Messiah Village Unveils New Name, Broader Identity

Jan. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Mechanicsburg, Pa.  —   Messiah Village announced today it will adopt a new identity, Messiah Lifeways℠. The 115-year-old organization that serves older adults in Central Pennsylvania developed a new name, logo and brand to illustrate its comprehensive services and programs for those 55 and better.

While many in Central Pennsylvania associate the name Messiah Village with the continuing care retirement community in Mechanicsburg, the organization offers a much broader scope and reach.  

“We have developed to the point that we have outgrown our name,” said Emerson L. Lesher, Ph.D., President of Messiah Lifeways. “We are no longer a ‘village’ at one location, but a complete network of services that reaches into the community to serve older adults.”

In fact, Messiah Lifeways has grown into an organization that extends well beyond the senior living community, which will still be referred to as Messiah Village. Messiah Lifeways also offers:

• Home care, adult day services and rehabilitation open to anyone 55+ in the Harrisburg region
• Enrichment  opportunities, including the Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning, wellness center memberships, the Mechanicsburg Senior Center and volunteer opportunities for anyone 55+ in the Harrisburg region
• Active adult living at Mount Joy Country Homes, a maintenance-free cottage community in Lancaster County

The broader Messiah Lifeways identity will also serve as the platform for expansive new programs that will be announced at a February 6 event. These innovative programs will provide new options for the 75,000 older adults living in the corridor from Carlisle to Hershey.

The Messiah Lifeways identity was developed after considerable research and planning. “Lifeways” reflects the many choices the organization offers and an important truth for older adults:  there are many ways to experience life. The unique name also seeks to change the conversation about growing older and to inspire people to face the future with a new outlook.

The new logo design features a reflected Messiah “M” that creates a star – a symbol that represents light, energy and direction — both for the organization and the older adults it serves.  Messiah Lifeways will also adopt a new tagline — “Life. Embraced.™” — that expresses its goal of inspiring older adults to lead bold, purposeful lives.  

While the new identity reflects the organization’s evolution, Messiah Lifeways will remain a non-profit sponsored by the Brethren in Christ Church and will continue to be governed by the same board of directors and executive team.

The new name also maintains an emphasis on “Messiah” — an affirmation of Messiah Lifeways’ commitment to its core mission as a ministry that responsibly enhances the lives of older adults with Christ-like love.

Messiah Lifeways’ online resource, www.messiahvillage.org/messiahlifeways, provides details on the development of the organization and the brand. In the coming weeks, Messiah Lifeways will launch a new website, MessiahLifeways.org, and new Facebook and Twitter pages. The organization will also expand its Messiah Lifeways YouTube channel and begin the transition to the new name and logo.

Messiah Lifeways represents the most recent identity for a forward-thinking organization that has continued to build during its entire 115-year history. Founded in 1896 as the Messiah Rescue and Benevolent Home in Harrisburg, the organization has operated from several locations and undergone four name changes as it has expanded its scope.

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About Messiah Lifeways    Messiah Lifeways, formerly known as Messiah Village, offers a network of opportunities for adults 55 and better in South Central Pennsylvania. Recognizing that there are many ways to experience life, Messiah Lifeways offers enrichment opportunities, community support services and resident communities.  Messiah Lifeways, based in Mechanicsburg, is a non-profit sponsored by the Brethren in Christ Church. For more information, visit www.messiahvillage.org.