PENN TWP — South Butler Assembly of God is building a solid foundation for the future with its new pastor, the Rev. Frank Keen.

“We can grow together to be the people that God called us to be,” said Keen, who took over in October as pastor of the church at 160 Brownsdale Road.

“My hope is first and foremost that we would embrace God's reality and out of that begin to embrace the reality that He has for us,” Keen said.

Keen, who lives with his wife in McCandless, was ordained in the Church of God in Christ in 2000. He had additional preparation recently before becoming pastor at the South Butler Assembly of God. He said the churches' doctrines and by-laws are the same.

His wife, Sherbrina Keen, also is an ordained minister. Most recently, they ministered to a congregation in Pittsburgh with Sherbrina handling administration and a taped ministry.

Keen was one of the visiting ministers at the South Butler Assembly of God during the year the church was without a pastor.

“We really liked his preaching style,” said Anna Pocchiari, one of three deacons at the church. “It's very Bible based, really dynamic.”

The Rev. George Bender served as South Butler's pastor for 20 years before he retired in 2004, and he attends the church now. He said there were many ministers who visited the congregation.

“Frank came to minister on several Sundays while we were going through the process,” Bender said. “The people really grew to like him. He's very outgoing. He has a delightful personality. He's an excellent preacher. You don't notice the time go by.”

Bender said Keen is intense but also uses humor and makes the Bible very interesting.

“I want us to be so full of God and His grace that we can share that wherever we go and that we can impart that to a broken society,” Keen said. “You start with one and it gets multiplied.”

Scott Bittner, his wife and their three children, ages 17, 15 and 13, of Forward Township have been with the church for several years. Bittner said Keen brings a new perspective of reaching out to the community.

“He has a clear vision of where he wants to go and what he sees for our church,” said Bittner. “He's a man who has totally sold out to God.”

Bittner said the small size of the congregation has limited the impact of their ministry to the community.

“Rev. Keen has a heart to reach out to the community with the things God has already done for our church,” said Bittner.

Keen said the world is in desperate need of men and women who are living demonstrations of Christ.

“Where it starts is bringing Biblical teaching,” Keen said. “Right teaching produces right living and the right results.

“If we put our words and actions together, we will be a dynamic influence on the society around us.”

When the church was without a pastor, 50 to 60 people attended the Sunday service. Bender led a midweek service and adult class. A children's class and youth activities also continued.

According to Bender, one of the strengths of the church is working with youth. During the church's past 20 years, at least 10 youths have pursued careers in the ministry. Students in the congregation also have been active participants in the national fine arts program of the Assemblies of God.

Bender said other people did the things that needed to be done. Keen brought a new sense of life and encouragement to the church.

“It is nice to be finally settled, and we can move on from here,” said Pocchiari.

Keen said his role at the church is unique.

“There are few places that would embrace a black pastor the way that South Butler has embraced me,” Keen said. “That's sad. I really believe that the heart of God is that we see people for who they really are — not just the color of their skin but the content of their heart. We are more alike than we are different, especially when we come to faith.

“When we begin to look beyond the color of a person's skin and accept them, we begin to accept the gift they are to the world. Unless you take the time for people, you'll miss the gift in people that sometimes God might be bringing your way.”

The pastor's job at South Butler Assembly of God is part-time. Keen and his wife work full-time in other jobs. Keen is a police officer at Passavant Hospital.

Keen said that ministry enhances his work as a police officer.

“God allows me to work with the letter of the law and the spirit of the law and to come with the heart of compassion. It's wanting to see beyond the citation and see our mutual accountability to one another,” he said. “I want them to see that there is a more caring aspect beyond the law, and you're looking not just at the offense, but you really see them as an individual.”

Keen has been married for nearly 28 years and said he and his wife are still madly in love.

“I am so grateful to God for giving me such a tremendous partner in life,” he said. “God has helped us grow strongly with one another.”

He said, “I can see that God's hand in the marriage alone gives me a foundation to say God's hand is here and look at the results. It's not just words.”

Keen said that with love and restoration, even in divorce God will heal people.

“People have to want to live for God and know Him,” Keen said. “That's where my heart is. We want to honor God and see people built up.

“We are embracing the opportunity that God has presented to us.”