Shiloh marks 98 years of serving Weirton community
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WEIRTON - One Weirton church celebrated its history and contributions to the community during almost a century of service.
Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly welcomed members - past and present - along with other guests from the community on Sunday to celebrate the 98th anniversary of the church.
Sunday's celebration featured a theme of "Journey On," with services reflecting on verses from Deuteronomy and Nehemiah, stressing the importance of God's work in the world.
"We believe we still have a purpose in the community," said Bishop Darrell Cummings, pastor of the church located on Weir Avenue, noting the church wants to continue to make a difference. "We're living in an age where a number of churches are closing, merging or going virtual."
Evangelist Latisha Cummings led one of the first presentations, with prayers, songs, and a reflection on the theme of the day, inspired by Deuteronomy 31: 1-8 "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."
Rebecca Turner is the second of five generations who have attended Shiloh, noting many of the songs and reflections during the celebration were done in remembrance of long-time members, many of whom were part of the church's early days.
"A lot of them, when they died, were over 90 years old," she said. "It sums up a long lifeline."
The program included references of church leaders Roosevelt Roseberry, Inella Alsbrooks, Sallie Sims, Eva Wilks, Mattie Bradshaw, Gussie Burns, Willie Williams, and Alice Johnson.
Shiloh traces its history to the late 1920s, initially with tent services on Sixth Street in Weirton's north end. A formal location was established in 1928 in a small store front on Avenue A. Baptisms would be held in the Ohio River.
A series of acting pastors would serve until 1937, when Elder J.J. Gibson was installed.
Helen Jeter, one of Gibson's daughters and one of the church's senior members, recalled her father's work and talents.
"He played a mean guitar," Jeter said, recalling he often would play during services.
Under Gibson's leadership, a fund drive was held in the 1940s to purchase the former Polish Hall on Avenue A and convert it into a church.
In the 1970s, with service to 30 families and the expansion of Weirton Steel, discussions were held of building a new church, eventually moving to Weir Avenue in 1980.
"We had services starting out in the basement, then moved upstairs," Turner noted.
Gibson would pastor at Shiloh for more than 50 years, then followed by Elder Paul Moore in 1987, Elder Johnnie Edwards in 1998, with Cummings installed as pastor around 2004.
Sunday's event also included a service led by Suffragan Bishop James Agnew III of Tree of Life Church in Martins Ferry, as well as a community dinner.