Latest revision as of 11:43, 23 January 2025

Coldwater Bible Chapel, Tekonsha, Branch Co., MI (OB) 1945-2025+

Visiting Itinerants

• Ernest Gross 1968
• Abe Hartsema 1966
• Stanley M. Ledyard 1962, 1966, 1968
• W.B. Mackie 1962
• John Milton Mills 1959
• Peter Pell, Jr. 1973
• George T. Pinches 1959
• C. Ernest Tatham 1959

Resident Workers

Edward G. Dillon, Sr.

1940's

1948

• L&L 1948-7: Being Gathered Together: Kalamazoo, Michigan: Roy M. Allen
  • "Claude Pell has been coming here for two years and his labors have brought forth much blessing. In April, Stanley Ledyard was with us in house to house visitation over the city, which has brought some new faces into the meetings. Beginning June 13, we expect to have evangelistic services with E.G. Dillon of Coldwater. There are so few in our meetings, but we are looking for great things from our God. We solicit the prayers of the saints in this work."

1950's

1959

• L&L 1959-10: George T. Pinches, Pella, IA: "Had much joy in fellowship with the saints and saw evidences of His presence unto blessing at Elgin, Ill., Valparaiso, Ind., Coldwater and Detroit, (Martin Rd.) Mich., Tillsonburg,

Straffordville, and London, and going on to Brantford and Galt, Ont."

1960's

1960

• L&L 1960-9: E.G. Dillon "gave help at Davenport, Iowa; Lower Peninsula Bible Camp through Labor Day, with anticipated visits to Champaign, Ill., and Holland, Mich."

1961

• LOI 1961-10: E.G. Dillon: "reports that he is incapacitated with broken ribs, and a paralyzed eye, after recovering from a bout with pneumonia while in Florida. Pray that the Lord will soon see fit to restore his vision so that he can again labor in the Word among the Lord's people."

• L&L 1961-10: E.G. Dillon, 94 N. Sprague St., Coldwater, MI "will value prayer for recovery, if it be His will, of his eyesight and health so that he may again be able to carry on his work for the Lord."

1962

• L&L 1962-1: E.G. Dillon "reports a slow recovery from his recent illness. He is now able to read and write a little. Our brother requests continued prayer on his behalf."

• LOI 1962-9: Edward Dillon: "I have moved to the country on the doctor's advice. My eyes are not focusing, which makes it very difficult to either read or write. This was my trouble last year when I was getting back my sight in a paralyzed eye. Pray that if it is the Lord's will that He will restore my normal sight. We do want to express thanks to all the Lord's people for their prayers and interest."

1964

• LOI 1964-8/9: Edward Dillon: June 14: "I am just now in a limited way doing what is nearest to my heart... preaching the Word. I have many invitations to visit assemblies where I have been heretofore. I have been able to give only tentative promises as able."

1965

• LOI 1965-6/7: E. Dillon's Rest After Active Ministry in Bahamas, Florida: Edward Dillon, Rt. 1, Coldwater, Mich.: May 1: "Mrs. Dillon and I just returned after an absence of four months... almost three in the Bahamas, and Florida... coming home by way of New Orleans. We had a wonderful time and persistent requests to return next year. We can hardly realize we were able to speak so many times at various places in the Bahamas and at Zephyrhills, Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla. But we had to say no to other requests. I'm going to try to keep quiet for awhile. We are both very tired. But I will be 79 in October, and my wife 80 in September; and after three years of serious illness those who saw me at my worst say I'm a miracle."

1966

• LOI 1966-6/7: "Edward Dillon of Coldwater, Mich., hoped to be able to go to Nassau, the Bahamas for a couple of weeks in response to invitations to minister there."

1967

• LOI 1967-10: Pray for the Sick: "Edward Dillon of Coldwater, Mich., had to spend six weeks in the hospital, so weak that he could not answer the kind letters and cards sent by many friends. Mrs. Dillon tried, he wrote later, but was swamped. Mr. Dillon was beginning to gain enough strength and ambition to write a few lines again. He values continued prayer for regained strength, and that he might be able to do again what he desires most, preaching the Word of God."

Other News

1950's

1954

• L&L 1954-6: Coldwater, Michigan: "The assembly meets in the home of E.G. Dillon, Jr., Route 1, for Breaking of Bread at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday School at 10:45 a.m. at Lockwood Community Bldg. A radio broadcast over WTVB Coldwater is held each Sunday morning at 8:45."

1959

• LOI 1959-12: C. Ernest Tatham, Boca Raton, FL: "I had eight nights on prophetic themes in Sturgis, Mich,, and the next week ministered to the small but hmearty assembly meeting in their recently-acquired church building in Coldwater, Mich. The Sturgis brethmten did a splendid advertising job, and there were encouraging audiences out each night. The Lord graciously saved a nineteen-year old high school senior the first Sunday evening, and though I had the joy of picking the fruit, the real work was done by the Spirit's use of a Christian teacher in that school, a brother whose witness to this chap issued in his getting under very deep conviction of sin and need. For two weeks we sought to share spiritual things with the saints of the Pembroke, Martin Rd. and Dearborn assemblies of Detroit. Most of the timewas given to Pembroke where we saw the Lord's hand again in blessing. After a four and a half weeks absence I return to Boca Raton fur awhile before setting off again for visits to Reading, Pa., and Cleveland, Ohio."

1960's

1960

• LOI 1960-11: Lionel A. Hunt, 17 Thursfield Crescent, Toronto, Canada:
  • "Much prayer is needed for child crusades at Coldwater, Michigan; Faith Chapel, Toronto; Sea Cliff Chapel, New York; a possible "Alan Knight" united crusade in Toronto Nov. 15-18 and with the saints at Egerton Chapel, London, Ontario, Nov. 21-25. Prayer would also be appreciated for various adult meetings during these dates."

1961

• LOI 1961-11: W.B. Mackie Reports Blessing in Youth Work: W.B. Mackie, Flint, MI: "When we look back over time the past few months and consider what God has done, we are compelled to say, "How good is the God we adore." We have seen the hand of the Lord in our work with boys and girls in every place we have been. The DVBS work in Flint, and at Dunning Park and Farmington Road in Detroit saw many children saved by God's grace. The three weeks with boys at the U.P.B.C. was also a time of rich blessing, as well as the two weeks at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. We then had two weeks with young people at "Homestead", Grand Rapids, beginning Oct. 15th. November and December will see us around Detroit and Windsor. Jan. and Feb. of 1962 we expect to give some time to Coldwater and Sturgis districts. March, April and May we will be in Peterborough, Ontario (D.V.)."

1962

• LOI 1962-9: Stanley M. Ledyard: "I am improving in health, but still not able to do very much. I have ministered three Lord's Days this year. Twice at Coldwater, Michigan and once at Grace Gospel Bible Chapel in Frankfort, Indiana. The last three months I have been seeking to build up my strength by walking a mile or two a day, and it has helped some. I'm still under my doctor's care and medication. We are grateful for the prayers and kindnesses of the saints."

1963

• L&L 1963-2: Stanley Ledyard, Nottawa, MI: "Was able to minister the Lord's Day before Christmas, but due to a virus have been unable to be very active. Had hoped to be with the saints in Coldwater, Mich., for Lord's Day, Jan. 13th, but had to cancel it. Will value continued prayers."

1965

• In July, CBC sent a representative (individual or family) to the annual CWCC conference sponsored by Letters of Interest in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

1966

• L&L 1966-6: Stanley M. Ledyard, Centerville, MI: "It thrilled me to again be able to minister God's word without someone to drive my car for me. My heart condition is much better. Will be ministering in Coldwater, Mich., Knox, Ind., and other assemblies in May, D.V."

• L&L 1966-9: Abe Hartsema, 1060 Allen Ave., Muskegon, MI:
  • "We are in the midst of Youth Meetings here in Waco, Texas. The Chapel is filled to capacity each night in spite of a heat wave. One young man professed last night. We are hoping and praying more young people will see the value of trusting Christ while they are young. From here we are going to have a few meetings at Golden, Texas. Morton Barber is there helping in a new work. They recently opened their new Chapel. A week of meetings is also planned for Marble Hill, Mo., before going home to spend the entire month of September. The Carley's from Muskegon have given valuable help at Marble Hill. For October it will be, D.V., in Coldwater, Mich., in Wisconsin and Elm Springs, Kansas, for their Annual Conference. Appreciate prayer.

1968

• LOI 1968-3: Itineraries for Prayer: Ernest Gross:
  • Mar. 3 - Florence, S.C.
  • Apr. 28 - May 3 - children's meetings at Sturgis, MI
  • May 4-10 - between Elkhart, Ind. and Coldwater, Mich.

• LOI 1968-4: Stanley M. Ledyard, P.O. Box, Centreville, MI: "I'm teaching the Senior Adult Bible Class at Sturgis this winter while the regular teacher has gone to Florida for four or five months. About 40 to 50 persons are in the class. I have also ministered at the Coldwater, Mich., assembly some 30 miles from Centreville. My heart ailment makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for me to go on long extended trips to minister as I used to do."

• LOI 1968-5: Itinerary for Prayer: Ernest Gross, Box 1113, Greenville, S.C.:
  • May 5-7 - Coldwater, Mich.
  • May 8-10 - Elkhart, Ind.

1970's

1972

• LOI 1972-4: May 6 - Young Adult Retreat: "A retreat for adults age 18-40 will be held at Bair Lake Bible Camp near Three Rivers, Mich. Gerald Hawthorne, Mel Banks and Mert Wolcott will be the speakers. Write: Philip Lindner, Route 5, Coldwater, Mich. 49036"

• LOI 1972-7/8: "Philip Lindner directs the young adult retreat at Bair Lake Bible Camp and teaches the young adult class at Coldwater Bible Chapel (Michigan). A former newspaper reporter, he is now president of a wholesale firm. He is married and the father of two children." This was a bio for an article he wrote wrote for this issue of Letters of Interest, titled "You Can't Take It With You".

1973

• LOI 1973-2: Peter J. Pell, Jr., 1117 Courtney N.W., Grand Rapids, Mich.:
  • "We expect to keep busy in the new year, in the will of the Lord, in meetings in Holland, Michigan, in January. Homestead in February, Coldwater and Eastern Baldwin in March, Owosso in April and New Jersey in June."

Sources

• Letters of Interest (LOI) 1959-12; 1960-11; 1961:10-11; 1962-9; 1964:8-9; 1965:5-7; 1966-6/7; 1967-10; 1968:3-5; 1972:4,7-8; 1973-2
• Light & Liberty (L&L) 1948-7; 1954-6; 1959-10; 1960-9; 1961-10; 1962-1,9; 1963-2; 1966-6,9