"In different points in its life, the Philadelphia congregation known as Beacon has been a Sunday school mission, a nesting congregation, a mother church with its own college, a church in schism, and a new church development. A persistent thread in the fabric of Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, its population waxed and waned by turns, for 146 years."

"A few weeks ago we sat down at the offices of Locus Partners with Rev. Rebecca Blake, Co-Director and Co-Pastor of ‘Beacon’ a new church model in Kensington. Over coffee we spoke about her trajectory, the church’s mission, and the ways in which Beacon is reaching out to community members in new ways."

Click over to page 37 in Eastern University's issu file to read about Rebecca and her award. 

"It had been 17 years since the Presbytery of Philadelphia chartered a new congregation. That makes what happened on Nov. 17, 2015 fairly rare. Fitting, because what Beacon is doing is also very unique.

Located in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington, Beacon Church worships on Sunday evenings and invites area children throughout the week for Art Studio and Story Studio, their art and creative writing programs. In a building that has housed Presbyterian worshipers since 1871, the newly-chartered Beacon is led by Co-Pastors Revs. Karen Rohrer and Rebecca Blake, who were both trained at Philadelphia’s Broad Street Ministry. Through a partnership with the presbytery, Broad Street Ministry and the former Beacon Presbyterian Church, Karen and Rebecca were invited to dream alongside the community for the revisioning of the 140-year-old church into a faith community and gathering space for neighbors of all ages in 2011."

"At first glance, a visitor might see the rough edges around Kensington and miss the strengths and stories that co-pastors Rev. Rebecca Blake and Rev. Karen Rohrer work at to encourage and uplift. A historically industrial Philadelphia neighborhood with residents who still take great pride in working with their hands, Kensington has seen many factories, businesses and even churches that once thrived there become a thing of the past. ..."

"For 15-year old Chris Omelchuk, Beacon—a new church development under the umbrella of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) and a designated 1001 New Worshiping Community—has been a godsend. Growing up in a post-industrial neighborhood in Philadelphia, Omelchuk was struggling in middle school with issues of bullying. He was being teased and made fun of, being told things like “you’re a fruit.” Then he discovered Beacon’s after-school program. "