Mountain View
 Baptist Church

Holyoke, Massachusetts

Recently the founding Pastor of Mountain View, Brother Eric Tharp was called  into a new ministry in California.  The Lord brought Brother Chad Correia and his family to the leadership of the church in Holyoke.  I had the privilege of being at the instillation service of Brother Correia.  He may be the new pastor but the faith, vision and dedication of the ministry of this church remains strong and determined.

This was an excellent revival meeting.  Souls were saved, Christians were challenged and broken.  The altar was full each service and the Spirit of the Lord prevailed in demonstration of His divine presents and conviction.   There can be no doubt of the Lord's leading Brother Correia to this work nor of the faith of these believers.

Pastor Chad Correia    

Visitors were welcomed and felt the love and vision among the congregation.

Pastor Eric Tharp

The name "Mountain View" certainly is appropriate for this solid, exciting and soul- winning ministry.  Over  fifteen years ago, Brother Tharp, his wife and family came from Bible College to this New England town.  The rest is an extraordinary testimony of the grace of God and the vision of a pastor and people. 

"Preaching a changeless Christ to an ever-changing world"

I remember preaching in several rented buildings over the years.  The most memorable was preaching the last service in a rented building ... then within ONE WEEK, the church built its current building  and had its first service the very next Sunday.

But the "Mountain View" vision did not stop there.

The vision reached beyond a new building.  Soul Winning has always been the purpose and heart of this ministry; not buildings, programs or status.  Winning souls and ministering to the saints of God has kept this church faithful and uncompromising in the preaching of the Word of God.

I was asked to preach an 8 day Missions Conference.  The Lord did a wonderful work each service.  The attendance was excellent (over 200 the closing Sunday morning) and the readiness to hear from God was evident. In all 4 were saved, in the Sunday School and several were baptized Sunday morning by the Spanish ministry. 

The church supports at least 24 missionaries around the world in its Faith Promise Missions program.  The Santino's from Romania and the Wooten's from the Philippines presented their fields, reminding us of the Great Commission of our Lord.  Ten's of thousands of dollars were promised to missions.

The bus ministry is part of the world wide "Mountain View" vision.  A large 66 passenger bus and Vans bring in many who other wise would not be under the teaching and preaching of the Bible. 

An exciting and Biblical   children's program was held, as scores of kids sat and participated in their service.
 

Thank God for bus workers!!!  Talk about missions?  Around the world or around the town, souls still need to be saved.  While our focus was on world wide mission giving, the church does not forget their own "Jerusalem".

As in any Revival or Mission Conference, good Godly music is greatly appreciated and welcomed.  I must say my heart was blessed, stirred and sometimes convicted by the music in each service.  The choir, the specials and the congregational singing well prepared hearts for the preaching.  I believe the music paved the way in preparation for the preaching of the Word of God.  At times it was lively and exciting, at times it was sober and convicting but every time it was Godly, Biblical and just plain good!

In a dark world of sin there is a CLEAR message of hope and deliverance.