Meet Tabernacle Church
The Arc of Cape May County is proud to spotlight Tabernacle Church, Pastor Bob Strauss, and trustee Steve Bistak, whose dedication, advocacy, and compassion have meaningfully impacted our shared mission. Tabernacle Church and its members have been vital partners in bringing faith and community together and fostering support for individuals with disabilities in Cape May County.
Personal Connection & Community Impact
Pastor Bob first connected with The Arc of Cape May County through Tabernacle Church’s collaboration on various community initiatives, such as the Arc’s annual Friendsgiving event. Though he had only been with the church for five months, Pastor Bob embraced this partnership, noting how inspired he was by The Arc’s caring staff and the community they serve.
Friendsgiving 2025 was catered by Lucky Bones, with food provided by Westside meats, and Sysco Philadelphia, filling everyone with joy and gratitude during the giving season. Events like Friendsgiving exemplifies the unique collaboration between Tabernacle Church and The Arc. Pastor Bob reflects on how such gatherings bring people together in a way that is both inclusive and uplifting. “It’s a real pleasure to work with The Arc,” he says. “The joy and positive spirit they bring to those experiencing life differently is commendable.”
Friendsgiving, which promotes The Arc’s services and mission, has become a touchstone for demonstrating the power of collaboration. Trustee Steve Bistak, recalls how the staff at The Arc showed an amazing amount of compassion and patience as they supported their residents who are dealing with physical and mental disabilities.
Even though the members of Tabernacle Church weren’t required to be a part of the event, they still came out anyway. Members were there to actively participate, not just do a job. “It’s not really possible to put into words the emotional aspects of being there and being involved,” Steve says. “It was a magical, emotional, religious experience.” Amazing volunteers, like the ones from Tabernacle Church are crucial in helping the Arc of Cape May County foster a lifelong partnership and commitment with the members of our community.
Pastor Bob’s wife, a former special education teacher, further deepened his appreciation for the dedication and compassion of The Arc’s team. He and his wife admires how staff, volunteers, and community members consistently go above and beyond to support individuals with disabilities and their families.
Why The Arc Stands Out
For Pastor Bob, The Arc of Cape May County is a standout organization because of its ability to meet critical needs in the community with both excellence and empathy. “There are few organizations that provide this level of service in Cape May County,” he says. He also highlights the personal connections staff members like CEO Majken Mechling foster with those they serve, calling it “special and deeply moving.”
Opportunities and Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, both Pastor Bob and Steve see tremendous opportunities for The Arc to continue building awareness and strengthening connections with other community organizations. They are particularly excited about Tabernacle Church’s third annual Community Resource Day, which will be held on February 15th and has 76 organizations already signed up
to participate in the church’s gymnasium. The event aims to foster a stronger support network across Cape May County.
Tabernacle as a church is working together to be a part of that support network and community. With twenty speaker events happening from September through June, there will be many informative discussions that will benefit many people: drug trends in CMC, suicide prevention, the Cooper/Cape Regional Merger, and more are all topics of interest to the community, and all are invited to attend.
Tabernacle works with the Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition on hosting faith-based community events and holds a Basic Blessing outreach once a month, distributing sanitary products, cleaning supplies, and other commodities. Many church members are involved with other organizations in the community that focus on providing help to those who need it. With so much work happening in the church, Steve feels that a connection with The Arc was a clear choice, and continuing to merge Tabernacle’s work with The Arc’s will only lead to more good for local communities in the future.
Pastor Bob and Steve also hope to expand The Arc’s reach by encouraging more individuals and groups to get involved. He believes the organization’s ability to bring a sense of joy and belonging to those with disabilities is transformative and essential.
A Legacy of Care
Tabernacle Church’s vision for The Arc aligns with their members’ personal missions of bringing faith and community together. Pastor Bob and Steve hope the church’s involvement will contribute to a legacy of greater understanding, support, and advocacy for individuals with disabilities and their families. “It’s about ensuring everyone knows they are cared for, loved, and valued,” Pastor Bob says. Through their leadership, Tabernacle Church exemplifies the values of compassion and inclusion that drive The Arc of Cape May County’s mission, helping to create a meaningful and lasting partnership for years to come.