Time Line & Signifcant Firsts

Some Significant Firsts…

•  First baby: Cheryl Hertzler
•  First death: Karla Hertzler
•  First wedding: Oliver Hertzler and Lana Wills
•  First wedding in church: Bill Shenk and Martha Crostic
•  First baptisms: Linda Powell Sheets/Ed Ranck
•  First S.S. superintendent: Wallace Schaefer
• First Powhatan Mennonite Church School (PMCS) graduate: Ben Powell
• First Pastor: Louis Burkholder
• First death of a pastor: Louis Burkholder, December 13, 2013
• First wedding in Community Life Center: Kayley Kennell and Travis Tice

 

Time Line

1960:

• June 1: Bob/Marie Hertzler move to Powhatan.
• Jim/Miriam Tennafoss (Cheaspeake) move to Amelia.

1961:

• May 8: Byron/Mary Alice Hertzler move to Powhatan.

1962:

• April 5: First baby, Cheryl Hertzler, is born.
• Fall: Marvin Hertzler begins working in Powhatan.
• October: Ray Hertzler (FL) moves to Powhatan.

1963:

• March: Wally/Dorcas Schaefer (Middlesex) move to Powhatan.
• May: Services are held in the cinderblock house.
• May 9: Nathan and Laura Layman move to Powhatan.
• Summer: Harold Alderfer moves to Powhatan.

1964:

• Leroy/Ruth Hertzler (Peru) move to Powhatan.
• February 12: Sam/Dorothy Powell move to Amelia.
• May 17: Lewis Burkholder is licensed to ministry.
• May: Marvin/Fern Hertzler move to Powhatan.
• August 4: Ground is broken for our first church building.

1965:

• March 28: First service is held in the new church building.
• May 23: The first communion service is celebrated in the fellowship.
• June 15: Lewis/Helen Burkholder move to Powhatan.
• November 28:  PMC is dedicated.

1966:

• March 3: Bill/Bertha Schaefer (Middlesex) move to Powhatan.
• April 1: Art/Phoebe Ranck came to Powhatan.

1967:

• October. 24: Eli/Irene Miller (W VA) move to Powhatan.

1968:

• Jan. 1: The first Annual Business Meeting is held.
• May 20: Gene/Oliver Jr. Hertzler move to Powhatan.
• October 10: Sylvanus/Mildred Moyer move to Powhatan.

 

1969:

• Church debt is paid in full.
• April 26: First wedding  in fellowship – Oliver Hertzler/Lana Wills – celebrated.
• May 18: The fellowship rejoices in first baptisms – Linda Powell/Ed Ranck.
• August 30: First wedding celebrated in church – Bill Shenk/Martha Crostic.

1970:

• March 15: Lewis Burkholder is ordained to ministry.
• August. 23: Wally Schaefer is installed as assistant pastor.

1977:

• April 3: Art Ranck is installed as deacon.
• July : Lot bought from Arthur Hertzler.

1978:

• April 2: The fellowship mourns first death – Karla Hertzler.

1982:

• March 10: Ground is broken for second building phase.
• August 15: PMC begins holding services in new sanctuary.

1989:

• April 7:  Howard Hertzler killed in car accident.

1990:

• 1st Annual Ice-Cream Social at Gene/Pat Hertzlers’.

1991:

• August:  Harold & Elaine Alderfer move to Brodnax, VA.

1992:

• Fall: Powhatan Mennonite Church School starts.

1993

• May:  Ben Powell 1st graduate from PMCS (Powhatan Mennonite Church School).
• December: First live nativity at Hertzlers’ farm.

1997:

• May: Powhatan Mennonite Church School closes.

1998

• January:  First church newsletter, Menno-Notes.
• October 15:  Norvell McKinney dies.
• November 20:  June Benson dies.

1999

• December: Vernon & Christina Moyer begin 1 year term of service in Lushjne, Albania.

2000:

• March:  Tim Kennell installed as pastor.

2001:

• August:  Church web page is launched.
• September:  Andy Powell begins 1 year term of service in Stormer Lake, Ontario.
• October 3:  Gideon Yoder dies.

2002:

• December 22:  Art Ranck dies.

2003:

• April 13: Wilbur Adams dies.
• May 22: Elizabeth Yoder dies.
• August 22-May 2004: Ron/Regina Shultz family go to Costa Rica for language study in preparation for mission in Peru.
• September 18: Hurricane Isabel hits Powhatan.

2004

• August 3:  Ron/Regina Shultz family begin 3-year term in Cusco, Peru.
• August 25:  Edna Sexton dies.

2005:

• April 22: Samuel Powell II dies.
• August 21:  Past Pastor appreciation Sunday (All 4 past Pastors were present: Burkholder, Freed, Swarr, & Nowlin)
• September 2:  Ralph Fisher dies.
• September:  Ed & Doris Ranck begin 3-year term with We Care in Atmore, Alabama.

2006:

• January: Built new stone church sign.

2007:

• August: Ron Shultz family begins 2nd 3-year term in Peru.
• September:  Donna Wyatt begins 2-year term with We Care Prison Ministry in Montgomery, Alabama.
• September:  Sheila Schaefer begins term of service with Faith Family Ministry in Blue Ridge, GA.
• September:  Carolyn Nowlin begins as church secretary.

2008:

• January:  Church structure changes from Elders/Council to Team Ministries.
• February 14:  Marvin Hertzler dies. (In ‘01 he transferred membership to Oak Hill Mennonite Church.

2009:

• June: Team to Costa Rica.
• September 27:  “Evening on the Lawn”  at Gene/Pat Hertzlers.
• October-December:  Rachel Brenneman at children’s home in Haiti.
• November 30:  Donna Wyatt completes term with We Care. She and Sheila Schaefer move back to Powhatan.
• December 28: Sylvanus Moyer dies. Buried at Warwick River Mennonite Church Cemetery.

2010:

• May 8:  Ed & Doris Ranck complete term of service with We Care Prison Ministry and return to Powhatan.
• June 24: Ron & Regina Shultz and family complete term of service in Peru.  They are settling in Harrisonburg.
• June-August:  Pastor Tim on sabbatical.
• July 25: Mel Evans, former member, dies.
• Join with Red Lane Baptist Church in working with Child Evangelism Fellowship at Powhatan Elementary School.
• September 12: Evening on the Lawn at Gene /Pat Hertzlers.

2011:

• March 3: Congregational Meeting-Affirmed Concept Phase/Building Program
• March: Rebecca Benson with a team to Haiti
• July 12: Rebecca Benson went to Nicaragua for 2 weeks
• September 11: Evening on the Lawn at Gene/Pat Hertzlers
• September 14: Congregational Meeting-Affirmed Design Phase 1/ Building Program
• October: Donated trailer to Powhatan Fairgrounds
• November 29: Vernon Weaver dies
• December 17: Frances Weaver dies
• Cleared lot for new playground

2012:

• January 13: Installed Don Benson as elder
• January 21-26: Justin Jones & Luke Landis attended We Care Prison Crusade, AL.
• February 6:  Auldine McKinney passed away
• April 16: Unveiled model of new building
• May: Built new playground on the west side of church
• June 7: Barbara Long passed away
• September 2: Received building permit
• September 9: Evening on the Lawn at Gene/Pat Hertzlers with Mark Templeton & Pocket Change
• September 15: Yard & Bake Sale Fundraiser for building program
• September 20: Started clearing lot behind the church
• October 7: Fern Hertzler passed away
• October 7: Groundbreaking and fundraising ceremony
• October: Put in Septic, prepared and laid foundation
• November 18: Commissioning of Kayley Kennell to serve 6 months in Granada, Spain
• November: Erected metal building, portico and laid stone/block wall

2013:

• January 27: Commissioned Miles Pruett as Elder for a second term
• January: Siding on outside of Community Life Center and poured gym floor
• February: Framed inside of atrium and gym
• March 10: Wrote scripture verses on studs in atrium and gym
• April: Painted atrium
• April 20: Wedding of Lisa Petersheim/Luke Landis
• May: Opened wall between atrium and secondary auditorium, and put siding on outside of building
• June 8: Building fundraiser-yard/bake sale
• June: Poured sidewalks
• June: Vacation Bible School
• June 30: Annual Ice-Cream Social-at PMC due to rain
• July 7: Wedding of Stephanie Pruett/Jeremy White
• July 24: Motorcycle for Missions
• August: Poured concrete driveway and installed ceiling under portico and put carpet in atrium
• August 4: Wedding of  Meghan Schaefer/Will Ellinghausen
• September 28: Wedding of Justin Jones/Marie Landis
• October 4: Wedding of Auldrey Kate Hilldrup/Paul Nice
• November 2-3: 50th Anniversary & Building Dedication
  • Saturday: Volleyball Tournament, Barbecue chicken supper & concert by New Horizons
  • Sunday: “Celebrating God’s Faithfulness-Remembering the Past and Looking to the   Future”
• December 1: Burial of 50-year Time Capsule.

2014:

• February:
  • 9: Reaffirmed and commissioned Luke Landis for a second term as elder and welcomed Jeremy White as a member.
  • 21: First meeting of I-Dioko for kids ages 10-16. (Meets monthly on 3rd Fridays).
• March:  Engaged: Kayley Kennell and Travis Tice.
• April: 6-9 Special Meetings with Duane Yoder on “Radical Discipleship”.
• May:  Chelsey Stertz started working as new church secretary. Carolyn Nowlin is retiring.
• June:
  • 15: Pastor Tim Kennell announced his resignation.
  • 23: Preston and Carolyn Nowlin moved to Virginia Mennonite Retirement Center in Harrisonburg.
  • 23-27: Vacation Bible School.
  • 29: Annual ice-cream social at Gene and Pat Hertzlers.
• July:
  • Motorcycle for Missions ride
  • 26: Sadie was born to David and Chandra Hart
• August:
  • 9: Wedding of Kayley Kennell and Travis Tice.
  • 17: “Church Crash” by Christian Motorcycle group.
  • 24: Baptism of Bob Ferguson (PMC) and Stan Dawson (Moyer Pond)
• September:
  • 7: Evening on the Lawn with Southern Grace at Gene and Pat Hertzlers
  • 23: Started weekly Prayer for Renewal meetings.
• October:
  • 9: Pastor Search team begins their work. Team: Miles Pruett, Pat Hertzler, Luke Landis, Vernon Moyer, and Brenda Walton. Consultant, Harold Bergey
  • 18: Baptism of Caleb, Emily & Brianna Graber.
  • Building fund has been met in full for phase 1.
• November:
  • 9: Welcomed new members: Caleb, Emily & Brianna Graber and Dave & Linda Benson.
  • 19: Birth of Malachi Joel son of Luke & Lisa Landis.
  • 23: Hosted Community Thanksgiving Service.
• December:
  • 6: James & Letha McKinnell move to retirement center in York, PA.

2015:

• January
  • 11: Communion Service and received new members, David and Chandra Hart
  • 18: Pastor Tim preached his last sermon. Celebration of their ministry in the evening.
  • 20: Annual Ministry meeting.
  • 24-29: Ed and Doris Ranck participated in Renew Hope Crusade with We Care in Atmore, Alabama.
  • Sanctity of Life Sunday: baby shower for Pregnancy Resource Center in Richmond.
• March
  • 10: Samuel Jones was born to Justin and Marie.
• April
  • 2: Communion and Footwashing Service
  • 3: Tenebrae Service
  • New men’s bathroom addition approved by congregation.
  • 14: Ladies started a 8-week Bible Study on “One in a Million” by Priscilla Shirer.
  • Renel Kennell and Joe Carter announced their engagement.
• May
  • 2: Wedding of Brandi Brinklow and Kyle Falt.
  • 6: Ladies luncheon honoring Helen Burkholder who is moving to VMRC.
  • 24: Announced new pastoral candidate, William (Bill) Eberly, to congregation.
  • 27: Birth of Ivy Ellinghausen to Will and Meghan.
• June
  • 10-12: Participated in Virginia Conference Motorcycle for Missions ride.
  • 15-17: Summer Service Project instead on Vacation Bible School.
  • 18-21: Bill, Leslie, Judy and Rebekah Eberly visited and candidated for pastor position.
• July
  • 11: Memorial barbecue chicken fundraiser for Angela Dawson.
  • 12: Congregation voted to approve Bill Eberly as pastor of PMC.
• August
  • 4: Eberly family moved to Powhatan.
  • 16: Bill Eberly preached his first sermon.
  • 23: Back-to-School Social
• September
  • Bake/Yard Sale to benefit building fund.
  • 20: Pastor Installation Service for Pastor Bill Eberly. Receive Bill and Leslie as members.
  • Ladies Bible Study on “Seeking A Heart Like His” by Beth Moore
• October
  • 4: Celebrated communion with World Wide Communion Sunday
  • 31: Harvest Party with Powhatan Christian Fellowship joining us.
• November
  • Numerous service projects: men’s clothing and blankets for Richmond homeless community, 23 Thanksgiving Grocery Bags for Powhatan Coalition of Churches, collected 1,846 Christmas Shoeboxes from community for Samaritan’s Purse.
• December
  • 13: Children’s Christmas Musical, “Grandpa’s Nativity Story” directed by Chandra Hart and Leslie Eberly.
  • 18: Parent’s Night Out and Children’s Christmas party.
  • 20: Christmas caroling.
  • 20: Alice White passed away.