Jersey Shore Baptist Pastor Stepped in for Vet

Pastor Phil Ericson Sr. and his wife Cindy came to the Jersey Shore Baptist Church, located at 216 South Wrangleboro Rd. in Galloway Township, in 2002 when the founding pastor, Daniel Owens, decided to become a military chaplain.

Jersey Shore Baptist Church is an independent church with ties to North East Vision, a ministry that comes out of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin.

Daniel Owens started the Galloway church in his home in 1993, and the congregation met for services in the cafeteria of the Reeds Road Elementary School while they raised money for their own building.

Having been a military man, Owens wanted to return to the military and he placed a call to the Berlin church looking for someone who could replace him.

“Owens is a Navy chaplain today serving the Marine Corps. I took over for him in January of 2002. The church building opened its doors in 1997,” Ericson explained. “It’s not a huge space, and we use our auditorium seven days a week for all kinds of activities.”

Initially, the sanctuary held seating for 90 people. It was remodeled and expanded in 2009.

“We can accommodate up to 180 people at a given time,” Ericson said. “We had a youth event here when we had over 300 in the building, but our normal Sunday worship service usually numbers about 125.”

The church has 23 acres of land and the congregation is presently raising money with the goal of constructing a 4,000-square-foot building for its Sunday school.

“It’s going to be a while before we hit our goal,” the pastor added. “The economy has slowed things down considerably. Our Jersey Shore Baptist Academy is educating students from families in our congregation. They range in age from preschool up to 12th grade. The academy is only open to our members.”

The students at the academy come from a number of families who had been home-schooling their children. They’ve chosen to school them together because it provides a good education and also allows for social interaction between the students. The school serves the congregation Monday through Friday each week.

There are two worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday school is at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings with classes for nursery age, primary, middle, junior boys and girls, teens, singles and adults. A nursery is provided for families at the worship services.

“Our building is always busy,” Ericson said. “On Saturdays the church is used by a Spanish church congregation. They’re a spinoff of a Hammonton church group, and meet Saturday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for Spanish-language services. Wednesdays we have a bus ministry that picks up kids whose parents usually don’t attend church in the community. They come to the Kids Club from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The group ranges in age from kindergarten to 12th grade. There is also an adult prayer meeting and Bible Study Wednesday nights from 7 to 8:15 p.m.”  

Ericson’s son Phil Ericson Jr. serves as the youth director at the church.

The pastor also mentioned a new series coming up at the church.

“Beginning Sunday March 6, we’ll be starting a series on the theme ‘Are you happy?’” Ericson said. “The focus will be on Psalm 1:44-45 on happiness as it relates to the Christian life. Everyone is invited to attend.

For more information call 609-748-4955, or go to the church's website, jerseyshorebaptist.com