PMC...Celebrating 35 years

In 1957, newlyweds Wally and Dorcas Schaefer left Denbigh and settled on a farm in Middlesex County, east of Richmond. They also had made a radical move from the close-knit Denbigh community. They often traveled to Powhatan in their white Cadillac to spend the night and visit with Bob and Marie. They, too, were longing for a church fellowship.

About the same time that the Hertzlers were settling in Powhatan, Jim and Miriam Tennafoss from Cheaspeake moved to Amelia. In 1961, Byron and Mary Alice Hertzler moved up to farm Lloyd Weaver’s place, the farm where Ed and Doris Ranck now live. In 1962, Bob’s brother, Ray, who had been in IW service in Florida, came to help on the farm. By 1963, the  number of families had increased to four when Wally and Dorcas moved from Middlesex to Powhatan. This was an exciting time for Bob and Marie. Marie says they planned their lives together; it was wonderful to have the fellowship of kindred spirits and playmates for the children It became a natural thing to want to fellowship together in church.

On March 31, 1963, a group of 29 persons, including children, met at Byron Hertzler’s home for the first Sunday school. This was a momentous occasion for the group. They began moving their meetings from home to home, but they desired a church house.

It is hard to recall the sequence of events, but things began to happen rapidly. The Mennonite colony of farmers in Denbigh was breaking apart because of the encroachment of the city. Farmers started looking elsewhere for land and Powhatan was appealing because of the location and availability of cheaper land. Bob and Marie had the blessing and support of their family, friends, and church, and it was natural for others to be attracted to their community. Leroy and Ruth Hertzler soon came, along with bachelor Marvin Hertzler, Sam and Dorothy Powell, and Nathan and Laura Layman.

Nathan was interested in land on Schroeder Road, behind Flat Rock. At the farm auction, the land started to go for more than Nathan felt he could handle. A quick recess was called during the auction, and H.P. and Arthur Hertzler, Bob’s grandpa and father, consulted with Nathan and agreed to buy approximately 85 of the acres, which included a small cinderblock house, so  Nathan could afford the farm. This house was then given rent-free to the small church fellowship for use as a church house. Marie remembers the warm fellowship of that little group but the little house was soon bursting its seams. They could put six rows of chairs across the living room in the back row and five on each of the other rows; two on one side and three on the other with an aisle in the middle. The living room held 26 with the overflow seated in the kitchen. The podium was put in the doorway so both groups could see the speaker. Warwick River Mennonite Church supplied different preachers until a permanent one could be worked out.

About the same time, Lewis and Helen Burkholder began looking for land in Powhatan. Lewis was asked to preach, and for about a year the Burkholders with their four small children, traveled to Powhatan for services in between morning and evening milkings in Denbigh. Different families took turns inviting the Burkholders for lunch;  Dorcas said they always tried to have lunch ready after church because they knew the Burkholders had to return home to do the evening milking. However, Lewis was never in a hurry; he visited until he was ready to leave, saying his cows would wait. Marie remembers that someone stuck a note on the podium reminding speakers not to put their feet on the base. It was the only piece of furniture the group really owned. They had paid $13.50 to have it built, and they didn’t want it scuffed!

In April 1964, Lewis was licensed to serve as pastor, and in June of 1965 he moved his family and cows to Powhatan. On March 15, 1970, he was ordained to the ministry, and he served faithfully for seventeen years. He also served three years in 1982-85 as interim pastor.

In 1964 ground was broken for the first building phase of Powhatan Mennonite Church. It was a dream come true. The new building had six rooms and an assembly room with plans for a sanctuary to be built later. Arthur Hertzler continued to support the ministry here by buying a second lot, where the cemetery is now, and the church purchased it from him at a later time.

Much has happened in these 35 years; prayers; have been answered, souls have been saved, babies have been born, death has visited, love has joined hearts together and a few have been torn apart, some have moved, new people have come, the church has grown and expanded, leadership has changed, a school was founded, and that first generation of founders have become grandparents. Two of the original four families are still serving in our midst, and one family is in South America sharing the gospel message. The church is continuing to grow with an average attendance of 150 on Sunday mornings. We are the church of tomorrow. (As told to Pat Hertzler)

June 1: Bob/Marie Hertzler move to Powhatan.

Jim/Miriam Tennafoss (Cheaspeake) move to Amelia.

May 8: Byron/Mary Alice Hertzler move to Powhatan.

April 5: First baby, Cheryl Hertzler, is born.

Fall: Marvin Hertzler begins working in Powhatan.

October: Ray Hertzler (FLA) moves to Powhatan.

May: Services are held in the cinderblock house.

May 9: Nathan and Laura Layman move to Powhatan

Summer: Harold Alderfer moves to Powhatan.

Leroy/Ruth Hertzler (Peru) move to Powhatan.

February 12: Sam/Dorothy Powell move to Amelia.

May 17: Lewis Burkholder is licensed to ministry.

May: Marvin/Fern Hertzler move to Powhatan.

August 4: Ground is broken for our first church building.

March 28: First service is held in the new church building.

May 23: The first communion service is celebrated in the fellowship.

June 15: Lewis/Helen Burkholder move to Powhatan.

November 28:  PMC is dedicated.

October. 24: Eli/Irene Miller (W VA) move to Powhatan.

Jan. 1: The first Annual Business Meeting is held.

May 20: Gene/Oliver Jr. Hertzler move to Powhatan.

October 10: Sylvanus/Mildred Moyer move to Powhatan.

Church debt is paid in full.

April 26: First wedding  in fellowship - Oliver Hertzler/Lana Wills - celebrated.

May 18: The fellowship rejoices in first baptisms - Linda Powell/Ed Ranck.

March 15: Lewis Burkholder is ordained to ministry.

August. 23: Wally Schaefer is installed as assistant pastor.

April 3: Art Ranck is installed as deacon.

July : Lot bought from Arthur Hertzler.

April 2: The fellowship mourns first death - Karla Hertzler.

March 10: Ground is broken for second building phase.

August 15: PMC begins holding services in new sanctuary.

Fall: Powhatan Mennonite Church School starts.

1964-82: Lewis Burkholder

January 1982-May 1984: Steve Freed

1984-86: Lewis Burkholder

October 1987-December 89: Paul Swarr

Fall 1989-December 98: Pres Nowlin

March 2000-Present:  Tim Kennell

Cheryl was a cheerful little girl who  never had an enemy. She was always the peacemaker and took up for the underdog! Tony always had a soft spot for his little sister, whom the family  affectionately called "Peeps."  Tony and Cheryl spent hours playing together in the creek by their house. One day Cheryl stuck her arm  under the edge of the creek and pulled out this "thing" that she held up for Tony to see. Tony said, "Peeps, put that down; that’s a snake!"

One day Cheryl begged her mother to have another baby so  she would have someone to sleep with. Marie informed her that she could not have another baby, but Cheryl could have a dog to sleep with. That was the beginning of a series of black poodles in the Hertzler home.

Cheryl went to EMHS for her junior year of high school, and Bob says she never came home to stay after that.   She went to Hesston College for two years where she met a striking young man, Ron Snyder, from Akron, New York. She then went to Buffalo State College to be near Ron and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Cheryl and Ron were married by Miss Annie’s pond at Mill Quarter. They are dairy farmers in New York and have four children: Caleb, Christopher, Rachel and Elizabeth. Cheryl is putting her college training to practical use.

Ron and Cheryl are involved in Clarence Mennonite Church.

Powhatan always seemed like a young church; there were young parents and lots of young children. The cemetery at Denbigh was full of tombstones marking those gone beyond, but Powhatan had not yet been visited by death, until little Karla was stricken.

Karla was born October 26, 1977, the second child of Gene and Pat Hertzler. She was a very docile, quiet child compared to her active older brother, Keith. But unknown to those around her, a deadly disease (Werdnig-Hoffman) was ravishing her tiny body.

When Karla was four months old, she developed pneumonia and was hospitalized. When the Hertzlers were told of the diagnosis, they asked the church to prepare a burial spot for Karla.  Knowing  they were going to bury one of their young, the church gathered  to make a cemetery. Three weeks later, on April 2, 1978, Karla Annette Hertzler died. The church had experienced its first death.

Linda came deeply under conviction at revivals at PMC when she was twelve years old. She told her mother that morning while they were doing dishes what she was thinking. At the service she responded to the invitation by raising her hand. She still remembers the song that was being sung, "Softly and Tenderly."  Afterwards, Louie took her and her parents into a room, and under his gentle leadership, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. Later, Truman Brunk and Louie baptized her. She remembers the front row, the tiled floor and big handfuls of water!

Linda is actively involved with her husband, William,  in Open Door Baptist Church. She has taught Sunday School and Bible School. She also enjoys working with the elderly.

Ed,  the second son of Art and Phoebe Ranck,  was thirteen years old when the family  moved to Powhatan. He remembers coming down for the dedication service of the new building before they moved. He recalls that even as a teenager it was a very meaningful service. For him, baptism was an extension of his desire to profess Christ and be a part of the fellowship. He remembers Louie as being very kind during the instruction classes.

Ed is very mischievous and enjoys the fun side of life. He loves children and enjoys interacting with them. Church is a high priority in Ed’s life,  whether he is teaching Sunday School, lending a helping hand to someone in need, sharing his faith with a neighbor, serving on a committee, leading a devotional, working with Boys'  Club, or simply being there to support whatever is happening. If Ed agrees to do something, it will be done. He has been an elder and was a key founder in our church school, serving as School Board Chairman for the four initial years of the school.

In 1972, Ed attended Rosedale Bible Institute where he met his wife-to-be. He considers Rosedale with being a milestone in his life. In 1979, he and Doris moved to Alabama for a year and he worked as assistant chaplain in the Atmore prison.

Ed is a nuts-and-bolts kind of person. He sees God in the practical, day by day happenings of his life. The faith his parents and church taught have become his now, and he prays  it will also become the faith of his sons.

"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that

which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

(This was theme used at the church dedication, November 28, 1965)