Local News

Service honors 150-year history of Mingo Junction church

MINGO JUNCTION -- Church members new and old remembered and honored generations of their faith community's history on Sunday at the 150th anniversary service of the First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction.

First United, as it is known today, formed on June 26, 1960, when Mingo Junction's Slovak Presbyterian Church united with Potter Memorial Presbyterian Church, chartered in 1873. Since then, First United has seen pastors and members come and go, but the current members keep the church lively and retain the church's legacy in their memory.

The service saw community friends, from Mingo Junction and abroad, visit the church and express support. Afterward, attendees enjoyed each other's company in the church's fellowship hall.

The Rev. Vaughn A. Foster Sr., pastor of First United, said after the service, "One hundred and fifty years is a long time, and to play any role in that history is a miracle and an honor."

During the service, First United elder Colleen Suter invited visitors to introduce themselves, among which were several Mingo Junction village officials and election candidates, as well as visitors and pastors from other churches.

The Rev. Mike Bongart, a retired pastor who served First United from 1992 to 2005. Bongart said his career as a pastor began at First United, having received a call to serve there immediately after he graduated from seminary.

Bongart said, "I was truly blessed to come here by God. ... You people took me in, you loved me, you ... helped me through the ropes of learning ministry."

Current Mingo Junction Councilman Michael Herrick shared how, at 19 years old, he contributed to building First United's parking lot in 1960, along with two of his friends who were all looking for work.

The congregation sang happy birthday for First United's October birthdays, which included Foster, and elder Janis Rauch led the congregation in "The Church is One Foundation." Later, Suter announced that First United will celebrate its birthday party on Nov. 12 after the 11 a.m. worship service.

Two visitors to the church spoke about First United's history. Wendy Hart Beckman spoke about her grandfather, the Rev. Wilhelm Gotthart Felmeth, who pastored Potter Memorial from 1906 to 1912. Accompanied by her husband, Steve Beckman, Wendy Beckman traveled to First United from Cincinnati to share her grandfather's story, as well as to visit his grave in Union Cemetery.

Also sharing was Roetta Lewis, former clerk of the First Baptist Church in Mingo Junction, who described how that church purchased Potter Memorial's former church building in 1965 and persevered, at times miraculously, from then on until it closed permanently in 2005. The First Baptist Church would have celebrated its 100-year anniversary this year, Lewis said.

Other worship proceedings included a music ministry selection, performed by Foster's wife, Lisa Foster, and son Elijah Foster. Additionally, the Rev. Vaughn Foster offered a message to attending children on how they model faith, and First United's First Up Choir performed several musical selections.

Foster's theme for his sermon was "This is the Lord's Church," which he said stems from a song he had been reflecting on. Foster spoke on the term "the church" referring to "God's people," as opposed to the church building itself.

Foster said God is more concerned with the church's people than the church building, and he related it to First United, saying, "Unless (people) see a photograph of it, when they say, 'This is a beautiful church,' they're not talking about the edifice. They're talking about the people that greeted them when they walked in the door."

The church ultimately belongs to Jesus, who is Lord, Foster said. He added that Jesus uses each individual church member's unique talents to act as "one body" and serve the common good of the church.

After the service, members and non-members socialized in the fellowship hall. Foster thanked the celebration's committee who made it possible.

On display were various First United memorabilia, including photos of church memories and activities; an old guest book and an Oct. 27, 2013, proclamation by then-Mingo Junction Mayor Ronald DiCarlo declaring the day as First United Presbyterian Church Day.

Joyce Dulick, who joined First United in 1965, said she appreciates the church's clothing ministry, which gathers donated clothes and other items to sell at a low cost or donate to those in need. Dulick said of the church: "It's a great to worship for families."

Ina Chidester, who served as the church's treasurer for 16 years, said, "It's easy working here because everybody's been so nice."

A member since 2002, Dolly Medley was joined by her granddaughter, Erica Hannan, and great-grandchildren Leeland Hannan, 11, and Natalia Hannan, 9, who are the church's youngest members and who lit the candles for the service. Medley said that she had a list of three churches she was deciding between visiting in the area, but when she visited First United, she was sold and joined without visiting the other two.

"This church has been absolutely wonderful to me and my family," said Medley. "I've had weddings here and I've had funerals here."

Colleen Suter said she was baptized at First United. She recalled a particular Sunday school teacher who went above and beyond to teach kids about Passover, cooking lamb for them and decorating a doorpost.

Ken Duska, who attended the Slovak Presbyterian Church from first to 12th grade, sang three Slovak hymns for attendees, accompanied by piano. Duska, whose parents were both Slovakian, said he used to perform in the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Deacon Tammy Ruckman said that, when she is at First United, she feels connected with her family, all of whom have been members of the church. Another of her favorite aspects is the church's iconic stained glass window depicting Jesus behind the altar. Ruckman said, "I just stare at that thing every Sunday. It makes me feel close to Jesus."

Sandy Lamb, a five-year member, said, "We love Rev. Foster, we love his wife (and) we love Elijah. It's a nice church, nice people."