God called & told him Philly needs you

ANTONIO ANDERSON heard the call in 2013 to "plant" a church in his hometown. He and his family were living outside Manhattan. He and his wife had well-paying, steady work. Their two daughters, now ages 11 and 9, were happy in their schools. They were all active members of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, a megachurch with more than 4,000 members.

But there was that call.

"I told my pastor, 'God is calling me back to Philadelphia.' I was listening to the news and the crimes against children, and I wanted to come back and make a positive difference," recalled Anderson, who was born and raised here.

The pastor "knew my passion, so when I mentioned to him what I felt God was leading me to do, he gave me the financial seeds to get started."

Hope Church Philly, which was launched in October, is the result. The congregation holds services in an elementary school in West Oak Lane, now with about 60 adults and 25 children in attendance for Sunday services.

Many members are young families, and Anderson is confident the numbers will increase in time. "We're growing a church and families together," he said.

Anderson volunteers his time to the church, as do the many others who minister there. He's OK with people calling him "Pastor Tony," but he prefers just "Tony" because "there aren't going to be titles in heaven."

Where we worship: The congregation meets in the auditorium of Prince Hall Elementary School on Gratz Street near Godfrey Avenue.

Hope Church Philly has one service, at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. It ends at 12:15. "We don't believe you have to be in church all day," Anderson said. Church members also gather every other week for a potluck dinner, sharing food and fellowship. "If you can't cook, bring the plates," he said.

What we believe: The church's core belief, Anderson said, is that "Jesus died, he rose, and he's coming back."

Despite the link to Grace Baptist, the seedling church in non-denominational. It aims for a casual, contemporary feel. "I come from the Baptist tradition, but I don't want to be traditional," he said. "Some older established churches, they do the same thing week after week for 70, 80 years. Young pastors want to be creative."

What to expect on Sundays: First, a warm welcome with coffee and doughnuts. The service will feature three or four contemporary songs - Pastor Tony has been told to turn his microphone off, but he still tries to sing along - with lyrics posted on a hanging screen. April's sermons have been built on the theme of giving to others.

Also expect at least one hug. "It's mandatory that everyone gets a hug before they leave," Anderson said. "One hug can relieve a lot of stress."

What to wear: There's no dress code. Anderson often wears a sweater with jeans. "In some traditional churches, it's almost like a fashion show. For us, it's whatever you feel comfortable with," he said.

Bring the kids: Children attend a separate service in a nearby classroom, allowing their parents to commune with God without interruptions. Both adults and children hear the same message during the services to encourage discussion after worship.

Big social issues we're grappling with: Hunger is one. In December, the congregation provided full holiday meals to 15 local families.

Anderson is talking to local supermarkets about a partnership that will allow the church to buy holiday meals at cost. "Our goal is 1,000 turkeys at Thanksgiving," he said. "We a small church that can do big things."

Local focus: The church wants to be an active part of the community, "to be present," he said. To that end, members are becoming involved with the Prince Hall PTA. The church organized a community Easter egg hunt at a nearby recreation center.

The Saturday of Mother's Day weekend, Hope Church Philly will host a free Women's Empowerment Luncheon. The church website, hopechurchphilly.org, has details.

God is . . . "Superlove," Anderson said.

Is that one word or two? "I would say it's one word," he said. "So many people just need love. . . . If we all gave love, this whole city would be a better place."

Words of comfort: "I just want people to know there is hope. There is still more that God has for you," Anderson said. "Don't give up on God, don't give up on yourself and never give up on your community."