The public is invited to two special services this weekend to mark the 40-year anniversary of Greenbrier Valley Church of the Nazarene, Fairlea. Former pastor Scott Buell, who ministered at the church from 1992 to 2001, will speak Saturday, May 16, 6:30 p.m., in the sanctuary. During the service of music and worship, the congregation will recount various details concerning the church’s history. Photos and various memorabilia from the four decades of the church will be displayed in the foyer. An ice cream social will follow in the Fellowship Hall. On Sunday, May 17, at 10 a.m., more of the church’s history will be commemorated in the morning worship service. The congregation’s first pastor, Donnell Armstrong, will preach and share details of the beginning years of the church, and Rev. Buell will also present more memories of his ministry at the local church. A dinner will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Formerly known as Ronceverte Church of the Nazarene, the church began worshiping in 1974 and formally organized on Jan. 15, 1975, with 23 charter members and district superintendent M. E. Clay officiating. Services were conducted at 610 W. Main Street in a building whose original portion, the sanctuary, was constructed in 1887 as the Methodist Episcopal Church North. The congregation worshiped in the structure until July 2000, when it moved into its present facilities at Davis Stuart Road and Dawkins Drive in Fairlea. At that time the name was changed to Greenbrier Valley Church of the Nazarene to reflect its growing outreach into the entire Greenbrier Valley area. Pastors in the church’s four decades of ministry include Donnell Armstrong (1974-1976), Terry Solina (1976-1978), Mark Dineen (1978-1980), Jerry Sudduth (1980-1983), Allen Shortridge (1983-1985), Ron Baker (1985-1989), David Harris (1990-1992), Scott Buell (1992-2001), Edison Hager (2002-2004), and current pastor, Glen Thaxton, who has pastored the church since 2005. The current facility also houses Liberty Christian School for students through grade 12, using Accelerated Christian Education as its curriculum. The church’s web site is accessed at gvnazarene.org.
