I am thankful that the people in Liberty Church pay attention to their sick and shut-in members. Mom always appreciated seeing her name in the church weekly bulletin for the Sunday service at which they prayed for her.
Many things in Liberty have changed (Duh!, you might say since I was a Liberty regular from 1946-1968- things should have changed!). The Liberty Church is still there and still serves as an anchor in many lives, in many ways. I still follow Paul Westbrook (now living on the farm in West VA) on Facebook, the pastor who married Rebecca and I on December 27, 1969. He'll be included in the photos that I post on this Dec 27th on Facebook as part of the 50 year celebration. Liberty Church has meaning that goes on and on in so many ways to so many people.
What can you say about learning to sing "Jesus Loves Me"? "Jesus Loves the Little Children"? "One Little Boy Named David"? I always think of the Liberty Church when I hear or sing those songs. I distinctly remember the voice of Gladys Alread (Donna and Peggy's Mom) who may have been a Sunday School or Bible School teacher when I was a wee lad.
Clara Weaver, Russell Wolf, Doris Marker- organist for life - were lifelong citizens of Liberty Church. Frances Wolf- choir director when I was growing up and singing in the choir. Maxin Weaver and Carlton Weaver, Denny Wolf, Alan Wardlaw and many others sang in the choir over the years. Jean Ney and Ginger Weaver still are members, decades later.
I can't name all the Wolf's and Weaver's. The Schenck's (with ten sons) were plentiful. The Jonas Family was there from the 1920's until Mom (Esther) died last year. The Strader's, The Lodges, The Spitler's, The Holtzman's, The Stebbin's, The Speidel's (Gladys Alread's parents), The Alread's, The Saul's, The Michael's, The Adam's, The Lodge's, The Weidel's, The Ney's, The Shank's, The Web's, The Longhenry's ("Pete" was still an active member the last I heard), The Marker's, The Whitaker's and many other families made the Liberty Church a key part of their lives.
The pews were jammed for Christmas and Easter like other churches, but also during softball season when you had to attend church to be eligible to play. It was said at one time that the Liberty Church players were involved in more fights at softball games than any local church (before my time). Passionate players need prayer, and they got it at Liberty Church.
God blessed us with the Liberty Church which continues to serve Him. "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".
