New church grows in West Newton

Aug. 28--A Greensburg man who said he was born again in Christ after falling into a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, has seen his small flock of parishioners at the non-denominational Walk in the Word Ministries in West Newton, triple in size in less than a year.

John Sethman, 45, pastor of Walk in the Word Ministries at 225 N. Water St., said his church has grown to about 17 members, from a group of five members in February. The parishioners have been meeting in a modest space at the former Dairy Land building since March, Sethman said.

Prior to forming Walk in the Word Ministries earlier this year, Sethman said he has been to many churches.

"I don't believe everyone is telling the whole truth. We want to tell them the whole truth and nothing but the truth," Sethman said.

Sethman, an insurance salesman, said he does not take any money for his work as pastor.

"We put the money back into the ministry," Sethman said.

Sethman said he was an evangelist with the Faith Hope & Love Outreach Ministry in Monessen, which closed about two years ago. He was involved in prison outreach at the Westmoreland County Jail, State Corrections Institute in Greene County and the Washington County Jail, Sethman said.

He was ordained through Faith Hope & Love Outreach, fulfilling what a Bible camp minister told young John: "God is calling you."

The pastor was born and raised in Donora, then moved to Belle Vernon when he was in 11th grade and graduated from Belle Vernon Area High School.

Sethman said he was "born again" 18 years ago while involved in the Full Gospel Ministry in North Charleroi.

As a rebellious young man, Sethman said he had been involved in drugs and alcohol. Unlike so many others who have gone down that path, Sethman said he was able to avoid criminal prosecution.

"If he (God) can do it for me, he can do it for anyone," Sethman said.

Joe Napsha is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at [email protected] or 724-836-5252.

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