Pastorate of Patti Zellmer

Pastor Patti Zellmer was appointed to Walton and served five years (1995-2000).  Pastor Patti had a strong sense for prayer and often held individual and collective prayer events.  Patti was active in the community “Lighthouse”.  This group met at the parsonage weekly, interceding for those who did not know Christ, praying for revival and the needs of the community.  In 1998, Pastor Patti had a major ministry role in overseeing the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Walton Free Methodist Church. The celebration was held outdoors at Lower Basset Park on Griswold Street.  There were many who attended with several written remarks received and read from previous pastors.

In preparing for the 100th Anniversary (August 23, 1998), Pastor Patti was interviewed by Andrea Paternoster (Walton Reporter).  Pastor Patti stated: “It’s my personal journey.  God is doing new things here, and it’s going to affect our little congregation.  I know it’s hard for my congregation to envision that God is going to do something big here, but He is.” She went on to say: “Someday, we’re going to be out of here.  We’ll have a new site, a new church—bigger and better.”  Only God knew what lied ahead.

Rev. Herbert Olver was the guest speaker at the 100th Anniversary with a theme of “See Visions and Dream Dreams”. It was day of remembering the past and charting a course for the future.  Rev. Richard Gabriel was the presiding Superintendent.  There were times of testimony, scripture readings, songs of praise and prayer.  The morning service ended by singing “A Charge to Keep I Have.”

This was followed by an afternoon of fellowship and another service at 3PM. Rev. Doug Anderson (District Leader and Pastor of Vestal Free Methodist Church) was the guest speaker, ending with a concert of Praise led by “Whitestone.”

In Pat Reynold’s journal, she had recorded that Dora Steis and Reta Hood had been brought down from Countryside Care by Ron Lynn.  She wrote there were: “Many testimonies of God saving people at this local church and/or getting them started in faith.”