In early December 2017, the Chehalis (Wash.) Church celebrated the retirement of their pastor, David Glenn, and his wife, Tomi, after 45 years of service to God.
Church and community members filled the seats to appreciate the Glenns. The program was equally packed with musical arrangements from the Chehalis wind and string ensemble conducted by David Glenn.
“We shed buckets of tears; it was quite an emotional day,” says Glenn, who served as Chehalis pastor for nine years. “There is a lot of love among the family of God, and we experience that very strongly that day.”
During his leadership, members and associates felt the love and guidance Glenn offered to everyone he met.
“God has used countless church members as prayer partners and encouragers and workers,” says Glenn. “What a blessing to be part of the family of God.”
Among the gifts to honor the Glenns, the church family gifted a painting of Jesus, a donation to a special cause, gardening tools, a scrapbook and a travel fund.
“It was so nice of the church to start a travel fund for us,” says Glenn. “We have a number of grandchildren living in Michigan and Nevada. It will be a good start for visiting them more often.”
In addition, Washington Conference fulfilled an Adventist ducation funding commitment of $50,000 toward Lewis County Adventist School in Chehalis. Adventist education is a cause dear to Glenn’s heart, and he has prayed for this funding to become available.
“I see the school as the third strand in that three-stranded cord that cannot be easily broken,” says Glenn. “Family, church, and school all working together can make an eternal difference.”
In January, the Chehalis elders and Washington Conference announced a new senior pastor after six months of meeting and praying.
“When a pastor announces a retirement, it is with a mixture of emotions, thoughts and prayers that church elders begin to evaluate the qualities they are looking for in a new pastor,” says Craig Carr, Washington Conference vice president for administration. “After much prayer and deliberation with conference representatives, we are excited to announce and introduce associate pastor John Mutchler as the new senior pastor for Chehalis.”
As Mutchler begins his new role, he expresses appreciation for Glenn’s example: “Pastor David Glenn has been instrumental in my life and my walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” says Mutchler. “He has challenged me daily to walk even closer to God than imaginable, providing an unfailing passion to reach for Jesus as we press forward as a united church family to the calling of Christ.”
Washington Conference fulfills a commitment to Adventist Education.
Glenn conducts the musical ensemble during his retirement sabbath celebration.
David and Tomi Glenn
Church and community members stand to honor Glenn's service to the church and God.
