A History of Cumberland Valley Brethren In Christ Church

In 1968, Danny Keefer and Avery Heisey, from the Grantham Brethren in Christ Church, became actively involved with ministry at Williams Grove Park. They envisioned winterizing the chapel and expanding an informal Bible study meeting there in the summer to a church conducting services year round. This was accomplished with the help of many persons. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Richwine, then owners of Williams Grove Park and Speedway and the chapel, donated all materials used in finishing the inside of the chapel. Many persons from the community and Grantham BIC contributed much time and talent into completing the task. In October of 1968, Danny and Avery asked Ray Bert, who was a junior at Messiah College, to assume responsibilities of pastor at the chapel. During these early years, the church was basically a church planting of the Grantham Brethren in Christ Church. In 1974, Williams Grove Chapel became a new congregation of the Brethren in Christ denomination. A charter membership of 13 persons was established.

In 1977, the congregation at Williams Grove Chapel decided to relocate and build their own building. There were many reasons for taking this big step. Two of the reasons were named “Agnes” and “Eliose”, hurricanes that flooded the chapel with 32 inches of water in 1972 and 16 inches in 1975, respectively. The chapel was in a flood plane, access was limited, and the heating system was noisy and expensive. Even though the current owners at that time, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Hughes, allowed the congregation free use of the building, the congregation felt it unwise to invest funds for expansion and/or improvements when they owned neither the building nor the ground. God was leading in another direction. With financial assistance from the Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ Church, the congregation at Williams Grove Chapel began a building fund.

In 1979, two acres of land were purchased from Russell Shillito at our present location. On February 22, 1981, a new 190-seat sanctuary and classrooms were dedicated to the Lord. With the move came a new name, "Cumberland Valley Brethren in Christ Church." Later that year, Pastor Ray moved from part-time pastor to full-time.

The church continued to grow and, in April of 1985, Clark Miller was added to the staff as Associate Pastor, serving until 1989. Also in 1985 eight additional acres of land were purchased and plans were begun to build again. On July 19, 1987, the old mortgage was burned and ground was broken for the new building. On September 11, 1988, a new 530-seat sanctuary was dedicated. The building project included new classroom space, rest rooms, and nursery. The former sanctuary was remodeled to become offices, nursery, and a conference room.

From 1990-1993, Carl Spackman served as part-time Associate Pastor, and in 1991, Mike Martinelli was hired as Youth Pastor, later becoming Associate Pastor with a youth emphasis. In June of 1996, Ray and Linda Bert completed 28 years of faithful and fruitful ministry at Cumberland Valley Church.

Following a one-year interim with John Fries, Fred Miller became Senior Pastor in July, 1997. Dave Miller joined the staff as Associate Pastor in September, 2000, and in June, 2004, Jeff Miller was hired to serve as part-time Youth Pastor. In September of 2006, Dave Miller became Senior Pastor at Ransom Creek BIC in Clarence Center, New York. Jeff Miller was hired in November of 2006 to be full time Associate/Youth Pastor at CVC.

[Note: This is a summary of how CVC began, a description of the pastoral staff that have served the church, and the building decisions it has made. As such, it is informative, but in reality it is not the "history" of CVC. The real history is the people who have been brought to Christ, and all who have been changed by the power of God, and those who have served and loved together throughout its years for the glory of God. However, that is a more difficult article to put into print, so this one will have to suffice for now!]