The area of northwest Pittsburgh including neighborhoods like Crafton, Sheraden, and Chartiers has grown and changed much over the years.

 And in the early 1970s, this region was suffering from an overabundance of faith communities who put political concerns first and treated spiritual matters as being of little to no import. 

 The area was sorely lacking an established church where born again believers with a true faith in and love for the Lord Jesus Christ could gather together.

 But the seeds of great faith were certainly present at that time as well. One believer in the area, Grace Urbatis, prayed to God and contacted a baptist missionary organization in 1973.

And before long this organization sent Pastor Les Wells from West Virginia to minister to those who resided in the area and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Wells at first began to evangelize door to door throughout the community with his family, and in 1974 had began meeting at the local Women’s Civic Club every Sunday with a core group of 8 believers, Grace Urbatis included.