Keeping In Touch…. Dan and Linda Althouse
I can hardly believe it has been three years since I came to Marietta
Community Chapel. I guess it is true that time passes quickly when you are
enjoying yourself. It has been a time to use the gifts God has given me, to have
them affirmed, and to be encouraged to use them. It is also exciting to see God
bring persons into the Kingdom, to watch them grow, and see them blossom and
mature. It is also frustrating to see some begin a new life, but falter to old
habits. However, that does not mean we give up on them; we seek God’s help to
love them as He loves them. It is wonderful to be a part of a group of believers
that cares about persons that are already in the community of faith and desire
to see others join in.
Being a full-time pastor is more than I thought it would be,
and at times has been stressful. However, I love what I am doing. God and the
Chapel folks have been very gracious, and we are growing together. I am thankful
for the promise of Eph. 3:20. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
I know I could not do what I am doing with out His power.
I have been blessed to have two persons join me in leadership here at the
Chapel. God has provided an Associate Pastor of Administration, Dave Harnish,
and an Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation, Bev Kreider.
With the growth of the congregation and the need to help mature all
believers, their gifts are welcomed.
I still find time to enjoy sports. I coach third base and pitch when necessary for the Chapel slow pitch team, and I manage to get a round of golf as often as I can.
By
Dan Althouse
Linda is a supportive pastor’s wife and teaches a class of
3-5 year olds in Sunday School. She
works full time at Blue Ball Community Bank as a teller.
They have one grandchild, Erin, whom
they say is an adorable, very expressive 2-1/2 year old.
Her parents, their youngest son Tim and Melody, live in Alexandria, VA.
Tim works for the Census Bureau as an Industry Analyst and Melody teaches
part-time in the Fairfax County School. Son
Steve and daughter Krista share a house in Reading.
Steve works for PFPC as an Investment Accountant Supervisor and Krista is
head teller at Blue Ball Bank in Reading.
The Althouse family was a vital part of the Powhatan
congregation from August 1975- August 1989.