Church History
Personal Historical Recollections and Dates of the first 25 Years of Providence Presbyterian Church
by Bob Parker
Twenty-five years, where have they gone? And, how could anyone begin to pen the history of Providence Presbyterian Church onto a few pages? The dictionary (Funk and Wagnall's) ascribes several meanings to the word "history" among them being, "A record or account, usually written and in chronological order, of past events, especially those concerning a particular nation, people, field of knowledge or activity, etc."
| June 2004 |
Arrival of Director of Music Ministries, Jonathan Moser. |
| October 2003 |
Installation of Assistant Pastor Ray Heiple, Jr. |
| June 2003 |
First High School graduation for Robinson Township Christan School. |
| January 2003 |
Dedication of additional classroom wing. |
| June 2001 |
Installation of Pastor Bailey Cadman. |
| May 17, 2000 |
Celebration of Providence's 25th anniversary at Airport Marriott. |
| June 29, 1997 |
Ordination and Installation of Brett Wirebaugh as Associate Pastor. |
| February 23, 1995 |
Celebration of Providence's 20th anniversary at Airport Marriott. |
| December 7, 1994 |
Ordination and Installation of Todd Williams as Associate Pastor. |
| August, 1994 |
Dedication of New Wing with offices, kitchen and classrooms. |
| August 2, 1992 |
Installation of Rev. John Koelling as Providence Presbyterian Church second senior pastor. |
| February 29, 1992 |
Rev. Arthur C. Broadwick and wife Lois leave Providence for a call to Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Georgia. 350+ people attend farewell dinner for Art and Lois. |
| February 8, 1985 |
Celebration of Providence tenth anniversary at Tonidale Restaurant. |
| January 13, 1985 |
Installation of Mike Davis as Youth Director. |
| September 18, 1983 |
Dedication of new Christian Education Building. |
| December 21, 1980 |
Ordination and Installation of Daryl Davis as Assistant Pastor. |
| August 29, 1978 |
Dedication of Robinson Township Christian School. |
| July 22, 1978 |
Wedding of Ken Wagoner and Rosi Durkin. |
| September 25, 1977 |
Dedication of Auditorium and Christian Education Buildings. |
| August 21, 1977 |
Church building completed and first worship service held. Prayers raised in thanksgiving and praise. Numerous expressions and countless tears of joy. First Hymn - "How Great Thou Art". |
| August 16, 1977 |
Electrical fire and water line break on Tuesday afternoon causing wiring failure, electrical box destruction, smoke damage and impending delay of first worship service. Entire congregation response is overwhelming as entire facility washed down, deodorized without any water or electricity available. People brought all water and supplies from home. Ron Baker (electrician) arduously installs replacement electrical box and the plumber completes water line repairs in time for our first Sunday worship service to be held as scheduled. |
| 1977 |
Summer included many work parties of men and women applying the sweat equity principle that made for much fellowship while digging, painting, insulating, building walls, shelves, hanging plywood, grounds keeping, cement work (thanks to Tink Bryan for every other load of concrete), carpet laying and other undertaken when anyone builds to keep the cost down. |
| June 19, 1977 |
Mike Preg Ordination. |
| April 24, 1977 |
Dedication of the Cornerstone. |
| March 20, 1977 |
Natural gas shortage causes Robert Morris college to close Lafayette Center and we have to move the tent temporarily back to Holiday Inn. |
| 1976 |
Brought together Providence and Grace OP churches into discussions which ultimately led to the establishment of the Robinson Township Christian School. |
| September 12, 1976 |
Official groundbreaking, delays caused by severe winter weather, and an avid deer hunting, bear hunting, and anything else hunting bricklaying crew. Progress was hampered through the winter of "1976". |
| June 17, 1976 |
Frank Kutz, Roy Macek, and small work party start clearing property with a bulldozer and bonfires. Jom Bachgmann of Systemics chosen as architect. |
| February 8, 1976 |
First anniversary dinner. |
| February 2, 1976 |
Property search completed as land graciously provided by God's hand through the shortage of one postage stamp. Mr. Baronyak and Pap (Bob Parker's grandfather Neale) being hospitalized at Ohio Valley General Hospital. |
| December 14, 1975 |
Rev. Randy Johovich ordained. |
| August 3, 1975 |
Ordination and Installation of Providence's own elders and deacons. |
| July 29, 1975 |
Ascension Presbytery organized at Robert Morris College. Those participating in the service were: Dr. Carl Bogue, Rev. Rick Perrin, Craig Morrow, Rev. Rich E. Knodel, Jr., Dr. O. Palmer Robertson, Rev. Frank Moser, Dr. R. C. Sproul, Rev. Larry Mills, Rev. Art Broadwick, Rev. David Karlberg, Mrs. Robert (Diane) Glass, Rev. Alvin W. Smith, Jr. |
| June 25, 1975 |
Election of elders and deacons. |
| June 21, 1975 |
Wedding at Robert Morris College - Joe Soisson and Cathy Summers |
| May 24, 1975 |
First wedding - Steve Morley and Shirie Mansfield at Holiday Inn. |
| April 27, 1975 |
Holiday Inn advises us that since they are under new management, they are terminating our use of their facilities. Robert Morris Lafayette Center becomes the new location of the tent. First worship service held at the college. |
| April 24, 1975 |
Opportunity to affiliate with P.C.A. personnel at the Sheraton North for the first time north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Coordinators MUS, MTW, CE Administration. |
| April 20, 1975 |
First infant baptisms - Teresa Rotellini and Jon Dionese. |
| March 30, 1975 |
Easter - 8th week as a congregation. New Roll constituted - 191 charter members, including orientation and confirmation class. Cathie Morley and Thelma Whitely baptized. |
| March 23, 1975 |
Holiday Inn again cancels and the tent moves. |
| March 9, 1975 |
Holiday Inn advises Art at last minute that we have no place at the Inn. Telephone list calling activated and all notified that the tent is moving to the Corinthian Room at the Tonidale Restaurant. Once again the Lord provides for His people. |
| February 18, 1975 |
Rev. Broadwick received Mid-Atlantic Presbytery. Randy taken under care of that presbytery. A small band of supporters travels via Frank Kutz's motor home for this event leaving AM wee hours arriving home same night. (Exciting prayer time while Roy Macek drives on return trip.) Congregational resolution accepted via presbytery. |
| February 16, 1975 |
Providence congregation applies for membership in Mid-Atlantic Presbytery - P.C.A. |
| February 9, 1975 |
First worship service at Holiday Inn - Sunday School 11975, AM Worship 200+, Evening Worship 130. Classes were held in motel rooms, we sat on beds, cleaned and straightened the rooms, moved furniture and dealt with other inconveniences. Bob Glass - Sunday School Superintendent, Dot Provost volunteered as organist. Patti Rotellini volunteered as choir director. Nellie Glass begins to greet people and pass out bulletins. Collections almost $4,000. Name - PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH chosen at a meeting following the worship service. (Charley Fry suggested the name.) Bethel classes continued to meet in individual homes. |
| January 25, 1975 |
Organizing meeting at Holiday Inn Parkway West - devotional, exciting, productive. Motions were made to organize into a new congregation. Call Rev. Art Broadwick and Student Assistant Randy Johovich, secure a meeting place, affiliate with P.C.A., and elect a steering committee, consisting of John Snyder and Peter Suehr. 10 elders from Union where John Campbell, Jim Fitzpatrick, Bob Franz, Henry Frazier, Bob Glass, Chuck LeSuer, Roy Macek, Craig Morrow, Bob Parker, Roger Schild. Mary Macek was named Temporary Treasurer. |
| January 23, 1975 |
Two-hour season of prayer (note the floor was bare hardwood, knees cracked, backs ached, hearts were bared, prayers were lifted.) Seeking God's direction for men and women to worship according to biblical understanding by a group of active ruling elders and other interested men gathered at Bob and Noreen Parker's immediately following a congregational meeting at Union UPCUSA where we were asked to leave in two weeks. (Decision was made to call an organizational meeting on 1-25, 1975.) |
| Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what he has done. |
| Psalm 105:1 |
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