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<h3 id="subtitle">Nondenominational church’s inaugural service attended by a nearly full house.</h3>
SARA POKORNY

WILKES-BARRE -- The faith is strong at the heart of downtown Wilkes-Barre, as evidenced by the turnout the Church on the Square saw for its first service on Sunday morning.

“We are truly blessed,” Pastor Vince O’ Boyle said. “We just want to express our gratitude to everyone that helped make it possible, that got it going.”

The nondenominational church is located at 52 Public Square, next to the Leo Matus newsstand. The first Mass was met with an almost-packed house.

It’s a simple setup, a 700-square-foot area complete with 50 chairs, a keyboard and drums. O’Boyle’s co-pastor is Louis Smyth, who first envisioned the church where it is today.

“He comes from New Jersey; he has an incredible passion for ministering,” O’Boyle said. “When he came up this way, he looked at the square and thought that maybe one day the Lord would put us there because there’s a great need there.”

O’Boyle and Smyth began the process about a year ago.

The congregation is made up of five families, about 25 members, but O’Boyle expects it to grow.

“As it grows, which we know it will, we’re going to look for something right off the square for worship, and keep what we have now as an outreach center.”

“We’re here so that people of all types, Christian and non-Christian, can come into the Kingdom of God and know that they don’t have to stay in the condition that they’re in, thanks to what Jesus has done for us.”

In addition to Sunday services, the church will hold prayer services on Tuesday nights at 6:30. Ladies Bible study will take place Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and family Bible study will go on Friday nights at 6:30.

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Church on Square delivers message to downtown