About Us
Scottdale
History
Due to the coming of the railroads and Scottdale's location upon rich coal deposits, it did not take long for this argucultural area to flourish into a bustling industrial hub producing iron pipe, tin, knives, caskets and more. In the early 20th century Scottdale had various mills, plants, and shops.
​
Like many small towns across America, these work opportunities attracted new people to the area. There was a large influx of Scotch-Irish immigrants in the late 1770s. Other major ancestries in the area are German, Polish, Italian, and English.
​
With this influx of people, came their culture and beliefs. Various churches were established throughout the community. As industry in the area declined so did the population.
​
Our town is now dubbed one of the "rust belt" communities left over after the industrial boom of the 20th century. Thus many of our churches are aging congregations that are much smaller than they once were during our town's uprising.
Scottdale Area Association of Churches History
Most communities at some point in their history established some sort of collaboration across denominations amongst the Christian churches, often known as ministeriums. The purpose of coming together as Christians was to further the mission of the faith, pull together resources in the community, and cultivate deeper relationships with one another.
​
Our area's ministerium became Scottdale Area Association of Churches as the scope of resources and people coming together started to include those beyond the geographical boundaries of our community.
​
Over the years SAAC has organized community worship opportunities around special Christian holidays, hosted community events, fostered youth development, supported our local school district, raised funds for local mission work, offered support to local non-profits serving our area, and much more! We have also come together to speak out as a community on things that concern us or to address crisis in our area.
​
One of our biggest focuses is the food bank. The churches and people of our area contribute financially to SAAC so that our funding can support the food bank and other needs within the community. Instead of people in need going from church to church for help, we came come together to meet those needs head on and more efficiently and productively than we can apart from one another.
​
No one person, nor one church, has to feel like they are alone. We have always existed to serve alongside one another in the love of Christ.
​
​
Looking forward together
As we honor our roots, reflect upon our growth throughout the years, and look to the future, SAAC wants to continue its legacy of drawing the best of our community together. There are so many gifts in the people here as far as time, talent, and treasure.
​
It is our goal to draw our individual and collective gifts together so that we can celebrate our God who bestows such abundance upon us and to uplift those who are in need.
​
Like many small towns across America, there is some death and decline around us. But as Christians, that should not discourage us. If anything, we should be full of hope for we are a people of resurrection!
​
The seeds for new life were planted long ago when ministers and church members started coming together to work outside the walls of their own churches. Despite our various histories, beliefs, interpretations, ways of life, experiences, etc., we are all connected geographically and spiritually. We all have grown from those early seeds planted in this area. Now it is time to see what kind of fruit we can bare.
​
As an organization, we are looking forward to what new life we can breath into the community together. How can we show others that we have faith in each other, in our community and in our God? As we revitalize our organization, our hope is to spread the message that we have FAITH IN SCOTTDALE AND FAITH IN OUR COMMUNITY.