From his youngest childhood, Rev. Matthew Allen knew he had a calling.
When other kids would come home from church on Sunday to go outside or watch television, Allen would come home from Friedland Moravian Church in Winston-Salem to play preacher.
As a young child in Bluefields, Nicaragua, Mélida Hodgson learned to love the simple tenets and spiritual freedom of the Moravian church.
For years, Nancy Harney was a dedicated and joyful church worker at College Hill Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pa. Church treasurer, co-Sunday School superintendent, board and committee member — she jumped in and did it all.
Morning Star, O cheering sight! Ere thou cam'st, how dark Earth's night!
The opening lines of favorite Moravian hymn "Morning Star" thrill congregations every Christmas with their beauty and poignancy. But for Mary Jane Dewees of Winston-Salem, those familiar words may also provoke a thrill of familial pride. She is not only a member of Home Moravian Church who loves music, but is also the great-granddaughter of the hymn's composer, Rev. Francis Florentine Hagen.
It seems unlikely for a minister to be anything less than outgoing, but Adam Goodrich, pastor of Friedland Moravian Church, was a shy kid.
"I was pretty quiet until high school," he says. "I kept to myself and didn't really talk a lot."
If you ask Herbert Spaugh, Jr. to tell you about his father, the Rt. Rev. Herbert Spaugh, he'll tell you about an extraordinary man.
The McElveens are builders.
Builders of houses, like the dilapidated cabin The Rev. Bill McElveen and his wife Carol bought in 1959. They spent the next 52 years working hard to turn it into a showplace as a hobby.
Planning your estate and legacy for future generations, including your charitable interests, takes careful evaluation. Consulting with the appropriate professionals can assist you.