Banner Staff Report

This Sunday, May 6, the Central United Baptist Church will be celebrating Pastor's Appreciation Day in honor of Rev. Glenn White's 82nd birthday and his 50th year as pastor of church.

White has been a member of Central United Baptist Church since it was established in Nov. 1951, being one of the original members of the arm taken from Maryetta United Baptist Church at Verdunville. He was the church's first clerk, and through the years has served as song leader, soloist, youth leader, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. He is a long-standing member of the trustee board.

Having accepted his call into the ministry in 1954, White was set forth to preach June 5, 1954. Following his ordination on June 22, 1955, he was elected assistant pastor to the late Rev. Harrison F. Maynard. White became pastor of the Central United Baptist Church two years later when Maynard retired. In 1966, he was elected permanent pastor of the church.

During his years as pastor, White has truly made Central Baptist Church his "work and labor of love." Under his pastorship the church has prospered and grown from a one-room building to the beautiful edifice it is today. More importantly, White has been instrumental in leading many souls to Christ. During his ministry, he has performed more than 450 weddings, conducted over 900 funerals and preached more than 3,000 sermons. He has served as a member of the advisory board, the examining board, and moderator of the Bethlehem Association of United Baptist Churches of Jesus Christ.

In addition to his pastoral work, White has also been active in many state and community projects and committees.

Rev. White and his wife, Catherine, are the parents of two sons, Gary (JoAnn), and Keith (Donna). They have three grandchildren, Jennifer, Darren and Tiffany White, and two great-grandchildren, Brianna and Bella.

The congregation of the Central United Baptist Church welcomes everyone to the service Sunday to honor Rev. White and Catherine for their many years of faithful service to the church and to the cause of Christ. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m. with special singing by the Joe Stewart Family. Rev. Theodore Ballard of the Cocoa, Fla., Church of God will be guest speaker.

A covered-dish dinner and fellowship will follow the service.

Sunday's service will be followed by a five-day revival beginning Monday, May 7, at 7 p.m. with Ballard as guest speaker.