Tim Halbfoerster

Lead Pastor of River of God Church in Enola, Pennsylvania.
It is obvious that the Holy Spirit of God has pursued Pastor Tim Halbfoerster throughout his life. The one that Jesus promised God would send, the Comforter, had come into his world, at just the right time, and commissioned him to be a peacemaker within the kingdom.
I am interested by the many ways that God is at work in this world. His Word says that the Spirit is the giver of gifts, and that each believer has a special role to play in the body of Christ; pastor Tim's story is a great example of this. His journey has lead him through some places in ministry that might have buried others, but the unique gifts and calling that he has been given have allowed Holy Spirit revival to be brought to the church he pastors. They have birthed in him a passion for seeing resolution and peace brought to conflicts within the church. Bridge Builders is a ministry that he has helped to create as a resource to supplement local church efforts to resolve conflicts through training, coaching, and mediation between parties involved in relational challenges. The goal is to tear down the walls of conflict and create bridges to peace.
Jesus proclaimed blessing over the peacemakers in his famous Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:9. Listen to how The Message version puts it, "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."
Pastor Tim said, "I couldn't pastor without being filled with the Holy Spirit". There are so many things we've been inspired to do. I think the challenge for us in ministry comes when we strive to make that place on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to help us develop a culture of peace in our lives and ministries. We need the Holy Spirit to help us submit ourselves to one another, to learn from each other, and be intentional about living for God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us stay in the shadow of the cross...

"Fill us with your Spirit, oh God, and help us to be refreshed and renewed in the River."