However, the pastor of the more than 200-member congregation at 520 Fairmount Ave., West Ellicott, is growing and thriving, regardless of Baehr’s early apprehensions about working in the ministerial field.

“I never wanted to be a pastor or work in the ministry,” said Baehr. “I was planning to work for a school, I have a background in special education. However, prior to becoming the pastor here, I was working at Mission Meadows residential camp on the lake, as the program director. I was encouraged to apply for a position as the youth pastor here at Zion and have been here ever since 2007.”

Zion Covenant Church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination and has several areas of focus which have become important to the church, said Baehr.

“We’re big supporters of the New Neighbors Coalition. Welcoming our neighbors, supporting them and assisting them. …Just as Jesus Christ has commanded us to do – community involvement is important to us,” said Baehr.

Far Right, Jay Baehr, is pictured with his entire family. Baehr is the administrative pastor of adult ministries and worship at Zion Covenant Church, 520 Fairmount Ave. Submitted photo

However, the church also focuses on other mainstay ministries as well. Working in collaboration with Zion’s local sister church, and other faith-based organizations to build youth programming in the area, continues to be a point of interest for the church.

“We have a vibrant, active and growing youth program,” said Baehr. “We do a lot with our sister church, First Covenant Church, in Jamestown, and their youth programs. Sunday nights we have our senior high school students ministry and Monday nights we host our junior high school ministries.”

Baehr highlighted the formal pre-school and Universal Pre-K programs (UPK), which is part of church’s youth programs, and is also partnered with Southwestern Central School District. Additionally, he talked about how this collaborative effort enhances the church’s commitment to fostering positive, youth development, while meeting a community need of childcare during working hours for some.

Baehr added how his denomination’s Great Lakes Conference, and the conference’s ownership and programming endeavors at Camp Mission Meadows, located in Dewittville, on Chautauqua Lake, enhances his church’s commitment to youth development.

“Camp Mission Meadows is amazing,” he said. “The work they do for the community, the partnerships they have forged with other denominations, faiths and people is beyond comprehension. Mission Meadows is an amazing asset for us.”

Baehr explained what visitors and church seeking individuals can expect to see at a service of worship at Zion Covenant Church.

“Zion is a warm and gracious community, a safe place to explore belief and to grow in faith,” he said. “We have two services. One service is more contemporary, with more modern music and the other would be considered more traditional, where the organ and more traditional hymns are played.”

According to zioncov.org the Traditional Service starts at 9 a.m. on Sundays and blends current music styles and hymns of faith with different forms of creative expression (i.e. media, drama, and visual art) to support the message. The Contemporary Service starts at 11:15 a.m., Sunday mornings and embraces the hymns of faith that many grew up with, incorporating piano, organ and chancel choir to support the message.

Baehr spoke about how his position at Zion Covenant Church and the organizational setup allows him to be more flexible with his time – and he invites anyone who would like to talk or in need of pastoral help to contact him.

“We have a rotational group of teachers and leaders, so I don’t have to spend half my time in sermon preparation,” he said. “We have some talented preachers and speakers, so I am flexible with my time. I love to have coffee and speak with people, he said. We are a church of people, and we treat everyone with dignity and grace.”

For more information visit zioncov.org or call (716) 397-8295.