I really can’t remember attending church as a young boy, until after my family moved to Indiana, from Pennsylvania, back in the early 60’s. Sometime between 1st grade and 7th grade, my Mom started taking us to a little country community church called Buena Vista Church. I can still remember some of my Sunday School teachers and other people from that church. When I was in 7th grade, we convinced Mom to start attending the Friends Church in Lynn, IN, where a lot of my friends attended. I started singing in the choir, playing my trumpet and even leading singing at that church in my middle teen years, but it wasn’t until my Junior year in high school, during a lay witness weekend at that church, that I realized I needed to make a personal commitment to Christ and asked Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior. I had always been a “good” person who attended church, but based on my interaction with one of the lay witness team members that weekend; I realized there was more to being a Christian than what I had experienced to that point in time.
Outwardly, I did not really change a lot as, I really did not have a lot of habits that weren’t normally acceptable to my new life as a Christian. My biggest change was inside, as I now knew Him as my Lord and Savior, and really made an effort to grow in my faith.
Terri and I had started dating prior to my getting saved. She had grown up in the Lynn Nazarene Church, just down the street from the Friends Church, where I attended. I met her in 5th grade summer band, as fellow trumpet players, and we attended school together in the same grade from 7th grade on. I remember a time prior to my salvation experience where I even attended a revival at her church, and the evangelist actually pulled me down to the altar and led me in the salvation process, but I just did what he said to do in order to get out of there as fast as possible, so I really did not get saved that night.
Terri and I went separate ways after high school, her to Olivet and me to Ball State, where I continued to grow and mature in my Christian walk. Even though Ball State is not a Christian school, I looked for and found fellowship with other Christians that kept me grounded during those years. I also continued to serve at my home church back in Lynn, throughout my college days, both on the church board and with music.
Terri and I maintained our relationship through college, got married and moved to Bluffton, where I got a job after college. Terri's minister at Lynn, made Walt Graeflin aware of a new young couple moving to Bluffton, and contact was made with us, the hand of fellowship was extended, and we now have been a part of this church for almost 29 years.
I presently serve the Lord in our church, in the areas of music and finance. I have been on the church board continuously for a number of years, and have served as treasurer since 1994. One of my focuses in recent years, has been the reduction of our church indebtedness, to free up funds for ministry areas. We are gaining, but still have a ways to go toward that goal.
I thank God for the impact our church has had on Terri and I, and our three boys. All of our boys were saved growing up in our church, and we have made good use of our facility, especially the basketball goals down in the family center. I truly believe my sons are still active in their own churches today because of the salvation they received as a result of our church’s ministry to them as they were growing up.
I also thank God for the focus our church has on corporate worship, and on salvation for lost souls. The music and preaching in our services minister to me each week, and it is a real blessing when that salvation candle is lit, representing another soul has been saved for Christ. Our church is made up of people, so everything is not always in perfect harmony, but I think our Pastor’s do a good job of helping us focus on God, and the positives far outweigh the negatives.
