of you,” the
woman said politely.
“I’m writing a book on historical
churches in the area, and these are my assistants on the project,” Roy said.
“Oh, how wonderful!” the woman
replied.
“You are?” Roy asked.
“Mrs. Peterson. Judith,” she said.
“Are you interested in our church?”
“Well, yes, I am,” Roy said. “It
looks to me like it might have a history that would be appropriate for my book.
But I have to tell you, I couldn’t find out much about it on the internet. So I
thought I’d come down and visit and see if someone might be able to help me
learn more about it, to see if it’s right for the book.”
“Oh, I’m sure the pastor would
love to have our church in your book,” she said. “Membership has been on the
decline I’m afraid, and anything that might help bring in more parishioners
would be very helpful.”
“Well, that’s fantastic,” Roy
said. “You’d be surprised how some churches don’t want to cooperate to the
extent that’s necessary in order to be written about in a detailed historical
account.” Roy gave her a big smile. “When was the church built?”
“Nineteen forty-eight, just after
the war,” she said. “Before that, this was just a residential area, and before
that, farmland. We’ve had twenty-two pastors here since it was built. Jeremy
Wayne is our current pastor.”
“Would he be available for an
interview sometime?” Roy asked.
“It would be a while,” Judith
replied. “He’s currently in Africa on a mission. We have an assistant pastor
who’s giving the Sunday services, but as I said there’s not many church members
right now so the pews are pretty empty on Sundays.”
“Why so few members?” Roy asked.
“This looks like a beautiful church.”
“That’s the question we ask
ourselves every day,” Judith said. “We’ve tried everything over the years.”
“So it’s been a problem for a
while?” Roy asked.
“Oh yes, this church has struggled
for as long as I’ve known it,” she said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s
struggled since it was built. I donate my time to keep the office in order for
Pastor Wayne since he is such a caring and thoughtful man, truly doing the
Lord’s work. But keeping the church going has been difficult.”
“I wonder if the church has
records of membership?” Roy asked. “From the past? That I might examine for the
book?”
“Well, yes we do,” Judith said.
“And I’d be happy to let you examine them, but…”
She looked worried. “Yes?” Roy
prompted her.
“…but they’re down in the basement
and I’m afraid I don’t have access to that area.”
Steven watched the wheels in Roy’s
mind turning.
“Oh, it’s blocked off or
something?” Roy said.
“Locked up,” she said. “Pastor
Wayne has the only key. He left instructions to not go into the basement
without him.” She gave an uncomfortable laugh. “To be honest with you, that’s
perfectly fine with me. I’ve been in the basement twice, and it’s a little
creepy.”
“I wonder what information about
the history of the church would be down there as opposed to up here, where we
might peruse it?” Roy asked.
“Most of it is down there,” she
said. “So I suppose what I can do is take your number and have Pastor Wayne
give you a call when he returns, so he can set an appointment with you to
access it.”
“When does he get back?” Roy
asked.
“Next month, around the 20 th .
I’ll make sure he calls you.”
“Tell you what,” Roy said, “that
should work out fine. I’m planning on being back in the area at the end of next
month, and I’ll stop back in and see if he’s available. You’ve been very
helpful, Judith. I think your little church here might make a wonderful
addition to my book.”
Judith blushed a little, although
it was hard to tell under the makeup. “Well, I’m delighted to help. I’ll tell
Pastor Wayne you stopped by once he gets back. I’m sure he’ll be excited to
woman said politely.
“I’m writing a book on historical
churches in the area, and these are my assistants on the project,” Roy said.
“Oh, how wonderful!” the woman
replied.
“You are?” Roy asked.
“Mrs. Peterson. Judith,” she said.
“Are you interested in our church?”
“Well, yes, I am,” Roy said. “It
looks to me like it might have a history that would be appropriate for my book.
But I have to tell you, I couldn’t find out much about it on the internet. So I
thought I’d come down and visit and see if someone might be able to help me
learn more about it, to see if it’s right for the book.”
“Oh, I’m sure the pastor would
love to have our church in your book,” she said. “Membership has been on the
decline I’m afraid, and anything that might help bring in more parishioners
would be very helpful.”
“Well, that’s fantastic,” Roy
said. “You’d be surprised how some churches don’t want to cooperate to the
extent that’s necessary in order to be written about in a detailed historical
account.” Roy gave her a big smile. “When was the church built?”
“Nineteen forty-eight, just after
the war,” she said. “Before that, this was just a residential area, and before
that, farmland. We’ve had twenty-two pastors here since it was built. Jeremy
Wayne is our current pastor.”
“Would he be available for an
interview sometime?” Roy asked.
“It would be a while,” Judith
replied. “He’s currently in Africa on a mission. We have an assistant pastor
who’s giving the Sunday services, but as I said there’s not many church members
right now so the pews are pretty empty on Sundays.”
“Why so few members?” Roy asked.
“This looks like a beautiful church.”
“That’s the question we ask
ourselves every day,” Judith said. “We’ve tried everything over the years.”
“So it’s been a problem for a
while?” Roy asked.
“Oh yes, this church has struggled
for as long as I’ve known it,” she said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s
struggled since it was built. I donate my time to keep the office in order for
Pastor Wayne since he is such a caring and thoughtful man, truly doing the
Lord’s work. But keeping the church going has been difficult.”
“I wonder if the church has
records of membership?” Roy asked. “From the past? That I might examine for the
book?”
“Well, yes we do,” Judith said.
“And I’d be happy to let you examine them, but…”
She looked worried. “Yes?” Roy
prompted her.
“…but they’re down in the basement
and I’m afraid I don’t have access to that area.”
Steven watched the wheels in Roy’s
mind turning.
“Oh, it’s blocked off or
something?” Roy said.
“Locked up,” she said. “Pastor
Wayne has the only key. He left instructions to not go into the basement
without him.” She gave an uncomfortable laugh. “To be honest with you, that’s
perfectly fine with me. I’ve been in the basement twice, and it’s a little
creepy.”
“I wonder what information about
the history of the church would be down there as opposed to up here, where we
might peruse it?” Roy asked.
“Most of it is down there,” she
said. “So I suppose what I can do is take your number and have Pastor Wayne
give you a call when he returns, so he can set an appointment with you to
access it.”
“When does he get back?” Roy
asked.
“Next month, around the 20 th .
I’ll make sure he calls you.”
“Tell you what,” Roy said, “that
should work out fine. I’m planning on being back in the area at the end of next
month, and I’ll stop back in and see if he’s available. You’ve been very
helpful, Judith. I think your little church here might make a wonderful
addition to my book.”
Judith blushed a little, although
it was hard to tell under the makeup. “Well, I’m delighted to help. I’ll tell
Pastor Wayne you stopped by once he gets back. I’m sure he’ll be excited to
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