May 23, 2012:  "We've only been in Bronxville for ten days," said Bishop Derek G. Owens of GoldenSword International Fellowship, "and the generosity, hospitality, and welcome shown to us by the community has been incredible."  The congregation of approximately 200 members made a unanimous decision to move to Bronxville from Yonkers.

GoldenSword International Fellowship, a non-denominational church founded by Owens in 2004, completed the purchase of the former Christian Science Church building at 10 Tanglewylde Avenue on Thursday, May 17.

Owens characterized finding the church as a testament of God's timing and direction.  "Bronxville never crossed our minds when we looked for a church," Owens said, but he noted that the village is the perfect central location for church members who travel from as far as Wappingers Falls (Dutchess County), Bridgeport (Connecticut), and Pocono (Pennsylvania) for Sunday services.  "The beauty of this church building is we have room to expand," he said.

Bishop Owens, a consulting engineering manager with Cisco Systems, recently received a master's degree in management science from New York University.  He hopes to move from a bi-vocational working life to full-time work in the church's ministry within the next year.  "The advantage of being bi-vocational is that I have to optimize my time and be very focused and detailed in order to be effective," he said.  He plans to move to full-time ministry work when the demands of the church reach the "tipping point" of exceeding and overriding those of Cisco and he cannot pursue both jobs.

Fully cognizant that the church building is in need of repair, Owens outlined prioritized plans for repairs, refurbishment, and beautification.  The church has already consulted with a drainage expert to address flood-mitigation issues.  One of the first repairs will be to the three non-working sump pumps in the church basement.  The goal is to fix the existing infrastructure, install waterproofing around the building perimeters, and have a way to push floodwaters away.  The prepurchase inspection report showed that the building does not suffer from a systemic mold problem.

"Once we mitigate this water problem, we want to create a dining facility and a small chapel in the basement," Owens said.  He envisions a multipurpose room in the basement available for the community at large to use for meetings.  Owens hopes to have the basement work and refurbishment completed by the end of the summer.  He stated that roof repairs are also a high priority for strengthening the building's infrastructure.

"We have a vision of what we want the church to look like," Owens said.  The congregation plans a capital stewardship campaign to help finance refurbishment and beautification phases.  Plans call for painting the sanctuary, reupholstering the pews, and widening the pulpit and chancel area.  Owens expects to meet with a landscaper this week.

Bishop Owens sees GoldenSword International Fellowship as a reflection of people of different races, cultures, and even creeds.  "We want to emanate the love of Christ," he said.  Owens affirmed that everyone who comes into the church should feel loved.

Sunday services begin at 8:30 am, Sunday school for all ages begins at 10:00 am, and the regular service is at 11:30 am.  Bible study will be held on Wednesday evenings.  Worship and teaching present the Bible in a contemporary setting and explore its applicability in the 21st-century world.

As part of its local outreach, the church will sponsor Saturday "tract attack" days on the major thoroughfares of local communities.  Called "Are You at the Crossroads?" church members will invite community members to visit the church.  By the end of the summer the church's website will include live video streaming of its services over the Internet.

Owens stated that one of his first orders of business is to meet clergy members and spiritual leaders of Bronxville churches.  He also hopes to have introductory meetings with village officials in the near future.  "The mayor already stopped by to say a quick hello as she was passing by walking her dog," he added.  "That was much appreciated."

Pictured here:  Bishop Derek Owens standing in the front of the sanctuary at the GoldenSword International Fellowship church building on Tanglewylde Avenue, formerly operated by the Christian Science Church.