God is at work in the city of Danville, Pennsylvania. In the early part of the last decade, God began to stir the heart of Pastor Jacob Martin (presently serving as Conference President) for a God’s Missionary Church in downtown Danville. In 2008, the Lord began to open the door for Kenny Miles to become the first pastor and the work was launched. The building had been used as a Grange Hall and we were able to purchase the property for $60,000. The first service was Sunday, June 22, 2008 with Rev. Kenneth Miles serving as senior pastor and Rev. Joshua Neidermyer (and family) filling the role of an assistant.
The work has progressed, but not without tremendous challenges to overcome. For a short period of time services were cancelled due to water damage to the building which required extensive remediation and remodeling. In 2013, Pastor Justin Stanton and family were enlisted to re-launch the ministry. There were many improvements and God’s blessing rested upon this season of the Church’s development. Not the least of which a young man by the name of Nathan Yohe was called to assist in the work through the influence of Pastor Jacob Martin and a ministerial internship at Sunbury Church. Brother Nathan Yohe officially became the Associate Pastor in 2013.
Two years later the Church at Danville was at another crossroads. After much prayer Nathan Yohe was installed as the Senior Pastor. That same year there was a transition in the Home Missions Department of God’s Missionary Church. Bro. Jacob Martin was elected conference president and I, (Jeremy Fuller) was elected to the vice-presidency and asked to lead the church planting department of GMC. It was in August of 2015 that I began to work with Pastor Yohe in the development of this local Church.
In 2016 Pastor Nathan married a young woman name, Anna. She has proved to be a wonderful treasure and blessing to the ministry at the Danville Church. In 2020, Robert Goodrich (and family) became the Associate Pastor of the Church after a year of attending and supporting the services in various ways. This family has become a tremendous force for good within the local congregation and we are blessed and thankful to have their partnership in the ministry.
Some have planted, some have watered, but God has given the increase. As in every church it takes a visionary pioneer to lay the foundation. The Church is not a building, but someone has to have the vision for a building – a place to meet and to worship God corporately. This takes Courage which is just another way of saying it takes Faith, Prayer, Tears, and Patience. It is impossible to recognize all the people who have helped to make this Church possible. There are hundreds of people who have made donations. There are people who have stepped forward to do improvement projects (roof, electrical, heating & cooling, landscaping, etc.) and to serve as Church Treasurers, most notably, Lewis Ray Hoover, who was serving in 2015 when I became the Director. We, also, extend our thanks to the faithful work of present Church Treasurer, Karen Swisher. Their reward for faithful service will be great in Heaven.
It is my prayer that God will continue to make the God’s Missionary Church of Danville a Lighthouse in the city that is home Geisinger Medical Center. It is the only Holiness Church in a city of nearly 5,000 precious souls. The future is bright as Pastor Nathan Yohe and Pastor Robert Goodrich lead the local Church into this new season of ministry (conference status). May the God who called them into His service continue to endue them with fresh power to lead many to the foot of the old rugged cross and there may they find Jesus Christ – Savior and Lord!
Congratulations Pastors and People!
And now may our Great God and Master grant you all the Patience of Job, the Vision of Joseph, the Courage of Daniel, the Zeal of Paul, and the Meekness of Jesus. Amen!
