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	ABOUT OUR LOCAL CHURCH: 1941 was a significant year for more than one reason. On December 7, as some of us were eating our Sunday dinner, we were stunned by the radio report of a Japanese air attack against Pearl Harbor and the beginning of an international holocaust known today as the Second World War. Geographical boundaries, family situations and individual lives were to be drastically altered. Men and women would die, personal interests would give way to national allegiance, and ultimately, a nation just emerging from the greatest economic upheaval known to modern man would prove the value of free enterprise and the democratic way of life. All of this, while a seemingly insignificant group of people, called by a name almost unpronounceable in a single breath, and led by a young minister from Punxsutawney, PA, met on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings in a storeroom at 243 S. Stewart Street in Blairsville, PA to worship God and study the Bible. This gathering of God's people had been stimulated by a series of tent meetings conducted by the Rev. F.W. Henry and constituted the humble beginning of the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Blairsville. Under the leadership of the Rev. Abner Kuntz, the group grew, until by 1942, it felt the need for a full time pastor; and the Rev. Roy Burchell, now deceased, was called to serve in that capacity. In 1943, the Rev. Arthur Grocc accepted the call to minister; and two years later, th lot at 135 E. Burrell Street was purchased for $500. The deep commitment of the budding new fellowship was demonstrated as they worked together to erect a foundation which was to be a temporary place of worship. Another milestone of progress was reached in March of 1946, when the congregation organized and fully chartered as a member of the Western Pennsylvania District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance The Rev. E.A. Goldener became pastor in 1947 and continued his ministry through the turbulent postwar years until 1952. During his stay, the church structure was built upon the existing foundation. In 1953, the Rev. Howard Hansen answered the call to pastor the little flock. Young and daring, he and his vivacious wife added a sparkle and luster that introduced an immediate impetus to the struggling congregation. A complete renovation of the building was completed. The adjoining property inclucing a garage and a house originally owned by the Ranson's was purchased at a price of $9,800. The house was then converted into an educational and fellowship facility. In October of 1965, Rev. William P. Wood was called as pastor. Due to increasing maintenance costs, it became obious that the Ranson house would have to be razed. In December, a sixteen-week financial drive was inaugurated to liquidate the remaining indebtedness; and on Easter Sunday of 1966, the mortgage on that property was burned. Immediately, the old house and garage were pulled down and plans were made to erect the present parsonage, fellowship and educational unit at a total cost of $24,600, this including a parking lot accommodating upward of thirty cars. The growth pattern of the congregation soon indicated the necessity of furmulating plans for expansion; so at an annual meeting in 1968, direction was given by the congregation for the forming of a building committee to study the needs and propose a plan. A Committee was appointed, an architect hired, and the groundwork laid for the erection of a new sanctuary-office complex to be attached to the existing church structure. In that same year, extensive renovation altered the internal appearance of the present building. The lot on E. Chestnut street was purchased at a price of $3,500 to be used as a parking area. A number of delays, not the least of which was the spiraling cost of construction, hampered the progress of the building program. Thus, as an intermediary step in 1970, the entrance to the building was altered removing the long steps from the front and adding new doors, lights and a portico with a side approach. Finally on February 24, 1972, a contract was entered into with Mr. Ralph Smeltzer; and on Palm Sunday, March 26 of the same year, ground was broken for the construction of the building. During 1976, Pastor Wood accepted the position of Extension and Redevelopment Director of the Western PA District of the C&MA. Rev. Malvin Dolby pastored from that year until the middle of 1979. Rev. George Jones began his ministry on December 31, 1979. He served until August 6, 1995, when he accepted the position of Associate Pastor of Visitation at the Mars Alliance Church, where he served until his death in 1998. On November 24, 1996, Rev. Bruce Theakston came to pastor our church. On September 9, 2001, The Blairsville Alliance Church celebrated our 60th year in service!!! A special celebration was held at the Derry Township Fire Hall. We were grateful to have in attendance and participating in the services Janet Jones (wife of former pastor George Jones), John & Judy McMAnnus and Jim & Sharon Kendall (church family missionaries), Pastor Bill Wood (former church pastor), and Pastor William Underwood (former church pastor). Rev. Theakston's continued to serve as pastor until . After several Sunday's with visiting pastors, Rev. Bill Wood returned to his church to serve as an interim pastor. Rev. Wood served us faithfully until Pastor John McMannus came to serve as a permanent pastor in December of 2005. Pastor John and his family were members of our church who had been serving on the mission field for most of their adult lives. They had served in Peru, the Alliance Academy in Quito, Ecuador, and Maracay, Venezuela. We are very blessed to have Pastor John and Judy! Our local church has another local family serving in the mission field, Pastor James and Sharon Kendall are in Indonesia. In 2004, an air conditioning unit was installed in Berechah Hall, and many of the church's outside entrance doors have been replaced. In 2005, our church undertook the paving of the rear parking lot, a project that had been a necessity for a period of time. We also purchased new Alliance church hymnals. In 2006, we are looking forward to the installation of new audio video equipment. God has truly blessed us, and met each need as it has occured. From its small beginning, the church has grown into a thriving endeavor for God. Through its ministry, lives have been changed, bodies healed, and the Gospel sent to the four corners of the earth. These were the purposes for our beginning and are to be the reasons for our continuation. May this backward look provide for us the inspiration to look up and as we look back and up, may we look ahead and press on toward the goals that God would define for us in a spirit of unity and mutual dependence upon Him.