Growing in grace does not often come naturally. We must be led into a fuller understanding of God's grace. We must be shown God's grace expressed in ordinary contexts, without pretense. And we need to experience the difference that God's grace makes in relationships, especially when we differ with each other.

God's gracious hand is evident in the way He provided leaders for Locust Grove that taught God's grace and truth, and lived what they taught. Leaders of the past were men of faith, devoted to their God, their calling, and their church. Those leaders provided stability and security through their long tenures, conscientious conduct, and sacrificial service. They provided prime conditions for spiritual growth through their uncompromising preaching of the Word of God within a context of deep love. Locust Grove is what it is today because of these men.

Our leaders were loyal. Only fourteen ordained men served as ministers at Locust Grove. Eleven of those were selected from within the congregation and ordained here. Ten have already completed their terms, Erie continues as minister of visitation, while Mayard Beitzel and Max Zook continue to serve. The longest tenures were those of John B. Zook, who served as a minister for forty two years, and Ben Glick, who served as deacon for forty years. Of those who were ordained at Locust Grove, the shortest tenures were 15 years each by Louis Peachey and Gerald Peachey. The average tenure by those ordained here is 30 ½ years!

Obviously some leaders served shorter terms. John Yoder from Mattawana assisted for two years in the very early years and Guy Rocker served for four years in the 1990's. Our founding bishop, Abraham Zook, only served in that role for eight years. But none of these were originally ordained at Locust Grove for ministry here.

Our congregation has only had six senior pastors in 100 years of existence. Abraham Zook, the founding pastor, only served eight years. John L. Mast served in that role from 1906 until 1937 when Emanuel B.Peachey was ordained bishop, a total of 31 years. Emanuel served for 22 years in this role until Erie Renno was ordained bishop in 1958. Erie carried the responsibility for 25 years until Gerald Peachey replaced him in 1983. Gerald was Senior Pastor for four years until Max Zook replaced him in 1987.

Three of those bishops, John L. Mast, Emanuel B.Peachey, and Erie Renno each served in that role for an average of 26 years. In fact, the life span of two of those leaders, John L. Mast who was ordained minister in 1900 and continued assisting into the 1950's, and Erie Renno, who was ordained in 1951 and continues to assist today, cover nearly the entire scope of Locust Grove's entire one hundred years of existence.

We may stand in awe and deep gratitude for the ultimate sacrifices of lifetimes of faithful service that the past leaders of Locust Grove paid for the sake of their loyalty to Jesus Christ and His call upon their lives. May God continue to raise up such men of God for the future who are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice daily over decades of faithful service.

What follows in this chapter is a brief sketch of each of thirteen ordained leaders who served at Locust Grove. The only minister not included is John S.Yoder from the Mattawana congregation who moved to Belleville in 1900 and assisted with the leadership until his death two years later. The biographical sketches are listed in alphabetical order.

Mayard Beitzel

Late in his teen years he studied at the Berlin Bible School, which later became the Rosedale Bible Institute. It was there that he learned how to study the Bible and was exposed to biblical teaching which made a profound impression on his life. In 1955, at the age of twenty one, he went to Norristown, Pa where he completed his two year 1-W term of service. It was there that he met Ernest and Sadie Byler.

After completing his service he returned to his home area. He worked in a machine shop near his home for four years until his brother left home for a 1-W assignment. Mayard then helped with the family farm.

But Mayard remembered and stayed in touch with Ernest and Sadie Byler. He came to Belleville to visit them in 1965. While here he met and began to date Margaret Byler. Mayard moved here early in 1967, and they were married on March 25, 1967 at Locust Grove. Mayard worked at the Belleville Flour Mill for nine years before he began driving milk truck, a job which he continues to enjoy to this day.

During the selection of a pastor in 1971, Mayard was called, along with Allen Yoder and Gerald Peachey, by the congregation, to be candidates for ordination to assist Erie Renno in the ministry. At that time he responded to the vote by indicating that he did not sense a personal call from God to the ministry at that time. Four years later when the congregation nominated candidates to serve as elder, Mayard was again called. He served first a four year term and later, a full five year term.

Mayard's teaching ministry expanded in the 1980's. Occasionally he was even called upon to preach a sermon. One of his first sermons at Locust Grove was on June 21, 1987. Over the years since then, Mayard has had the opportunity to either preach or teach in nearly all of the Mennonite, Brethren in Christ, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in the Belleville and Allensville area.

During the fall of 1997, Max Zook, on behalf of the elders, asked Mayard how he would respond to the possibility of ordination. His first reaction was that he was too old. At that point he was anticipating his sixty fifth birthday on May 19, 1998. But when he realized the ordination could be primarily for a ministry of preaching and visitation, Mayard consented. He clearly indicated that he was not interested in the administrative work of the pastor. After the congregation voted with an overwhelmingly positive voice in early January 1998, Mayard was ordained on March 22, 1998. His responsibilities now include preaching once a month at Locust Grove, assisting Max with visitation, and being available to preach in other area congregations.

Mayard enjoys hunting trips to West Virginia and to Maine nearly every fall. He also enjoys golfing. He and Margaret have one son, Terry, who lives in Lancaster County and works as a supervisor at Friendship Community, a facility that serves the mentally disabled. Mayard's goal is to see young people become involved in service and the ministry opportunities.

Ben Glick

Ben married Mollie S. Zook on December 17, 1901. She was the daughter of Jonas and Barbara (Zook) Zook. Soon after his wedding, Ben found a job as a repairman on the old Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad. In 1904 Ben was chosen by lot to be ordained and serve the congregation as a deacon. He was then asked to find another job that would involve less contact with people outside the Amish/Mennonite community.

Ben and Mollie lived on a ten acre farm near what is today the Union Mill Soil Service. The old house was log, and in 1915, he dug the basement by hand. There was one large rock he could not remove, so he built the coal bin around it.

As deacon, Ben had the responsibility to talk with any member who was not conforming to the standards of the church. Some older members to this day recall their reaction upon seeing Ben Glick's horse and carriage come into their lane. They knew immediately that he was coming for a gentle rebuke. Ben had a quiet disposition and people generally responded positively to his attempts to enforce the standards and policies of the church.

His other responsibilities included making sure that the poor and widows in the church had enough groceries or coal. He also spent much time visiting the sick. He typically read a chapter from the German Bible for the opening Scripture reading each Sunday morning in the public worship service. He could be counted on each Sunday following the sermon to say, "Ich kon yo und Amen sawye zu vos ich keert und verstahne hob." (I can say a yes and an amen to everything that was said here this morning.) He also served as superintendent of the Sunday school program for a few years.

In 1945 Louis Peachey was ordained to assist Ben as deacon. Ben was able to be active for two more years after which he had several light heart attacks. On September 13, 1949 he died at the age of 84 after being sick for about a week. Ben now has no living descendants. His two unmarried daughters, Elsie and Sadie, died in recent years.

John L. Mast

Johnny Mast was ordained to the ministry on January 21, 1900, at Locust Grove, by Bishop Abraham Zook. He was chosen by lot and ordained bishop, also by Abraham Zook, in 1906. He officiated at his first wedding on March 7, 1907, when Dan E. and Phoebe (King) Yoder were married. He was bishop of the congregation until Emanuel B. Peachey was ordained to that office in 1936. After that, he continued to assist with the ministry as a retired minister. Ella Mae Byler was among the last to be baptized by him.

Johnny Mast wanted to start a church in Woodland. In the spring of 1941, he received permission from the school master at the Woodland school to give tracts called "The Way" to each child in the community. Then he and an elderly Frank Rhodes met with the school board to ask for permission to use the school building for church services. The board granted permission as long as only Frank Rhodes would hold the key. On August 17, 1941, a mission was opened in Woodland.

Lydia died on September 12, 1928. After a little while, Johnny began secretly to visit the widow Salina (Smucker) Zook who lived in White Hall. One evening Johnny's neighbors, David J. and Sadie Byler, invited him to their house for homemade ice cream. After a brief visit Johnny seemed to be in a hurry to leave, so they gave him the remaining ice cream to take home in their freezer. He took the ice cream to White Hall and shared it with Salina. She washed the freezer, but left one of her personalized spoons in it when Johnny returned it to the Bylers. Their romance was a secret no longer. They were married on September 28, 1930. Johnny and Salina lived in White Hall, but he still retained ownership of his property next to the Bylers.

On June 27, 1944, Salina died and her property in White Hall was sold, so he moved back beside the Bylers. But it was becoming difficult for him to get around, so he went to live with David J. and Sadie Byler in November of 1954. In December 1955 they bought the brick house near the Maple Grove church and Johnny moved along with them. David Byler was in failing health also, and Sadie could no longer take care of both of them. So on February 14, 1957, Johnny went to Lancaster for several weeks and then he moved to the rest home near Greenwood, Delaware, which was managed by his friend, Laben Swartzentruber. David J. Byler died on April 25, 1957, and after he learned of that, Johnny's grew much weaker. He died on May 26, 1957 at the age of 89. Sadie Byler opened her home and hosted the viewing for Johnny, as was the custom before the funeral, but it was very hard since her husband had died only a month earlier.

Bishop Mast was a charter member of the Conservative Mennonite Conference. Upon his death the conference ministers passed the following resolution.

Inasmuch as it has pleased our heavenly Father in His all-wise Providence to remove from our midst His servant, the late charter member of conference, Brother Bishop John L. Mast, who, in the days of his active ministry so faithfully served his congregation at Belleville, Pa, as well as the earlier sessions of conference, we, the bishops and ministers, and deacons, assembled in conference session near Goshen, Indiana, do hereby express our sorrow in this loss. We bow in humble submission to our Father's will and extend our sympathy to those most closely related in this passing and request that this resolution be made a part of our conference records.

Emanuel B. Peachey

Emanuel was born on January 2, 1905, the son of John S. and Sallie Peachey, the sixth of twelve children in this Amish home. He attended school year at the Weiler School. There was a path up the hollow behind the school where the children would ride their sleds in the winter. He began to attend Locust Grove in his teen years.

Emanual had a great deal of artistic talent. In 1925 he painted a picture of a dove holding a branch on a wall in the barn formerly owned by Chester Peachey. Later in life he also made some beautiful oil paintings. He loved to train and work with horses.

On Thursday, December 16, 1926, a cold, windy, and snowy day, Emanuel was married to Elsie A. Peachey at Locust Grove. Attendants at the wedding were Jesse E. Peachey, Joe G. Peachey, Mary G. Peachey, and Eva (Peachey) Kauffman. The men wore suits and bow ties; the ladies dark blue, and Elsie wore light blue. The wedding reception was at Elsie's home on what is now Hickory Lane.

Emanuel worked for D. K. Hostetler from 1926-1930, farmed on the Enos Peachey farm from 1930-1940, before buying a house in White Hall from "Black" Sam Peachey. He was ordained by lot on May 3, 1936 to the ministry and ordained as bishop on July 4, 1937. He later wrote in a letter to his friends Emanuel Swartzendruber and Alvin Swartz on July 23, 1957, "Though taking my calling serious, I often felt unable for such a great responsibility, and as I see it now, I was definitely not qualified. Yet my heart has often been warmed with the sweet fellowship enjoyed with the Lord in his service both through pleasant and unpleasant experiences. My life has been enriched by the fellowship and support of my wife and daughter who made the greater sacrifice to make my ministry what it was. This will always be appreciated."

Emanuel tried very hard to do all he could as minister and bishop. He spent parts of five winters at Johnstown Bible School taking classes offered to ordained brethren, as he said it, "to better qualify myself for this work." But throughout his ministry he struggled to support his family while giving himself to the work of the ministry. At that time the church did not financially support the pastor. He also commented on this in the same letter quoted from above. "From the first day of my ordination until now, I always fostered a conviction that I should serve in a full time ministry, but for several years I struggled along trying to support my family, buy a home, and serve as Pastor."

In 1940 he left the farm to give more time to ministry. He then supported himself by raising chickens, selling eggs, and by painting houses with Aaron Mast, Pastor of the Maple Grove Mennonite Church.

But Emanuel and Elsie experienced many difficulties. Of their five children, only one, Miriam, lived to adulthood. Three babies were either stillborn or died within hours of birth. In 1942 his only son, Glenn Lester, died just six days after his first birthday. In 1945 Emanuel had a cataract removed from his left eye and one year later he had one removed from his right eye. On May 13, 1946 he suffered from a broken ankle which disabled him for a year. Soon after that he began to suffer from chest pains. As early as 1948 a doctor's examination with X-rays revealed an enlarged heart. He later wrote, "I struggled under this stress till September 1, 1950, when my life was consecrated to the Lord in a new way at an anointing service while attending conference at Pigeon, Michigan."

But Emanuel continued to suffer from chest pains which were eventually diagnosed as angina. Usually medication, which he carried with him at all times, relieved his pain. On one occasion when he was driving a load of young men to Kentucky to sing during revival meetings, his pain was so severe that he needed to stop driving and lie by the side of the road for a while until the pain subsided.

During the 1940's and 1950's Emanuel traveled extensively. He was frequently invited to speak at revival meetings in many communities. He traveled from the Southeast to Canada, but his favorite trip was to the people at Turner's Creek, Kentucky which he visited many times. His clear voice, keen mind, boundless energy, and deep interest in serious study to learn the truth made him a blessing both to his church and to the conference. He exercised sharp discernment in not teaching people to obey Mennonite traditions as though they were the commands of God. Emanuel was also very involved in the work of the conference, serving on the Mission Board from 1939 to 1944 and the Executive Committee from 1948 to 1950, and again from1953 to 1955. He served as Conference Moderator in 1946 and 1955.

He was stricken by a severe heart attack on December 13, 1956, and was hospitalized until January 8, 1957. After about nine months of recuperation, he began to preach again. He made a few trips again, at least one to his beloved Kentucky. And he helped to guide the congregation through a transition of leadership from himself to Erie Renno. He requested permission from conference in August 1957 to ordain another bishop at Locust Grove.

The ministers of the conference approved a recommendation at their business meeting on August 13, 1957 at Goshen, Indiana to send a letter to Emanuel. It stated:

Inasmuch as the Lord has seen fit to allow conditions to be such that you are not permitted to be present with us at this conference session near Goshen, Ind.

And inasmuch as it has been evident that you have always taken a keen interest in the work of conference and have always been present whenever possible and have made many a worth-while contribution:

Therefore, we as the ministerial body of conference, feel moved to send to you our greetings and best wishes coupled with our prayers for your speedy physical recovery, if it be the Lord's will. And even more is it our prayer that you may continue to be granted spiritual well-being in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Emanual once said it was as tiring to preach a sermon as it was to work hard for a full day. He had a desire to lead the church toward supporting their pastor because of his experiences. He often realized how much more time he could have devoted to the task of evangelism if he had not needed to spend time working to support his family. On June 20, 1959 while Erie was away with the youth chorus on a trip to New York City, Emanual preached his last sermon. He urged the congregation to support Erie in his role as Bishop. And he also recommend that they would begin to support him financially. The following Saturday he had a short mediation at John and Virginia Spicher's wedding. Their reception was held at the Belleville Community Hall. When the trays were passed, he was stricken with the fatal attack and died just moments later at the age of 54.

The following Sunday, Elsie and Miriam Peachey placed a thank you message in the church bulletin. Included with that message, they quoted the poem Emanuel had quoted in the wedding ceremony, just hours before he died:

        "‘Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
                The touch of your hand and mine,
        Which means far more to the fainting heart
                Than shelter and bread and wine;
        For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
                And bread lasts only a day,
        But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice
                Sing on in the soul always."

Gerald Peachey

After Gerald graduated from the Belleville Mennonite School, he studied at the Eastern Mennonite College, majoring in Bible. After graduating from EMC, he enrolled at the Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. At that time he drew up an agreement with the Groveland Congregation, in Pipersville, Pa., to be their pastor while he was a seminary student. This congregation belonged to the Franconia Mennonite Conference. Because the strong reformed theology at Westminster was so different from what he had been taught at EMC, he decided to quit and come home after two weeks. He had to go back to the Groveland Congregation, after preaching the first sermon, to tell them that he would not be able to keep his preaching commitment.

After returning home he went back to work at D.K. Hostetler's lumber yard until December of 1970, when he enrolled at the Eastern Mennonite Seminary. The time away from school was a time to reflect on the past and to solidify the direction that he wanted to take. In December 1970, he went to New York City to study in an urban study program of EMS, dealing with problems of city ministry. He then spent two terms at EMS and was a student pastor at Mt. Jackson, a small mission church north of Harrisonburg, begun by EMC students years earlier.

He came home in June 1971 to work at D.K.'s for the summer. While at home he received an invitation to go to a church in Johnstown in addition to an offer from the Barrville congregation. He taught the MYF Bible study that summer and received a job offer to teach at the Belleville Mennonite School. He began teaching at BMS the beginning of September. He was married to Sue Yoder on September 25, 1971. Robert B. Yoder, Pastor of the Manbeck Mennonite Church in Snyder County, had resigned. The elders from that church met with him and he agreed to a one year term as pastor at Manbeck.

About this same time, Preacher John B. Zook indicated to Erie Renno that perhaps the time was right to select another pastor at Locust Grove. In 1970, John B. Zook became 71 years old. A committee was also exploring the possibility of constructing a new building, but since that project was not ready to begin, Erie and John B. decided to initiate a search process for an assistant pastor. On Sunday morning, November 21, 1971 Gerald was ordained to serve Locust Grove. He then notified the Manbeck congregation that he would be unable to serve there.

Soon after his ordination, John B. Zook and Gerald met at Erie Renno's home to discuss their working relationship. Gerald asked Erie and John B. if he would need to put away his tie. With a chuckle John B. responded by saying, "I was the first minister not to wear a beard and frock coat. Changes are going to happen, and you can keep your tie."

Gerald served as a part-time assistant pastor at Locust Grove for ten years. During this time he was a full-time faculty member and coach at the Belleville Mennonite School. But Erie planned to retire in 1983 and so Gerald was installed as the full-time pastor of Locust Grove on July 12, 1981. Later, on October 30, 1983, he was installed as bishop with Richard Zehr preaching the sermon. He and Erie basically exchanged positions to allow for Erie's retirement.

Gerald served on the conference Stewardship Committee from 1984-1987. In August 1986 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Rosedale Bible Institute.

Shortly before Jonathan Yoder left Mt. View in May of 1986, Gerald asked him if Locust Grove could be of any service in helping Mt. View find a pastor. The Mt. View elders suggested that he could help by interviewing any candidates and perhaps help to train someone should that be needed.. On July 28-31, 1986, he helped to interview the congregation to see if there was anyone within the Mt. View congregation that could serve as pastor. During September he preached at Mt. View. In December he submitted his application to be pastor there. He was interviewed by the pastoral search committee on February 9, 1987. On March 15 he announced to the Locust Grove congregation what had taken place thus far and that he may be leaving Locust Grove, should the Mt. View congregation vote to call him. On March 19, he met again with the search committee which made a recommendation to the elders to accept him as pastor. Gerald was released from his responsibilities as pastor and bishop of Locust Grove on June 14, 1987, after preaching the morning message. A fellowship lunch followed.

During Gerald's sixteen years at Locust Grove, he was always reaching out to the community and his labors became evident by several who began attending at Locust Grove. He was extremely busy with various activities such as coaching, Bible studies, basketball refereeing, and counseling, but he was well organized. He had a real interest in church growth and demonstrated a concern for the unchurched people in this area. Presently, Gerald serves as pastor of the Barrville Mennonite Church and as a part-time teacher of Bible at the Belleville Mennonite School.

Louis Peachey

When Louis was about eight years old, he and Raymond began attending Locust Grove with their father and later became members. Louis became acquainted with Sadie Z. Peachey, and they were married on September 9, 1934. She was the daughter of Jesse D. and Mattie C. (Hartzler) Peachey. Her father had died when she was three years old. Her mother remarried Rudy Yoder, but soon died after Sadie's brother Lee was born. So at six years old, Sadie had become an orphan girl. She was then raised by her other grandparents, Levi Z. and Sara (Plank) Hartzler. When she reached 16, she became a member at Locust Grove. Louis and Sadie became the parents of nine children during the twenty years after they were married.

Louis first taught Sunday school and later served as a Sunday school superintendent. He was a very conscientious person. According to one story, Louis once shot an illegal deer while hunting with the "Peachey gang" and a couple years confessed it to the authorities.

In 1944 the congregation planned to ordain another deacon to replace Ben Glick. Louis, Ray Peachey, and Harvey Miller were placed in the lot and Louis was chosen. He had just been discharged from the hospital after having an operation. He was barely able to stand through the ordination service because of his weakened condition. After his ordination he had a great desire to study the Bible at Eastern Mennonite College, but was unable to do so because of the work of the farm and the responsibility to provide for his young family.

Louis soon took his turn preaching every fourth Sunday at the request of Bishop Emmanuel Peachey, who was his second cousin. Until this time, the deacon never preached. Soon people in other areas discovered that he was a good preacher. But in some areas congregations maintained a policy that only permitted an ordained minister to preach. One bishop, where he visited, wanted to ask him to preach but was afraid to. Because of this embarrassing situation Bishop Emmanuel Peachey led the Locust Grove congregation to request the ordination of Louis as a minister. He was then ordained on June 20, 1954.

Louis always had a keen interest in mission work. He helped with the Woodland mission during the 1940's on a regular basis. In the mid 1950's he also helped with the work at Crenshaw. Later he preached at the Boyer Mennonite Church in nearby Snyder County.

In 1958 Louis was in the lot with Erie for bishop, and Erie was chosen. One year later the Allegheny Mennonite Conference formally asked Locust Grove for his release from ministerial responsibilities so that he could serve as pastor of the Boyer congregation. The Locust Grove congregation was very reluctant to grant him a release, but eventually extended to him God's blessing as he went. Many in the congregation deeply appreciated his kind, deliberate presentation of the Word.

He spent about fourteen years at Boyer, first commuting from his farm east of Belleville, and later moving to the area. Around 1973 he and Sadie returned to Belleville so that he could serve as pastor at the Rockville Mennonite Church for about 6 years. He and Sadie discussed the possibility of someday returning to Locust Grove after retirement, but that never happened. He died tragically on November 26, 1984, the result of a hunting accident. His 72 years were filled with an exemplary lifestyle that touched many lives.

Erie Renno

In 1932, at the age of 14, Erie heard a definite call to the ministry some day. He was working alone in a field when he heard God tell him that he was going to be a minister. To this day he is not sure if it was an audible voice or just a very strong impression in his heart. One year later he was baptized at Locust Grove by Bishop John Mast. Erie taught a Sunday school class at an early age.

On October 6, 1940 Erie and Verna King were married in her father's home by Bishop Emanuel Peachey. She was the daughter of Jacob S. and Ella (Byler) King. It was a very small wedding, with only their two families present. Later that year Erie and Verna moved into the stone house now owned by Elmer and Violet Metzler on Middle Road. They lived there until 1943 when his brother Paul married Anna Mary Hartzler. Then they moved to Huey Street in Allensville.

In 1942 Erie began to work at the Belleville Flour Mills. Although the work was dirtier and harder, Erie didn't mind because the change meant that he didn't have to work on Sunday. But another change was soon in store for the Rennos. In July 1944 Erie received a notice from the local draft board that he was to go to Altoona for a physical examination to determine if he would be eligible for military duty in W.W.II. Then in August he received a notice that he was to board a train in Lewistown on September 13 to report for duty in a C.P.S. (Civilian Public Service) camp in Luray, Virginia. Warren Fultz, his boss at the Flour Mills, tried to get him a deferment, but failed.

By this time Erie's son, Joseph, had just turned three years old and his daughter, Sara, was not yet one year old. Verna received $26.00 per month and Erie received $5.00 per month to support them. This obviously was not enough to provide for the children, so Verna, with her two children, moved in with Erie's mother until the war was over. Ruth Ann was born the next spring. It was a very difficult time for Erie and Verna.

Erie left for Luray, Virginia in September 1944 and was there for 17 months. His work was to cut fire wood to heat the buildings during the winter. Later he worked with the kitchen crew. He was only allowed to leave once a month for a weekend until after the war was over, and then he could come home twice a month. Sometimes when he returned home for a visit his children failed to recognize him.

Erie was released from the service the last of January 1946. He and Verna decided to begin farming and rented a farm in Stone Valley for one year. They then moved in 1947 to the farm near Reedsville where John A. Yoder now lives. In 1947 he was elected assistant Sunday school superintendent, and following that was Sunday school superintendent, serving for two terms. During this time he also helped to start a Wednesday evening prayer meeting at Locust Grove.

On July 8, 1951 Erie was ordained to the ministry to assist at Locust Grove until a call would come for he and Verna to move elsewhere into missionary service. That call came a year later, but the congregation voted for Erie and Verna to stay here.

Erie had more work to do than he could handle. The farm was a large one, too large for the amount of time he had available, given his added church responsibilities. Erie and Verna decided to buy the farm in King Hollow near Allensville in1953, because it was smaller, and a little closer to the church. They thought the smaller farm would free Erie to devote more time and energy to the church. They lived there until 1961. One day in 1960 Erie's brother, Paul urged him to move off the farm because of all the work he had to do. Sometimes his farm work was neglected because he spent so much time in church work. Erie remembers Paul saying, "Erie, if you don't get off the farm, we will have to carry you off." Paul did not explain further, but in retrospect we may surmise that with Emanuel Peachey's ongoing heart problems and sudden death having occurred only a few years prior to this, Paul likely did not need to offer further explanation. He urged Erie to build a chicken house and raise chickens to support his family. At that time the church did not support him financially.

He looked for a place on which he could build a chicken house, but was unsuccessful. Finally he drove by the ore bank one morning and thought that would be a good place. He contacted Jesse Sharp to see if it would be available. Jesse had to wait and see if the Valley View Amish wanted it as a location for a church building. He later contacted Erie and said they were not ready to build a building, so he purchased it at a very reasonable price.

During the winter of 1960 - 1961 Erie arranged with John Dan Yoder to help to build a house. Many members of the church donated their time to help with the building project. They also built a chicken house on the lot and Erie began raising and selling chickens. This freed Erie to spend more time in church work.

Around the time Erie moved off the farm, a group of men approached him and said they knew why he was getting off the farm and that they wanted to support him financially. His reply was that they would need to support him through the church offerings, and not directly to himself. He wanted this matter to be handled with integrity. A ministerial support committee was then organized. One Sunday a month an offering was taken for that fund and Erie was given $125 a month to start. As the offerings increased, his salary also increased. Other special offerings were added until there weren't enough Sundays for all the needs. In the early 1970's a church budget system was instituted which provided Erie with a more steady source of income.

Erie was often invited to go to churches to hold revival meetings. During the 1950's and 1960's he would often hold four or five series of meetings away from home each year. Besides this, on March 16, 1958, Erie was ordained bishop of Locust Grove. He was also recognized as bishop for the churches at Crenshaw and Woodland. Later he became bishop at the Bart Mennonite Church in Lancaster County. Erie's other responsibilities included serving a term on the Minister's Fellowship Committee from 1955-58, Assistant Conference Moderator 1960-62, Church Welfare Committee 1963-66, and Mission Board member 1972-77. He traveled extensively from 1960-1980 fulfilling these responsibilities which included helping other congregations deal with problems. In two years he traveled to Sarasota, Florida five times to help with problems. He later served as bishop of the Sunrise Mennonite Church in Harlin, Indiana, and the Cochranton Mennonite Church near Meadville, Pa.

Until 1960 the pastors made most of the decisions and took care of nearly all the church responsibilities. Erie felt that church members with special gifts should be putting their gifts to use. As a result, during the 1960's and 1970's, Erie delegated many responsibilities to church members. Erie saw the need for a church business meeting, and so he started what became known as the annual business meeting. Erie's vision for the future of the church was of a group of people united in spirit and purpose, using their differing gifts for the sake of the kingdom of God. The accomplishments of the church as a whole would be far more than could have been done by a few people. Erie was able to implement his vision during the 1970's by careful preparation, explanation, and allowing the congregation time to consider his suggestions for changes. He had a real gift for bringing people close together and helping them not to focus on their differences, but on serving Christ.

Erie also planned for his retirement. As a member of the Church Welfare Committee, he had been exposed to several difficult problems congregations encountered when the minister continued to serve beyond his years of prime usefulness. He believed it was necessary for him to retire by the age of 65. At age of 62 he began to turn over his responsibilities to Gerald, and at 65 he retired from his responsibilities as pastor and bishop. He had several offers of things to do next, but when Jeff Hartzler, the Director of Valley View Haven asked him to consider becoming a chaplain, he agreed. He enjoyed the role very much from 1984 - 1994.

After his second retirement, this time from Valley View Haven, he was installed as Minister of Visitation at Locust Grove in May of 1996. In this role he has assisted Pastor Max Zook with visiting church members in their homes, nursing homes, and hospital and has been available for other kinds of pastoral care. In the summer of 1998, Erie and Verna sold their home to their grandson and his wife, Rodney and Shelby Hartzler, and moved to a cottage in the Valley View Haven Retirement Community. At the time of this writing, Erie and Verna are enjoying their new home very much.

Guy Rocker

To prepare for ministry, he went to God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he received a BRE degree (Bachelor of Religious Education). While in Cincinnati, Guy met Verna King from Belleville (daughter of Dan and Sylvia King), who also graduated from God's Bible School. They were married June 16, 1979. During his college years, Guy served as pastor of an inner-city mission in downtown Cincinnati for a year and a half. After college, Guy and Verna moved to New York, where he became pastor of the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Endicott for one year, and then the Pilgrim Holiness Church in his home town of Port Leydon. They lived there for eight years. Guy was ordained in the New York Pilgrim Conference in 1984.

God blessed Guy and Verna with three children: Maria in 1980, Kristy in 1981, and Seth in 1984. During the summer of 1989, the Rockers moved to Belleville for a sabbatical year of rest, refreshment, and visiting other churches. The Lord led them to Locust Grove during that year and the following summer (1990), Guy was installed as Assistant Pastor. During the four years at Locust Grove, Guy assisted in preaching, worship leading, visitation, counseling, and youth ministries. He started a ministry for the youth in grades seven through nine which eventually became known as "The Group."

In August 1994, the Rockers moved back to Port Leyden, New York, to the same church Guy pastored before moving to Belleville. In the meantime the church had decided to withdraw from the Pilgrim Holiness denomination. It is now known as the New Covenant Church. At the time of this writing, Guy is serving as pastor in this congregation. Guy also leads wilderness kayak trips for two weeks each summer at Beaver Camp in Lowville, NY. He is also active in the local Mennonite Pastor Peer group. In May of 1997 he completed a Master of Arts in Ministry degree from the Moody Graduate School in Chicago, a program of study he began while serving at Locust Grove.

Jonas D. Yoder

Jonas married Leah R. Yoder on January 21, 1886. They had three children, each born about ten years apart. They were Katie (Mrs. John Y. Hostetler), Fronie (Mrs. Crist Smoker), and Harvey P. of Lewistown. They lived on the Paul Smoker farm on the Maple Grove Road. They built the brick house that currently stands on the property. Jonas was a prosperous farmer and a very energetic worker. People that worked for him had trouble keeping up to his pace of work. He was a careful manager and maintained his property very well. He enjoyed raising and training horses. He once said that he could see a blemish in a horse a mile away.

Jonas was ordained to the ministry in 1904 at the age of 40. He had a strong and clear voice and preached with courage, zeal, and conviction. While preaching he often became quite animated and would move around, sometimes clapping his hands very loudly and startling many in the congregation. A member of the church once asked him to be more careful with his clapping because it bothered her. He apologized and promised to be more careful. Only one time he forgot himself and clapped. He instantly remember the request, looked at the woman, and said, "I'm sorry."

He became well known, and did much traveling to preach in other areas. After arriving in Canada for a preaching engagement, he was met by the local ministers. They didn't know him and after greeting him, some of them walked around him and looked him over. One finally said, "Well, I guess he'll do." He usually wore a long clergy coat that went to the knees when he preached.

One of his last trips to Canada, New York, Michigan, and Indiana was in his black Plymouth Coup with red trim along the hood. His grandson, Harvey Hostetler, drove the car for him. He was very active until his first heart attack which was about 6 weeks before the fatal one that occurred on February 21, 1937. He died at 73 years of age.

Some of his favorite sayings were, "Culture, taste, and refinement are not prerequisites for living the Christian life," and "cleanliness is next to godliness." His favorite passage was the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 18:1-8. The parable emphasizes the importance of praying persistently with complete faith in God. Having faith in God was a theme that characterized his life, and served as a motto for his death, a description of which occurs earlier in this book. He died while preaching a sermon, the text of which he had just announced as being found in Mark 11:22, "Have faith in God".

Samuel T. Yoder

Samuel T. was a large man, about six feet tall, with a very pleasant disposition. He was well- liked and highly respected. He was also very dedicated in his life of service, sometimes to the detriment of his farming career. He never received any support from his travels or from the home church. During the Great Depression in the early 1930's, a number of local farmers experienced severe financial struggles and some were forced to discontinue farming. Preacher Samuel T. Yoder also was forced to have an assigned sale. On Nov. 8, 1934 he sold all of his household goods, clocks, canned goods, cattle, machinery, and farm. After the sale that evening he walked to his neighbor, David Spicher, whistling. He told his neighbor, "I am the happiest man in the world."

He was a charter member at Locust Grove and the first minister to be ordained in the newly formed congregation, on January 14, 1900. He taught a boy's Sunday school class and was also Sunday school superintendent in 1924 and assistant in 1927. He stressed reverence in his teaching. He urged baptismal applicants in the instruction class to follow completely the teachings of the Bible. His teaching was sincere and simple. He never used large words. Yet he taught some very profound truths. Jonas J. Yoder, author of an earlier history of Locust Grove, remembered Samuel T.'s words from his instruction class, "God has done so much for you, now you do something for him!"

Samuel T. took his turn preaching at Locust Grove every third Sunday. He also traveled quite a bit from Delaware to Iowa, and many places in between. One winter he was gone for six weeks. Occasionally he preached at the old church in Barrville from 1910 to 1930. On one Sunday in 1918 he was preaching at Barrville on a warm summer Sunday afternoon. The doors were open and a stray dog came in. The people moved around in their seats as it ran under the benches. Finally a person hit it over the head with a hymn book and it went howling out the door so that Samuel T. could continue his sermon.

He bought his first car, an Oakland, around 1919. During the winter time he drained the water and gas and stored it until spring, like nearly everyone else did in those days. His next two cars were Maxwells, and the last one he owned was a Chevy coup.

His wife, Annie, died on December 9, 1926. His daughter, Turrie, kept house for him until he moved off the farm. Then he stayed with his daughter Sadie Esh and her husband, Levi, for a year or two. His other daughter, Turrie, bought a house along West Main Street in Belleville, currently owned by Leon and Lynda Miller. Samuel T. moved in with her and stayed there until he died of pneumonia on December 3, 1935 at the age of 67.

A quotation from his obituary in the local paper summarized his life very well. "Rev. Yoder was one of the stalwarts of his church, and was a conservative progressive leader among his people, being a friend and father to his fellowman, to whom he was faithful to the end. Rev.Yoder was a man who you could go to for advice and guidance, and you could leave him comforted, knowing that whatever he told you was the right thing."

Abraham D. Zook

In 1863, when Abraham was twenty three years old, he married Fanny P. Plank, the daughter of Isaac and Barbara (Yoder) Plank. Fanny was born November 12, 1840 near Belleville. Abraham and Fanny farmed part of his father's farm and they lived in the house now owned by Elrose and Pauline Glick, two miles north of Allensville along Route 655. The May 27, 1892 Democrat & Sentinel records, "The reals estate of David M. Zook, deceased, was sold to Abraham D. Zook for $2,701." Abraham and Fanny had two daughters, Ella Barbara (April 30, 1867-May 5, 1937 ) and Penina R. (October 31, 1864-Dec. 21, 1923). Ella maried David D. Zook and Penina married John S. Byler.

Abraham was ordained to the ministry by Bishop David J. Zook in 1885. One year later, Bishop David Zook moved to Kansas and Bishop Michael Yoder of the Mattawana Amish Mennonite Church assumed the oversight of the three churches. Abraham was ordained to the office of bishop in 1889 to assume oversight of the Allensville and Belleville congregations, which at that time were considered one congregation. Worship services were held every other Sunday in Belleville and every other Sunday in Allensville. Abraham conveniently lived between the two meetinghouses, although he was closer to Allensville than to Belleville.

Bishop Abraham Zook was known as a man of deep convictions, strict discipline, and zealous commitment to holy living and faithful Christian service. He was a capable and persuasive speaker. He faced issues which he considered dangerous to holy living and to the preservation of godly values. These qualities caused him to lead a group of 118 members to withdraw from the Amish Mennonite congregation that met at Belleville and Allensville and to begin meeting separately on Sunday afternoons. This is how Locust Grove was initially begun.

According to one account, Abraham was afraid, upon his withdrawal from the larger group, that the other ministers would attempt to remove his authorization to be a minister and bishop. For a period of time members of his group took turns staying with him on his farm to discourage the other ministers from taking this action.

Abraham's foresight is evident in the way he prepared the congregation for a smooth transition to younger leadership. At the time he withdrew, he was fifty nine years old. His leadership in selecting and ordaining younger leadership is what provided early stability to the young congregation as well as an opportunity for growth and development. During the last five years of his life he had to curtail his activities because of recurring strokes and the new leaders proved to be a tremendous blessing to him and to the church. Abraham died in March 1909 at the age of 69.

John B. Zook

On March 11, 1902, John B.'s father was killed in a gristmill accident. His leg caught in a belt and he bled to death before anyone could help him. The mill was adjacent to the house in the Allison # 19 John and Sallie Gap along the West Back Mountain Road. Young John was only three years old at the time. His mother was unable to provide for her all four sons, so the oldest ones lived with other families and worked as hired men.

John began school at the King School #1 on the present day M.D. Yoder property in Allensville, and had perfect attendance that year. During that year the principal of the public school asked him to attend the public school, since the King School was full and the Allensville School was not. So he changed schools. In the spring of his second year, he went to work for David Z. Yoder on the Dan Peachey farm near the Waynesburg Road. He then attended the King School #2, near the Elrose Glick farm. David Z later moved to the Joe I. Peachey farm where John B. stayed until his late teens. In the early spring and fall he would work in the fields. By the time he was 17 he quit school and had nearly completed the eighty grade.

John also worked for Preacher Ez Peachey near Allensville, and later Jonathan Yoder on the Rufus Peachey farm. He joined the Spicher Amish Church at this time, about the age of 20. After a year he moved back to Allensville and worked for Joshua Peachey. At the age of 22 he bought a new Model T Ford and got a job at the Susquehanna Silk Mill, later the Arrow Shirt Factory. He worked there about 14 months and lived in a boarding house with Alphie Smucker.

He then secured a job in construction, helping to build the American Viscose Plant, which he didn't enjoy, so after three weeks he came back to the valley and worked on a farm for Porter Metz for one year. During these years he began to court Sallie F. Peachey whom he married on January 8, 1925. In the spring they took up housekeeping on the Willard Peachey farm and worked for his father-in-law for a year before moving back to Porter Metz's for another two years. Next he moved to the Allison farm (Whitehall) for another three years before moving to the second farm on the right on the Waynesburg Road for the next ten years.

In the early 1940's he moved to the Joe A. Yoder farm for three years before moving to Concorde Road across from Hickory Lane, called Metz town, and farmed there for six years. He worked for "Tinner" Jess Yoder for a year before starting at J. M. Young where he worked until 1959. In 1960 he went to work for Karl Westover and continued for 13 years. During this time he built a house along the Back Mountain Road.

John and Sallie were the parents of four children: Jesse P., Samuel, Roy, and Anna Grace. Jesse moved to Austin, Indiana and served as pastor until his untimely death. Roy died as a seven month old infant. Sam lives in Belleville and Anna Grace lives in Oregon with her husband, Marvin Kauffman.

John began attending Locust Grove shortly after purchasing his first car in 1921. John and Sallie became members of Locust Grove after their marriage in 1925. By 1930 he was teaching a Sunday School class and sensed God's call to become a minister. He was chosen by lot and ordained on June 12, 1932. Just before the lot was used, John sensed very clearly that he would be the one chosen. As a preacher, John was known as a staunch defender of the truth, proclaiming it without being afraid of how it would be received. He emphasized the literal interpretation of the Bible and had a profound respect for its Author.

John B. was quite active in conference activities. He served as conference moderator in 1945 and completed a term on the Peace Problems Committee in 1948 to 1951. He served for forty two years at Locust Grove until he transferred his membership to the Beth-El Mennonite Church. John B. died on December 12, 1989 at the age of 90 years.

J. Max Zook

Max completed his first seven years of school at the Belleville Mennonite School before his family moved to Chaves, Kentucky in 1972. His father was licensed to the ministry to serve a small mission church in the Barwick community, not far from Gays Creek, Kentucky. The experience of living in Kentucky and watching his father in the ministry affected Max very deeply, and it was there that Max first sensed a definite call to the ministry.

John S. died suddenly of a heart attack on November 15, 1973 at the age of 49 when Max was fourteen years old and in the ninth grade. He and his mother moved back to Belleville in June of the following year at the end of the school year. Max completed his high school education at BMS and graduated in 1977. In his address to his classmates at his graduation, Max mentioned his call to the ministry and announced his plans to attend Rosedale Bible Institute to prepare for it.

While attending RBI, Max met and later married Brenda Eby who grew up in Strasburg, Pa., the daughter of Martin and Evelyn (Mellinger) Eby. During the summer of 1978 Max served on a summer service project under Mennonite Disaster Service with a youth squad in Hull, Massachusetts. During the summer of 1979 he served a three month term as a student pastor at Locust Grove. This experience deepened and confirmed his call to be a minister.

Max and Brenda were married on June 21, 1980 and lived for nine months in a house owned by Sylvanus Peachey. From March 1981 to August 1982 Max and Brenda lived in Atmore, Alabama, where Max served as a Chaplain's Assistant with the New Life Foundation Prison Ministry (currently We Care). Max spent much time teaching Christian inmates Bible classes as well as counseling and encouraging them. While they lived in Alabama, Brenda completed her training as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

They moved in September 1982 to South Charleston, Ohio. Max studied at Cedarville College while Brenda worked as a nurse, first at a nursing home, and later at a group home for mentally handicapped adults. After completing his studies to receive a B.A. degree from Cedarville in history and secondary education, Max and Brenda returned to Belleville. On July 29, 1984 Max was ordained. For the next three years he served as assistant pastor, working with Gerald Peachey. He also taught Bible at BMS part time. In 1987 Max became full-time pastor at Locust Grove after Gerald Peachey transferred to Mt. View.

Max and Brenda are parents of two sons, Jonathan and Joseph. They presently live on West Main Street in Belleville.