In April 1940 a group of pastors from the Presbytery of Philadelphia called a young evangelist, Rev. James Rohrbaugh, to reach a section of Haverford Township called “Manoa” for Christ. One year earlier they had purchased our parcel of wooded land on Eagle Road with a vision to build a new Gospel-centered church in Havertown. James had been a missionary to Ethiopia during the beginning of World War II and returned home when the violence erupted. His new mission field became Delaware County as James went house-to-house, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That September when Manoa opened its doors the first Sunday service was so full people had to be turned away! Manoa also started a vibrant series of Christian classes and small groups on Sunday mornings, which was recognized during its early years as the fastest growing Sunday School in America. Later, in 1971, Manoa added our Nursery School as an outreach to the community, which continues to this day.

In 2022, Manoa Community Church was awarded the Bart Hess Award for church vitality, given annually to an EPC church that has demonstrated the most innovative approach to church revitalization. Additionally, the same year, Outreach Magazine highlighted Manoa in its fall issue: “100 Fastest-Growing Churches in America”, which spotlights reproducing churches.

Fulfilling the Great Commission has always been at the heart of Manoa’s vision. For decades Manoa has had the joy of investing millions of dollars in missions to spread the Gospel and plant churches globally. From our strategic base in the Greater Philadelphia area, we continue with the same missionary zeal of our founders. Our vision: to fill Havertown, Delaware County, Philadelphia, and the ends of the earth with the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.