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Good Hope Lutheran Church marks 85th year
By LINDA M. LINONIS
boardman
Good Hope Lutheran Church is shaped by the core values of being Christ-centered, mission-driven, traditionally grounded and congregationally focused.
The church, which celebrates its 85th anniversary Sunday, demonstrates those values in a host of ways.
Recently, the Rev. Robert “Bob” Quaintance, pastor; Karen Biggs, lay ministry assistant and anniversary chairperson; Ginny Eddy, director of Christian education; Janice Kovach, co-chairperson of the decorations committee and anniversary committee member; Ed Keich, organist; and George Scott, choir member, discussed activities of the church.
The pastor of 23 years said clergy at Good Hope have served for long terms.
“That longevity is a sign of a healthy congregation,” he said, noting it also lends stability.
The mission statement calls the Good Hope congregation “to be His disciples, to proclaim Jesus Christ as the focus of life and to share His hope and love with all.”
Pastor Quaintance said the church focuses on “Christ revealed in Scripture” and “Bible-based preaching.”
The church offers three services, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. contemporary worship led by the Leap of Faith praise band and 11 a.m. traditional worship with senior choir. Leap of Faith was organized 16 years ago. There also is a casual midweek service.
Keich, who began playing the organ at the church when he was 15, had been a substitute organist for some 50 years. Keich and Nina Quaintance, the pastor’s wife, now share organist duties. Gladys Melnick was organist for 50 years and recognized in 2011 for her service. The pastor noted that “Lutherans are singing people.”
“There’s a rich history of singing in the church,” Keich said.
The pastor said liturgy is sometimes linked to various observances, adding another element to service. Near St. Valentine’s Day, Love Sunday is observed; special liturgies are featured for Mother’s and Father’s Days, three healing services are conducted annually, there are patriotic services and a pet blessing.
Congregants, which number an average of 210 on Sundays, also participate in junior and senior choir and handbell choir, three adult Sunday school classes and a youth Sunday school session. Midweek Bible studies are offered.
The messages in Scripture are implemented in a variety of ways. The church offers support to Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, Fish Samaritan, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Protestant Family Service, Midlothian Free Health Clinic, Lutheran camp and Shepherd of the Valley. The church also contributes to a medical team that offers a free health clinic in San Quitin, Baha, Mexico. Mission teams also have worked at Hurricane Katrina sites and in Appalachia.
An emergency food pantry, with referrals from Help Hotline, is available “to tide people over,” the pastor said.
Eddy said youth-oriented activities include vacation Bible school, Christmas and Easter activities and fall festival. Events reach out not only to members but neigborhood children.
The group said the church offers a range of activities to engage adults. A men’s ministry meets weekly for study and support; Priscilla and Ruth groups for women focus on fellowship and Bible study; Fun Timers for senior citizens offers social gatherings and trips; Boosters, also for seniors, is a fellowship group; and Stitch in Time is a sewing group whose members help one another on projects and share fellowship.
In the community, the church is a meeting site for Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Mahoning Valley Chorale and North Boardman Neighborhood Block Watch.
“This is a caring congregation,” Keich said of the church. “It’s community-oriented and open to the community,” added Scott, a 15-year-member.
“When we came here, it fit like it was our family. You feel connected here and it feels like home,” Biggs said of her feeling about the church. She’s been involved for nine years.
Eddy, who has been at Good Hope seven years, said, “There are opportunities for everyone from young to old. There’s always something going on.”
Kovach, a two-year member, added, “It is a caring church.”
As Good Hope celebrates its 85th year, it also carries on a tradition of making a donation of $100 for every year of its existence. This year, the $8,500 gift will go to North American Lutheran Seminary.
A fabric-wreath fundraiser and Leap of Faith concert and dinner took place; anniversary mugs are being sold, Biggs said.
Pastor Quaintance said this tradition pays tribute to help that Good Hope Lutheran received at its beginning. Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City, Pa., gave money to buy a “pre-fab” chapel, which Good Hope later passed on to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Austintown.