After 22 years of serving as the Lead Pastor at West Lawn United Methodist Church, the Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Raffauf will be retiring on June 30, 2022.
Raffauf’s ministry journey at West Lawn UMC began in 2000, and his official last day leading worship will be June 12, 2022. On this Sunday, he will preach at the 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 AM services. These services will include special music, a time of baptismal remembrance, and testimonies from those gathered. As a surprise for Raffauf, and to celebrate his love of Penn State football, the congregation will have a “White Out” this Sunday morning. All in attendance are invited to wear white clothing to show their appreciation of his service at West Lawn UMC. Beansies Coffee Truck will also be onsite for fellowship refreshments.
Pastor Jeff grew up in the West Lawn area and attended West Lawn UMC as a child. He considered it both a great privilege and a great challenge to minister in the community that played such an important role in his life.
During his tenure, Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Raffauf officiated at 230+ weddings, celebrated 380 baptisms, presided at 400 funerals, and received approximately 1,300 people into church membership, including 669 by profession of faith.
The list of significant highlights that occurred while Raffauf led West Lawn UMC are extensive. Some of these include the following:
- In the fall of 2001, West Lawn launched SafeHaven Lighthouse, which continues to this day offering a safe place for children during the after school hours.
- “West Lawn Wednesdays” began as a uniting, gathering place for the people of its three different services on Wednesday evenings. This ministry also provided a place for families to gather, and the community to come together, for “food for the body and food for the soul.” This weekly gathering, which still occurs today, includes a community meal followed by worship services, small group Bible studies, programming for children and youth, and more.
- In 2002, West Lawn reactivated the sending of its people into mission by deploying mission work teams. That year, the first of three work teams traveled to Honduras, where the group built a Sunday school building for the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (of the UMC). In 2005, the church turned its attention to the Gulf Coast, and ended up sending 15+ teams to help that region recover from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Another team helped construct a clinic in Magambua, Tanzania, in support of missionary doctor Jon Eager. West Lawn sent storm recovery teams to NC, NJ, VT, TN and Puerto Rico. Most recently, this church partnered with the Fuller Center for Housing and their Global Partners to help build 15+ homes in Pignon, Haiti, and will build their first home in Peru this summer. Pastor Raffauf was blessed to be on teams to Honduras (2x), Tanzania, NJ, and Haiti (3x).
- In 2006, the church signed a lease, good through December 15, 2047, for exclusive use of the building (except for the public library), now known as the Raffauf Community Center. The building is used by the church and community seven days a week and includes a commercial kitchen, conference room, an office, game room, classroom, and a newly renovated youth room.
- Also in 2006, under the leadership of Raffauf, West Lawn raised $1.7 million dollars with its Time to Build capital campaign. This primarily funded the renovation of the Community Center, but also included work in the chancel, a renovation of the sanctuary basement, and limited work in the Reiner Education Building.
- Beginning in 2012, and inspired by Mike Slaughter’s book, “A Different Kind of Christmas”, West Lawn UMC began receiving a different kind of Christmas offering. No longer used to balance the books at year’s end, this church pledged to give away every penny of every dollar received through its Christmas collection! Having now received ten Christmas Miracle Offerings, the church received, and gave away, and invested every dollar of the $766,115.87 raised.
On Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012, West Lawn UMC added a fourth service to its Sunday morning worship lineup. Originally, this service attracted folks who worshiped at 9:30 AM, members who had dropped out but appreciated the new alternative time, and community members without a church home. The immediate impact was a 15% increase in the Sunday morning worship’s attendance.- The West Lawn UMC campus expanded many times over the last 22 years. Under Raffauf, this church acquired a property just east of the Education Building, expanding the parking by 39 spaces. It also acquired the property at 110 Woodside which included much needed storage and garage areas and a welcoming place for small groups, meetings, and support groups.
- The church created an extensive prayer team and caring ministry which provides hope, encouragement, and support to those in need. Prayers are offered in many ways including in person on Sunday mornings, as well as prayers and visitations throughout the week.
On Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012, West Lawn UMC added a fourth service to its Sunday morning worship lineup. Originally, this service attracted folks who worshiped at 9:30 AM, members who had dropped out but appreciated the new alternative time, and community members without a church home. The immediate impact was a 15% increase in the Sunday morning worship’s attendance.Additional ministry highlights overseen by Raffauf include:
- Growing the staff to facilitate mission and ministry;
- Received New Journey UMC into our church family through merger;
- Created a Prayer Room through Memorial Funds gifts;
- Adapted their mission outreach to include feeding those in need here in Berks County and support for local shelters;
- Brought the Quad W Missional Intern program to Reading and Berks County;
- Established the Prison Ministry, serving men and women, leading chapels, Bible studies, and one-on-one counseling; and
- Expanded ministry through chapel services at area retirement communities.
Raffauf, along with his wife, Cheryl, intend to remain in the community and be active in volunteer opportunities.
For more information, contact: Kelly Rismiller, 610-507-9141, [email protected]
