God's Servants At Fairgreen
In our November issue we are featuring Mary Ellen Campbell and she has shared with us about her life here at Fairgreen.
“I was 8 years old when my parents moved from Gary, Indiana to Toledo. We joined Rosewood Presbyterian Church (we knew Rev. Cutler from where he ministered in Gary, Indiana and we could also walk to church). I was unhappy with the new church since I didn‟t want to move and I didn‟t know any of the kids at this church. I did a lot of painting. One day Rev. Cutler called me aside and said “There may be a reason for you to be in this church! A few years later (1951) Ken and I were married in Rosewood. My mom was chairman of the Women‟s Association and a leader in Vacation Bible School. My mom was my model of “life in a church” for me. Ken and I were very active (especially in the Scouts at Rosewood). I‟ve watched many wonderful things grow in our church outreach programs. Five decades ago our main objective at church was to bring people into our church to Hear the gospel. Today I believe our objective is to be aware and help those in our community therefore Spreading the gospel.
At one time in our very active youth group at Rosewood; we wanted to have a dance party in the gym. Dancing in church was a no-no then. We discussed it and gathered our group to ask the Elders with trepidation! To our surprise, a very active and elderly elder stood up in answer to our request. “I certainly would rather see the kids dance here then somewhere else. I‟ll never forget that change in the church-I could have kissed him.”
Our congregation now is the smallest ever but we have more projects for „reaching out‟ then ever before. One project happened when I still was teaching. There was one time when one of the young ladies was shy and withdrawn and she wore glasses and the kids teased her and called her four eyes. When our deacons heard this they purchased lenses for her and she was so different, as she was happy and outgoing. That‟s ‟outreach‟ for God‟s hands and heart! Interviewed by Carol Yeager
“I was 8 years old when my parents moved from Gary, Indiana to Toledo. We joined Rosewood Presbyterian Church (we knew Rev. Cutler from where he ministered in Gary, Indiana and we could also walk to church). I was unhappy with the new church since I didn‟t want to move and I didn‟t know any of the kids at this church. I did a lot of painting. One day Rev. Cutler called me aside and said “There may be a reason for you to be in this church! A few years later (1951) Ken and I were married in Rosewood. My mom was chairman of the Women‟s Association and a leader in Vacation Bible School. My mom was my model of “life in a church” for me. Ken and I were very active (especially in the Scouts at Rosewood). I‟ve watched many wonderful things grow in our church outreach programs. Five decades ago our main objective at church was to bring people into our church to Hear the gospel. Today I believe our objective is to be aware and help those in our community therefore Spreading the gospel.
At one time in our very active youth group at Rosewood; we wanted to have a dance party in the gym. Dancing in church was a no-no then. We discussed it and gathered our group to ask the Elders with trepidation! To our surprise, a very active and elderly elder stood up in answer to our request. “I certainly would rather see the kids dance here then somewhere else. I‟ll never forget that change in the church-I could have kissed him.”
Our congregation now is the smallest ever but we have more projects for „reaching out‟ then ever before. One project happened when I still was teaching. There was one time when one of the young ladies was shy and withdrawn and she wore glasses and the kids teased her and called her four eyes. When our deacons heard this they purchased lenses for her and she was so different, as she was happy and outgoing. That‟s ‟outreach‟ for God‟s hands and heart! Interviewed by Carol Yeager
