themselves with the residents of Muhlenberg Township through various outreach events such as handing out bottled water at Muhlenberg Community Days, distributing candy at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market on Valentine’s Day and handing out stamps at the Temple Post Office on tax day. Other outreaches included helping with a Good News Club at Muhlenberg Elementary School, handing out cold sodas on the Fifth Street Highway, returning grocery carts, and dollar car washes, with MACCies giving the dollar to the surprised car wash recipients. Some MACCies were also able to join the team on the annual Ecuador Mission Trip.
On Easter Sunday 2008 Muhlenberg Area Community Church moved from Saturday evening meetings at Faith Evangelical Congregational Church to beginning Sunday morning worship services at a new location, the Community Center at Urban Acres Mobile Home Park on Pricetown Road in Temple.
The move to Urban Acres enabled MACC to build relationships, to reach more families and to clarify MACC’s identity as a church in Muhlenberg Township. MACCies continued the table church concept, Sunday morning coffee and snacks, and fellowship meals. Outreaches to the Urban Acres community included planting flowers for the residents and preparing a meal and activity day.
As MACC grew, MACCies continued to be faithful in prayer and Outreach. In the fall of 2008, a group of MACCies conducted a six week Language Exchange Program, building relationships within the community. Other outreach activities included battery giveaways, a Valentine Day celebration, windshield washing, a construction project, yard raking, and Christmas tree pick-ups, among other things. There were “inreach” activities as well – helping members of the church community with projects.
While the Urban Acres Community Center met some of the growing church’s needs, it also had limitations, such as the lack of classrooms to hold children’s church and space suitable for a nursery. During the two years that MACC held services at Urban Acres, the church continued to pray and to search for a larger building. Sites along Kutztown Road and Frush Valley Road were examined but each time the Lord closed the door. Finally, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2010, MACC moved to a new location at 3400 Plaza Drive near the Fairgrounds Farmers Market. At last MACC had room to grow and to create the Children’s Ministry, initially offering Nursery and Children’s Church to MACC families. Since then the Children’s Ministry has expanded to include Preschool Church and a youth group which goes by the name of B.O.B (Bunch of Believers).
In 2012 MACC continues to grow and currently has an average weekly attendance of about sixty worshipers. MACC offers opportunities for everyone to be involved in Missions, Outreach and Prayer Team ministries, as well as small group Bible Studies. Since its inception, MACC has been committed to its Mission Statement; striving to “serve together to give away what God has given us” through Outreach, Missions and service to each other. In addition, several MACCies continue to participate in the annual Ecuador Mission Trip.
Where will MACC be in the future? Only God knows but the MACCies will be ready to grow and serve the Lord no matter the calling.