Wellsville Area Ministerial Association

Tuesday – January 11: The Wellsville Area Ministerial Association (WAMA) held their first regular monthly meeting of the new year this past Tuesday at Tonda's Place on the Square. Rev. Jay Nightingale, President, presided. Aaron Smith of Wellsville's Nazerene Church offered the opening devotions.

Minutes of the last meeting was read by First Baptist Deacon Terry McCuen. McCuen also gave the Treasurer's Report.

A thank-you note was read from First Baptist Pastor Roosevelt Thompson for the prayers and get well wishes. Thompson is at home recovering from hip replacement surgery. Riverside Presbyterian Pastor, Rev. Bill Betteridge reported that Lucille Huston is also at home recovering from two shoulder replacement surgeries. Both Thompson and Huston are doing well. Please keep them in your prayers.

Information was distributed for the CC Continuum of Care “point in time” count to help determine the extent of homelessness in each community. The US Dept. of Housing & Urban Development has set Tuesday, January 25 as the date of the count. The CC Continuum of Care is a group of organizations and individuals who work collectively to prevent and eliminate homelessness in our county. For more information on the program call 330-424-4013.

A thank you letter was read from Bob & Kate Moore for the continued prayers and donations to the Youth With A Purpose Home during their transition period. The home is going from depending on government funding to independent, private funding. The home is located near Salineville and cares for troubled young men in a family atmosphere. For more information call 330-679-1013.

Guest speaker at the meeting was Chaplain John Hersh. Hersh and his wife Daryl administer the Tobin Center Chaplaincy Ministery. The Tobin Center is the CC juvenile correction facility located on County Home Road in Lisbon. The Chaplaincy is staffed by representatives from both Columbiana and Carroll Counties and the various ministerial associations. They offer one on one counseling and guidance for the juvenile inmates. Hersh noted that he sometimes dresses his Yorkie-poodle mix dog in a tuxedo and takes him to visit the children. Saying it was a very popular activity he observed that some children miss their pets most of all.

Hersh thank WAMA for their support. The collection from the WAMA's Thanksgiving Community service was donated to the Tobin Chaplaincy to help with some of their unfunded programs they provide. For more information about the program or to arrange a tour of the facilities contact Hersh at 330-424-9800. Pictured above is Hersh with Wellsville Nazerene Pastor Dirk Hall to the right. Hall stated he started his ministry career at the Tobin Center 11 years ago.

Mt. Sinai FBH Church Pastor Darlene Zanders passed out flyers inviting all to join in celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 17 at Wellsville Village Hall. The program starts at 9 AM and there will be singing, readings and numbers performed by the First Baptist Dance Troupe. Pastor Dirk Hall will offer the opening prayer and Rev. Mike Dwyer will lead the closing prayer. Zanders is the ministerial liaison for the Village and organizes this event annually for MLK Day. Refreshments will be served.

Under New Business discussions and preliminary plans were made for various activities and events conducted by WAMA throughout the year. To start off the year, Rev. Betteridge volunteered to chair the Lenten Services Committee. Betteridge will be assisted by Terry McCuen. More information will be forthcoming on all the activities once plans are firmed up.

The breakfast meeting adjourned at 10:26 AM. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8 at 9 AM at Tonda's Place.


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