Next to be highlighted in The Daily Herald’s spotlight on area churches is Olivet Baptist Church and Warriors Mark United Methodist Church.
Ken Beichler is the Senior Pastor at Olivet Baptist Church. The Pastor of Evangelism and Assimilation is Rick Beatty, and John Poe is the Youth Pastor. The music director at Olivet Baptist is Pam Meiser.
The church is located at 508 S. Cambria Street, Bellwood. The church phone number is 742-8581. Worship services are held at 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Care groups meet the second and fourth Sunday nights at 6 p.m. at various locations in Bellwood, Tipton and Altoona.
Olivet Baptist Church dates back to 1918 when folks began meeting together for worship in Cornmesser’s Hall. On July 25, 1921 they were officially organized as a church. Throughout its history, Olivet has had 16 pastors. The present pastor, Ken Beichler, has been there since December 1991. Today, Olivet Baptist offers two worship services. The 8:15 a.m. service is a traditional service and the later service is a contemporary service.
Family night is held every Wednesday. A free supper is held in the rec building at 5:30 p.m., followed by Word of Life clubs for ages three through high school at 6:30 p.m.
Also at 6:30 p.m. there is a prayer meeting and men’s small group.
On Friday, December 24 the church will hold its Christmas Eve Service at 6 p.m.
The purpose of Olivet Baptist Church is to exalt God by making committed followers of Christ.
Next, is the Warriors Mark United Methodist Church. The Methodist people came to the Warriors Mark area around the year 1788. Preaching was held in homes and barns. One of the first places of preaching was at the Hutchison home, built by George Hyskell (presently the home of Florence Neff). In 1810, a log meeting house (church building) was built on this site of ground. The ground was given for a cemetery and a place to erect a Methodist Church.
In 1821, the village of Warriors Mark was plotted and the “little city” consisted of 18 lots. Warriors Mark became the center of trade for the entire area. Tyrone and Altoona did not exist at that time.
In 1840, the Methodist people secured a lot in the new Village of Warriors Mark and built a large, roomy structure. It faced to the north, had two large doors at each entrance, had a high pulpit and was a grand church building seating about 800 people. After 33 years, in 1873, the congregation tore down this facility and built a large two story wooden structure. In January 1929, it was destroyed by fire. The congregation immediately set to work to build again, and the present handsome and durable stone church was erected and dedicated in just one year after the fire.
In 1994 the present addition was added to the back of the stone church building. The addition contains a large gymnasium/fellowship hall, kitchen, six classrooms, a library, restrooms equipped with showers, a secretary’s office and a pastor’s office. At the same time the addition was built, the sanctuary was renovated to a seating capacity of 300.
Though the Warriors Mark UM Church has seen many pastors over the years, the current pastor is Rev. Peggy J. Bonsell, who began her ministry at WMUMC in July of 2003. Pastor Peggy or as she is better known by her congregation “The Shoeless Pastor” and her husband Gary, bring lots of Christian love, energy, new ideas and joy to Warriors Mark UM Church.
This past fall the congregation of WMUMC has hosted several special activities, projects and events. On Sept. 12, the Sunday morning worship service was geared toward the children and youth. Many of the children and youth participated in a variety of ways during the service from singing, to reading, to being greeters and acolytes and ushers. Phil McCaully or “Elvis” presented special music. Each child received a special “goodie” bag and balloon.
On Sept. 24, the WMUMC hosted the first Secretaries Luncheon. This was a special time for all of the secretaries and pastors from the Altoona District to come together for a time of fun, food and fellowship. The afternoon included a delicious lunch served by the ladies of the church followed by reflections from each pastor, special music and a message from Rev. David Norris, Altoona District Superintendent.
Our second Annual Hayride was held in October. Approximately 95 people enjoyed a fun evening hayride and roasting marshmallows, hotdogs and mountain pies around the fire.
On Oct. 17, the WMUMC honored the Warriors Mark-Franklin Volunteer Fire Co. for its 50th anniversary during the Sunday morning worship service. It was an exciting morning with many guest speakers, special presentations and awards, door prizes, pictures, light refreshments and fellowship. Several other fire companies from the area came to help celebrate.
The Annual Octoberfest was also held in October, and it proved to be a fun time for everyone. There were lots of crafts, baked goods, games for the kids and of course homemade applebutter.
Over 100 trick-or-treat bags from the WMUMC were handed out on October 28 to the children in the community. The bags included candy, a gospel tract and an invitation to upcoming events and services. The youth also went trick-or-treating for UNICEF.
Most recently church members have been collecting Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, which will be sent overseas to children living in poverty. They have also been collecting supplies for military care packages for individuals from the church and community serving in the military. The Mission project for December is Angel Tree Gifts to help some local children have a Merry Christmas.
The Warriors Mark UMC would like to invite the community to the following events for the month of December: Christmas Eve Service on December 24 at 7 p.m. and a Blood Mobile on December 29 from 2 – 7 p.m.
There are many activities that are held each week and each month at WMUMC. Some of those activities include: Boy Scouts (Mondays at 7 p.m.), Willing Warriors for men and women 55 and over (2nd and 4th Tuesday mornings of each month from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), Puppet Team for Children/Youth (Wednesdays at 6 p.m.), Choir/Praise Team (Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.), Open Gym for youth in grades sixth – twelve (Every other Wednesday evening from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.), Youth Fellowship Group for youth in sixth – twelfth grade (Every other Wednesday Evening from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.).
The church also offers a “Family Night” on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. This night includes something for everyone – – United Methodist Men’s Group, United Methodist Women’s Group, Youth Fellowship for grades 6th – 12th, Jr. Youth for grades 3rd – 5th, and a Children’s Bible Hour for children up through second grade.
Everyone is welcome to join church members for any or all of the above-mentioned activities.
The Warriors Mark United Methodist Church seeks to be a “Christ-centered congregation aiming for the Heart of God by reaching anyone, anytime, anyplace. We invite all to come into this house of worship each Sunday morning for Sunday School from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. and for our uplifting Praise and Worship Service each Sunday at 10:30 a.m.”
The Warriors Mark United Methodist Church is located at 1840 Centre Line Rd., Warriors Mark. The church office can be reached by phone at 632-6906 or email at wmumc@lazerlink.com.
