KIANTONE – After months of planning, it is time for an eight-day series of guest speakers to begin at Koinonia Christian Fellowship.

The series has been planned as a way to observe the church’s 25th anniversary. Each speaker has a history with the church and Pastor Ron and Sheila Lemon and their family.

The celebration begins on Sunday with the 10:30 a.m. service when Denver Bierman, will speak and present a concert. Coincidentally, Bierman is also celebrating the 25th year of the Nashville-based Mile High Orchestra. At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Evangelist Larry Gibbs Jr. will speak on “The Church Had A Beginning.”

“I will look at the importance of the church having the fullness of the Spirit,” Gibbs said. “The Bible says, if you live in the Spirit, you must walk in the Spirit.”

Gibbs and his wife traveled the country for five years, evangelizing from Maryland to Arizona. He also spent many years working with drug addicts and street people. KCF is one of 50 services Gibbs will be presenting over 52 days.

The 6:30 p.m. services continue through Saturday, July 20. On Monday, Dr. Abel Robles will speak on “The Church Has a Standard.” Robles has an Honorary Doctorate from the Assemblies of God. He pioneered Calvary Temple Worship Center, now known as Oakpointe Christian Center, in 1973. The church is located in Newcastle, Pa. Robles resides in Poland, Ohio.

Pastor Jeff York’s message on Tuesday will be about “The Church Has a Commission” from Matthew 28:18-20. York was raised on a dairy farm in Warren, Pa. He later moved to California, where he attended Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, which was founded by Pastor Chuck Smith who God used mightily during the Jesus Revolution Revival.

“After being discipled by Pastor Chuck, I was led by the Lord back to Warren in December 1977. In June 1979 the Lord birthed Calvary Chapel of Russell. I am currently in my 45th year of pastoring there,” York said.

York has partnered in ministry many times with Lemon for special occasions, such as Good Friday, Christmas and other services.

Pastor Mike Peters, who was instrumental in the Lemons starting their own ministry, will be speaking on Wednesday. He will preach on “The Church Has A Message.”

“Koinonia Christian Fellowship’s start began after Ron and I ran into each other at a bowling alley. I invited Ron and his family to visit our ministry in Salamanca,” Peters said. “They remained faithful over the next few years. It was during those years of faithfulness to God that my wife and I sensed and began having conversation with them to plant a ministry in the Frewsburg area.”

Pastor Paul Price will have the floor on Thursday and will present the message “The Church Has Opposition.”

“Satan is our opposition. He’s a defeated foe,” Price said.

He serves as president of CMI Global. With his wife, Claudia, they founded Cornerstone Worship Center in Indiana, Pa., nearly 40 years ago. His relationship with Peters goes back many years. He remembers the conversations Peters had with him about encouraging Lemon to plant a church.

Pastor Mel McGinness, who has pastored Kiantone Congregational Church for the last 23 years, will be the speaker on Friday. His message will be from Jeremiah 33:3 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 about “The Church Has Power In Prayer.”

“The warfare on spirituality is on! We have no choice but to engage it,” McGinnis said. “What does God say about fighting it?”

McGinness has joined together with Lemon for Easter sunrise services and pastoral forums dealing with difficult issues that confront the church in regard to political and social issues. They have also presented Bible prophecy conferences together.

On Saturday, July 20, the Rev. Dennis Kutzner of Fort Wayne, Ind., will preach about “The Church Has A Future.” Kutzner is the General Overseer for CMI Global, “a pastor to pastors.”

Dr. Rod Buzzard will close out the series on Sunday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. His message will be “The Church Has A Lot to Be Thankful For.”

Buzzard recently returned from Malawi, Africa, where he dedicated the church for which Koinonia Christian Fellowship donated funds to purchase the supplies to build. He conducts conferences in prisons to help restore people and to help them return to society. He has written three books, the last being Restoring Broken People.

While supplies last, each family attending an anniversary service will receive a cookbook containing a few of the congregation’s favorite recipes.

Koinonia Christian Fellowship is located at 1427 Peck Settlement Road in Jamestown. Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m., worship services are at 10:30 a.m., adult Bible study with activities for children is on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m., men’s group is held biweekly on Monday at 6:30 p.m. and a prayer meeting is the first Sunday at 6:30 p.m. An elevator is located inside the door near the handicap parking area on the left side of the building.