Who's Who at Coldwater Bible Chapel, MI

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

Early Correspondents

  • Ed. G. Dillon, Jr. +1945-1959
  • Elmer Anderson 1959+
  • Douglas A. Mitmesser 1976+

Early Commended Workers

  • Edward "Ed" G. Dillon, Sr. 1931/1961+
  • John A. Branch 1976+
  • Raymond & Marian Green 1980+
  • Jim & June McKendrick 1987+

Notable Families

Anderson family

  • LOI 1973-1: "EVELYN ANDERSON (25) and BEATRICE KOSIN (35) were called into the presence of the Lord on November 2nd from Kengkok, Laos, as a result of enemy war action.
  • Elmer Anderson +1959+
    • Evelyn Anderson +1959-1972 (d. 1972 Laos). See main article.

Branch family

  • LOI 1976-12: Literature Crusades commendations: "John A. Branch has been commended by the Coldwater (Michigan) Bible Chapel for service on the one-year Literature Crusades Eastern Europe team. The team of five expects to leave for Europe in May. They are presently undertaking eight months' training, including German language instruction, at the L.C. training center (Box 203, Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070)."
  • Robert T. Branch +1984+
  • Paul Branch. Paul studied at Emmaus in 1973.
  • John A. Branch +1976+.

Dillon family

LOI 1972-1: "Edward G. Dillon, Sr., 85, of Sturgis, Mich. went to be with the Lord Nov. 11, 1971. Mr. Dillon was born in Portadown, Ireland, and came to Rochester, N.Y. in 1907. He began a business career in his earliest years as a dry-goods and ready-to-wear owner in Rochester and later engaged in the same business in Coldwater. In 1931 he entered Christian ministry as a full-time evangelist. He was married to Killy A. Alfsen in 1910. She died Jan. 7, 1971. Surviving are three sons, Adolph of Appleton, Wisc., David and Edward Jr. of Sturgis; one daughter, Mrs. Kenneth (Mary) Weiderman of Sturgis, one brother, Harold, of East Orange, N.J. and one sister Mrs. Paul (Gertrude) Dehlin of Cedarhurst, L.I."

In the Fall of 1946, by then in Coldwater, Edward co-officiated a memorial service in Elgin, Illinois for Mrs. Harry G. Knott, who was in the Elgin Gospel Hall for many years. He was commended in 1961 by CBC to full-time work.

  • Edward G. Dillon, Sr. +1946-1965+ (b. 1886 Portadown, Ireland - d. 1971 Sturgis, MI)
  • Killy A. Alfsen Dillon (d. 1971)
    • Adolph Dillon - Appleton, WI
    • David Dillon
    • Ed G. Dillon, Jr. +1954-1965+
    • Mary Dillon Weiderman. Husband: Kenneth Weiderman

Green family

  • 1989-5 KYM: General Aquino, Paraguay: Raymond & Marian Green
    • Commended: Michigan, 1980. Previous training: Ray - Emmaus Bible School. Present work: translation, Bible teaching, children's work, ladies' meetings. "Raymond was born in U.S.A. and saved at age ten. Ray lived in Africa for some years as his parents, Bill and Rena Green, were missionaries in the Belgian Congo (Zaire). Ray had one yeare at Emmaus. Marian (Murray) was saved at age 11 after hearing a message on the Lord's return. She and Raymond were married Oct. 6, 1957 and commended by the assembly in Mishawaka, IN. In 1980 they were re-commended by the assembly in Coldwater, MI.
    • General Aquino is 300 kilometers north of Asuncion. Greens have a small farm near this town and Ray works half days farming. This has brought about a closer identification with the nationals. Ray started by using the local farming methods and as he makes improvements which are economically feasible, he demonstrates the viability of these methods. The whole process, including beekeeping, has helped young believers economically and provided contacts for Gospel witness."
  • Raymond Green
  • Marian Green

McKendrick family

  • LOI 1987-1: Commendations: "Jim and June McKendrick, commended by three Michigan assemblies: Northwest Gospel Hall, Grand Rapids; Homestead Bible Chapel, Kentwood; and Coldwater Bible Chapel, Coldwater. During the past thirteen years Jim demonstrated his gift as a Bible teacher. He is now free to travel and preach wherever the Lord may lead. June will accompany him when possible."
  • Jim McKendrick
  • June McKendrick

Mitmesser family

  • Douglas A. Mitmesser +1976+

Stewart family

James studied at Emmaus in '54, and was later self-employed as a carpenter. He later resided in Bronson.

  • James Stewart +1954+

Vercruysse family

  • Uplook 2003-9: At Home: Jerry Vercruysse: The Branch Country Reporter, a southern Michigan newspaper, on July 10 ran a story that included the following: "There was a larger than usual crowd at the Coldwater Bible Chapel on Jefferson Street in Coldwater last Wednesday night for a prayer meeting. The more than 40 were gathered to pray for Chaplain Jerry Vercruysse, who was about to enter a second week in the intensive care unit at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo following what was expected to be routine open heart surgery. But he suffered a stroke during that surgery."

But the Lord thought it was time to take brother Jerry Home. His kidneys and liver failed and Jerry was caught away Saturday, July 12, around 1:00 pm. It has been a rough road for the 64-year-old believer who has been through 100 surgeries. "We stopped counting at 95," said his wife Connie. "I believe there have been five more since then."

Vercruysse was a long-time chaplain to inmates at the Branch County Jail, going back nearly 30 years. He was confined to a wheelchair when at age 16 in Lansing, he fell while he and some friends were crawling around on a water tower that was being dismantled at an abandoned factory.

His legs had to be removed at the hips. Not long after, Vercruysse took the words of a Christian witness to heart, and trusted the Saviour. He later said, "I was a hard person. The Lord had to take away my legs so I could learn to walk by faith." Please remember his wife Connie in your prayers.

  • Jerry Vercruysse +2003 (d. 2003)

Warner family

Ted is a longtime correspondent at CBC. He and his wife Nancy met at Emmaus Bible School in the early 1960's, and were married in '65 at CBC, which was her childhood assembly. Their wedding was officiated by Dr. Daniel "Dan" Harold Smith (1933-2020), who served on the faculty of Emmaus from 1959 until his death, as well as their fourth President 1976-2000.

  • Nancy Warner Hadfield +1960+; 1991-current. Husband: James "Ted" Hadfield 1991-current.

Sources

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