pH Check with Zion Covenant, Jamestown, NY

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Jay Baehr, the Administrative Pastor at Zion Covenant Church in Jamestown, NY. Our conversation centered around a transformative journey that began when Peg Cichon, the GLC’s Vitality Liaison, invited Zion Covenant to participate in a pH Check, an assessment designed to illuminate both strengths and areas for growth within the church.

In the fall of ’25, Zion Covenant embraced this opportunity for honest self-reflection. The assessment provided valuable insights: while some areas showed beautiful growth, surprising to some, but not to Jay, it became evident how closely aligned the congregation is with ECC values, especially around Compassion, Mercy, and Justice. For Jay and his team, these findings reinforced their commitment to fostering a welcoming and caring environment.

Yet even as they celebrated their strengths, the pH Check also revealed opportunities—particularly in building more vibrant small groups. Taking this feedback seriously, Jay and his leadership team have already begun making thoughtful changes: adjusting group formats and adding new spaces and times to encourage deeper connection. They also searched for and found additional ways for deeper connection within their congregation.

Jay describes the assessment as “well worth it,” praising it as a powerful “looking glass” that offers concrete data rather than mere speculation about where improvement is needed—and where genuine progress has been made. He encourages other churches not to fear this process but instead embrace it as an invaluable tool provided by the GLC.

If your church is ready for renewal or simply curious about its own vitality journey, consider reaching out to Peg Cichon at [email protected] or contacting anyone at the GLC office. Together we can discover new pathways forward, celebrating what God is doing among us while courageously pursuing even greater faithfulness ahead.