In 1970 the Metz Sunday School was headed by Glen Beatty with total attendance of 69 and the collection of $25.61. Teachers were Linda Hoyt, Alice Beatty, Evelyn Den Hartog, Catherine Osborne, Joann Lindsey, Irma Woody, Lois Broderson, and Glenn Beatty.
Addition to the Church
It seems as if the church were bursting at the seams. In
1972 the church decided to build an addition that would
house two more class rooms, two bathrooms and an entry way
where people could come in and visit and hang up their
coats, etc. What a difference this addition has made to the
church. From 1911 until 1972 the bathrooms were the
outhouses that had been shared by the church and school for
many years. The photo at the top
of page one shows the addition.
In 1975 we find Joann Lindsey as the Superintendent. Teachers were Jane Hatfield, Judy Hatfield, Joan Hatfield, Zella Patterson, Alice Beatty, Joann Lindsey, Bob McGowan and it looks like the women's class passed the teaching duties round each week. Attendance was 38 and collection was $23.42.
Another five years down the road in 1980, Bob McGowan is the superintendent and teachers were Alice Beatty, Kathy Engle, Bob and Mabel McGowan, Joye Ritter, Bill Waddel, Marvel Clement and Zella Patterson. Attendance was 45 and collection was $25.45.
Kitchen
The church had been needing a kitchen for a long time,
but where to put it?? In 1982 the decision was made to
install a kitchen in the basement in the new addition. Funds
were raised and the kitchen was installed. We have made good
use of it for the last 14 years.
In 1985, Rick Birkenholtz was at the helm of the Sunday School. Teachers were Carolyn Good, Marvelyn Adams, Betty Snook, Rose Baker, John Adams, Marvel Clement, Jim Baker. Attendance was 52 and the collection was $28.41.
Women's Circles
In the early years of the Den Hartog ministry the ladies of the church organized a Bible Study Group and called it the Metz Friendship Circle. Not only do they meet for Bible Study but they have projects to raise money to purchase items for the church and help keep the kitchen supplied with the necessary products.
They sponsor special events such as Valentine Suppers, Mothers Day Banquets, Fathers Day Banquets and other such events as they arise. The Metz Friendship Circle supplies a meal to the Freedom Bible Camp each year. They are a vital part of the operation of the church and we couldn't get along without them.
Youth Groups
In 1976 Bruce and Virginia Meredith and John and Marvelyn Adams started a Sunday Night Youth Group called Whirly Birds and Jet Cadets. Some of the youth who attend this group were Matt Waddel, Roger, Rhonda and Randi Good, Lisa Birkenholtz, John and Jenni Adams, Ann and Bobby Hitchler. This group continued for about 5-6 years.
It did not start up again until Rev Quick came. It is called Jammin' for Jesus. Current teachers are Trina DeBruyn and Jane King for Space Cubs, Joan and Rick Birkenholtz for Whirlybirds, Karen Lane and Diane Faidley for Jet Cadets. The average attendance has been 20 this past year.
This program has been great for the church as it has brought in some new families and is a good extension of Vacation Bible School. Several children have come to know the Lord through this program.
Linda McGowan started attending Metz Community as a small child when her parents moved to Metz. After graduation from Newton High School, she attended Open Bible College in Des Moines. There she heard about an organization called "Youth With A Mission" that gave kids experience as a missionary for a summer.
That one summer led to a life time of work with that same organization in France/Switzerland in 1971. In 1988, Linda married Tom Panci whom she met while working for Youth With A Mission. They have been working for the organization ever since.
Linda and Tom Panci
Missionaries in France and Switzerland
In late 1966, a young farmer from Oskaloosa came to preach at Metz. He brought with him, his wife, Evelyn, three sons, Ron, Larry and Brent, and a daughter, Eileen. The family kind of grew on the folks at Metz and we let them stay around for about 22 years.
When the Den Hartog family decided to retire, we had a "retirement party" for them. One of the things read at the meeting was a poem written by Phil Lane. It speaks volumes about the churches history, the community and its people and Harold and Evelyn.
Then came the tower. It stood above the rest of me and I could see people in wagons and buggies going about their business and boy was I feeling good! Then came the day for my new bell. The men struggled with pulleys and ropes and it was pulled to the top. They bolted, hammered and nailed and it as finally in place. The rope was tied to my arm and then thrown down. Someone grabbed my rope and began ringing my bell. That's the day I came alive! I couldn't wait for that first Sunday. Everyone wanted to ring my bell. I was overjoyed and things went well for a few years.
The people had the spirit but they were lacking in leadership. People deserted me and I began to fall apart. My ceiling came down in places, my walls were cracking, I began to leak in my tower. I was well on the way to decay. My shutters fell off my tower and pigeons roosted and built nests all around my bell. I became a sickly sight. I went on this way for several years. Only a handful came to Sunday School. I would only see them for about 1 hour and it was a lonely old place, and cold. I was ready to give in.
Then one day in 1949, five or six men and women came into the church. I could tell by their conversation that something was brewing. I could hear them say, "We can repair that wall, patch that ceiling. Let's fill those cracks and paint them and give this old place a new look. We'll varnish the wanes coating. We'll get someone to climb up and fix those shutters and keep out those pigeons. We'll fix that window. We just gotta get this place back in shape so we can have a church again." What made my ears perk up most was when someone said, "let's put a new rope on that bell so we can ring it once more and let the people know we are back in business again for he Lord."
Things began to get better. Church began . . . Sunday School . . . bigger crowds . . .new basement . . . electric lights. Preachers, they came and went, some good and some not so good. Then one Sunday about 22 years ago when the church was looking for a new minister, (I remember it well and I kind of chuckled) the Superintendent of the American Sunday School Union stood up and said, "I know an old farmer in the Oskaloosa area and I would like for you to give him a chance to be your new minister."
Boy, my walls nearly cracked. Harold, I have to admit, I never thought you would ever make it when all those other ministers with their experience had not stayed so very long. I figured you would soon be on your way too.
Was I ever fooled! God had sent me a God-loving man and his wife. It was just a few weeks and I saw the people begin to "percolate." You put some hustle and bustle in those people. I am so glad you came. The congregation grew; sometimes they would fill me up. I was mighty happy with my new pews, piano, organ, new furniture, and the new rooms below my bell tower. I felt new all over again. I feel good enough to carry on for another hundred years.
I hate to see you and Evelyn leave. I could tell when you preached your last sermon that all those tears that were shed were for someone they loved. I wished that there was someway I could tell you how sorry I was to see you go. But you know that this Little White Church cannot express its feelings like people can.
But there is one thing that you and Evelyn can do for me that would make my day. Would you, when you go out of the church for the last time, would you please grab my rope and ring my bell 22 times…once for every year you and I have been together. I'll do my best to keep my old bell ringing in memory of you and Evelyn.
Bye now
The Little White Church on the Hill
Written by Phil Lane
Neal Alexander,American Sunday School Union
Mr. Hoven left the American Sunday School Union in 1969 and Neal Alexander took his place. Neal and Esther were with us until 1986.
Arvid Ellis, American Sunday School Union
In 1986, when Rev. Alexander left the American Sunday School Association, Arvid and Bonnie Ellis took his place.
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Gary Davis, Pastor
Gary Davis joined us in 1989 and stayed until 1990 when he left to pioneer a church in Arizona. |
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Rev. Garold Quick, Pastor
Rev. Garold Quick and his wife, Marilyn served the church from 1990 to October 2000.
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Created Summer 2000. Updated for GenWeb September 2002