Paoli United Methodist Church

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. The people of the United Methodist Church

In 1972, during the construction project, seventeen of our youth and adults went on a mission trip to Morant Bay, Jamaica, in the West Indies.

While there, they conducted a vacation church school and painted the church buildings.

Here we see family waiting for their return to the Louisville airport.

Members — Does anyone have pictures of them in Jamaica or anything else we can add here? Contact the web master if you have anything to add here!

Eastern Airlines counter at Louisville Standiford Airport.
Eastern Airlines counter at Louisville Standiford Airport.

Around that same 1971-1972 time frame of our construction project, the community's Countdown Parade had a theme of "Yesterday".

A historical re-enactor protrayed an early Methodist circuit rider like those who served our area in the early 1800s.


In the mid 1970s, Eldon Brown showed the youth that God's creation included all the Earth and also all that is beneath it as he led them on caving trips.

Above ground, there were canoe trips on Blue River and at Sugar Creek.

Church youth group after a caving trip.
Church youth group on a canoe trip at Sugar Creek.
Church youth group on a canoe trip at Sugar Creek.
Church youth group on a canoe trip at Sugar Creek.
Church youth group on a canoe trip at Sugar Creek.

Also in the 1970s, our church took several trips on God's Nightcrawler, a United Methodist overnight bus.

Onboard, there were three levels of bunks. And it was not just the youth that traveled on the bus! At left here we see Eldon Brown outside the bus, where it has arrived somewhere in the morning.

Below you see someone loading baggage, and the group taking a break at an Interstate highway rest stop.

Then some night-time shots on board the Nightcrawler.

Members — Does anyone have pictures from or stories from any of these trips? Contact the web master if you have anything to add here!

God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
Woman loading baggage into God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People waiting to board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People waiting to board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People in the dark on board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People in the dark on board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People in the dark on board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People in the dark on board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People in the dark on board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.
People in the dark on board God's Nightcrawler, an overnight church bus.

Clergy through the years

1964-1969
1965-1969
John Russell (Methodist)
Richard Gillum (E.U.B.)
1969-1972 Bob Allred
1972-1978 Eldon Brown
1978-1980 Dale Smith
1980-1983 Tom Brooks
1983-1987 Jerry LeBrun
1987-1991 Gary Schaar
1991-1998 Ken Wells
1998-2000 Howard Allen
2000-2005 Richard Russell
2005-2007 Jan Akers-DuBois
2007-2010 Pam Cook
2010-2015 Val Foughty-Killion
2015- LaMont Bonath
John Russell and Richard Gillum at the merger ceremony in December, 1968.

John Russell and Richard Gillum, with District Superintendent Robert Baldridge, at the merger ceremony in December, 1968.

Bob Allred, at the old Methodist Church in town.

Bob Allred, at the old Methodist Church in town.

Eldon Brown and Bob Allred at the consecration service in October, 1972.

Eldon Brown and Bob Allred, at the consecration service in October, 1972.

The Bishop visits the Paoli United Methodist Church.

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.

Eldon Brown and Robert Allred at the consecration service on October 15, 1972.

Eldon Brown and Robert Allred at the consecration service.

Eldon Brown and the children's choir in the Christmas parade.

Eldon Brown and the children's choir in Paoli's Christmas parade.

Jerry LeBrun.

Jerry LeBrun.

Gary Schaar.

Gary Schaar.

Pastors at the Paoli United Methodist Church.

Gary Schaar.

Ken Wells and Bishop Woodie White.

Ken Wells and Bishop Woodie White.

Ken Wells.

Ken Wells.

Ken Wells.

Ken Wells.

Pastors at the Paoli United Methodist Church.

Howard Allen.

Pam Cook.

Pam Cook.

Val Foughty-Killion.

Val Foughty-Killion.

Val Foughty-Killion and District Superintendent Charles Wilfong.

Val Foughty-Killion and District Superintendent Charles Wilfong.

Rev. Dr. Gary Schaar appointing the Rev. Dr. LaMont Bonath as pastor of Paoli United Methodist Church for a second year.

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.

Rev. Dr. Gary Schaar appointing the Rev. Dr. LaMont Bonath as pastor of Paoli United Methodist Church for a second year.

Rev. Dr. Gary Schaar and his wife Joyce, visiting for the start of LaMont Bonath's second year as pastor.