WELCOME … Kunkle United Brethren Church minister, Dan Van Arsdalen (above), welcomes the congregation attending the re-dedication service on Sunday, September 14.
PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
JOYFUL SONGS … Deb Van Arsdalen (left) and Delania Huffman (right) sing “Mighty is Our God” in the Kunkle United Brethren Church re-dedication service on Sunday, September 14, in the church sanctuary.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
It was in the spring of 1965 when the last dedication service was held at Kunkle United Brethren Church. That year, a 36 x 40 structure was added to the west portion of the church along with a new entrance.
Now, six decades later, the church founded in 1889 held a re-dedication service on Sunday, September 14, recognizing the renovation of the sanctuary, which was completed this year.
The importance of the re-dedication of the church was evident, especially when no monetary debt occurred during the renovation of the sanctuary.
“The last dedication was held in the mid-1960s,” said Pastor Dan E. Van Arsdalen. “We’ve had a significant change in people and the facilities since then. We just find it really important for the community to come together and celebrate this day.”
After he arrived in Kunkle to begin his ministry in 2015, there was a discussion concerning the possible closure of the church.
“God has just done a miracle here,” pointed out Van Arsdalen. “Everyone here needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s a privilege to serve, and everyone has just come and congregated together here. It’s amazing.”
To make the sanctuary renovation possible, he mentioned that there were many people who had invested a lot of money to make the church beautiful again. “We want to thank those who helped out, and so does our church denomination for completing this task,” said Van Arsdalen.
Among the many contractors and individuals who made the sanctuary renovation possible were Sutton Construction; Henricks Farms of Kunkle; Carpenter’s Woodworking of Montpelier; Unity Plumbing and Heating; Stand Firm Foundations; Dickinson Flooring; Walz Farms of West Unity; Jay’s Heating and Cooling; Bret Croy Drywall of Bryan; Cornerstone Flooring; Huffman & Son Electric of Pioneer; Chad Purdue of Hamilton, Indiana; and Lockwood Welding of Waterloo, Indiana.
“It takes time, planning, and a shared vision by a group of people,” said Van Arsdalen. “We’ve been able to complete all of this without any loans or grants. People have been faithful in their giving.
“God has blessed me with some good relationships with some area contractors. They’ve come and helped along with the sweat equity of the congregation.”
The excitement surrounding the sanctuary renovation project was amazing, with 67 members attending church services earlier in the day, which is a far cry from when Van Arsdalen had arrived in Kunkle ten years ago, where the membership numbers totaled just 17 people.
Last year, the church renovated its fellowship hall. “We had built the fellowship hall for a time of teaching and equipping people here in Kunkle to share the good news of Jesus,” said Van Arsdalen.
He then added, “Is it funny that we’re doing the same thing today. But with it being sixty-some years since its last dedication, we thought today would be a good time for us to gather together and make another statement of dedicating this structure and this place for a place of peace, of teaching and understanding the precious word of God.
“I personally wish to thank each and every one of you for making time to be with us today.”
Also speaking at the service was Todd Fetters of Huntington, Indiana, who serves as the Bishop of the United Brethren Church.
“Congratulations to you as a congregation,” pointed out Fetters. “You have found a reason and have found a God-given purpose for being here in Kunkle, Ohio.
“For this small community and yet, the broader community as well, you have been generous with your time, with your resources, with your skills, with your money, to make this facility upgraded for however long it may be.”
A video was also shown highlighting the progress of the last ten years of the church.