The 45th Anniversary of the Paoli United Methodist Church
October 2017
Methodist circuit riders on horseback brought the Gospel to early settlers taming the wilderness in what was to become Paoli 200 years ago.
Time passed and as the town of Paoli grew, so did our churches. Forty-five years ago, we built our present church after the merger of two churches.
As a result of this merger, we chose a grassy field on East State Road 56.
Construction began.
The walls went up.
The front columns of our church.
The Bishop joined us for the Service of Consecration.
District Superintendent Robert Baldridge and his wife, Robert and Margaret Allred, Bishop Ralph T. and Marion Alton, and Eldon and Helen Brown after the consecration service.
Here at Paoli United Methodist Church we strive to follow the teachings of Christ. We meet individual needs through worship, evangelism, Christian education, stewardship, fellowship, and missions for our community and world, all of this without discrimination.
We learn to serve the Kingdom of God through Christian education for adults, youth, and children.
The Faith class.
The Back Door class.
The Becomers class.
The Becomers class.
The J.O.Y. class.
As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of our church, we are thankful for this facility in which to worship and learn. However, the church isn't just a building. The church is the people, uniting as one body—the body of Christ.
And always when there has been a need, our Paoli United Methodist Church has responded with love.
Through the years we've made many improvements and repairs to our church building. However, this large, beautiful, functional church will never be completely "finished". In the coming years we will continue to refine and improve the building, enabling us to bring God's word to more and more people.
Here are just a few of the pastors who had led us on our faith journey.
John Russell and Richard Gillum, with District Superintendent Robert Baldridge, at the merger ceremony in December, 1968.
Jerry LeBrun.
Ken Wells.
Ken Wells.
Ken Wells and Bishop Woodie White.
Gary Schaar.
Gary Schaar.
Howard Allen.
Pam Cook.
Val Foughty-Killion.
Val Foughty-Killion.
Rev. Dr. Gary Schaar, United Methodist District Superintendent, appointing the Rev. Dr. LaMont Bonath as pastor of Paoli United Methodist Church for a second year in August 2016.
Reflecting on these 45 years reminds us that we should remember that beginnings are important ... but not as important as destinations.
Let's keep dreaming big dreams for the future of our church, even while we remember and cherish our past.
