Shepherdsville, Kentucky (1966)
In 1966 our District Superintendent contacted us asking if we could supply as pastor of the Shepherdsville church, as the pastor had resigned. They did not have a parsonage, but a house trailer. Bro. Bolender agreed. We drove over on Saturday afternoon and stayed in the trailer home over the weekend. The membership was small but we soon got acquainted and found some precious saints. It was really good to be back in pastoral work. The building was not very large but there was a full basement with Sunday School rooms, furnace, and a rest room. It stood on a large lot. Much of the work of building had been donated, but we found a small debt. Bro. Bolender began encouraging them to clear the debt. True, it was not large, less than $2,000, but the wage earning members were few. Adversities had come but we made a large 6 foot thermometer, clearly marking by degrees from 0 to the full amount of the debt at the top. Each degree marked counted for $25. Slots at zero and at the final figure permitted a ribbon to be drawn through. We started with the ribbon all red in front and white in the rear. Soon as we took an offering each Sunday toward the debt, the white ribbon began climbing the thermometer. It proved to be quite an incentive. As we reached near our goal, we laid plans for a real red letter day – mortgage burning. We advertised it well and urged our people to invite family and friends. Our District Superintendent, his wife, and the pastor who had built the church were among our invited guests. We were happy to have our son and his family from Lexington with us for the day, as well as friends from Nashville, Tennessee. The former pastor, Rev. Charles Campbell, gave an inspiring message to an appreciative congregation. At noon a bountiful meal was served on tables on the church lawn. The church was filled in the afternoon for the mortgage burning service, the District Superintendent, Rev. Paul Ebright, in charge. It was a very impressive service. Bro. Bolender spoke briefly expressing appreciation to all who had helped to bring the church to this historic milestone, only to give a challenge for the building of a parsonage. Before the service closed, an offering of cash and pledges were taken. The ribbon on the thermometer was reversed, but this time not to pay off a mortgage, but to raise funds on a parsonage.
The pastor taking our place was moving from West Virginia. They lived in the small trailer home, storing their furniture. This was a great incentive toward progress in building the parsonage. Our successor, like myself, was a lady preacher, but her husband was a layman. Having worked in the printing business, he soon found work at a local printing establishment. Sister Minnich was a good preacher. Her husband took great interest in the progress of the church. The teenage daughter was a blessing. Very soon a loan had been secured with arrangements for reasonable payments. A nice three bedroom brick parsonage with full basement was built, with central air conditioning.
The pastor taking our place was moving from West Virginia. They lived in the small trailer home, storing their furniture. This was a great incentive toward progress in building the parsonage. Our successor, like myself, was a lady preacher, but her husband was a layman. Having worked in the printing business, he soon found work at a local printing establishment. Sister Minnich was a good preacher. Her husband took great interest in the progress of the church. The teenage daughter was a blessing. Very soon a loan had been secured with arrangements for reasonable payments. A nice three bedroom brick parsonage with full basement was built, with central air conditioning.
