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Bennie Edens wonders if anyone besides himself remembers the Christmas Day, 1911, when there was a death, a birth, a burial, and a wedding on Davis Creek? The wedding was that of a Bryant boy from Hughes Branch and a Clonch girl. The burial was that of Charlie Stewart's mother. The birth was probably that of Margaret S. Stevenson to Ouida Glassell and Charles W. Stevenson. The death was that of Bennie's cousin, Chauncey Edens. He and Bennie were rabbit hunting and Chauncey was crushed to death by a falling rock, while Bennie, a few steps behind was unhurt. It makes one wonder about the fate that takes one and leaves another. All in all, it was a Christmas Day long remembered in the community.

       There are so many things that I remember about my first appointment. None are really the most memorable; therefore, I would like to just highlight a few:
       I remember our coming and our going with some of the same feelings. I might be one of the first United Methodist pastors who ever had to preach a trial sermon. I was asked by the District Superintendent, Emerson Wood, to come to Dillon Chapel on a cold Sunday night in January to preach. "If you're good enough, I'll appoint you there," he said. I couldn't believe that people thought it was good enough. I continually believe God warped their hearing enough, just to give me an opportunity to do His thing in that small valley community.
       I remember the leaving! The great "bash" that the people called a "roast" was terrific. My heart was so filled with love and appreciation for four and one-half years of sharing together. My heart, for the first time in my life, was also broken.
       I remember our "apple butter" makin' time, our working together around the church; our men's trip to Ely, Minnesota; the children's time in worship; the growth of the church; people being saved and lives being renewed.
       I remember Sunday afternoon naps and long talks Vic and I had about the church and how we would, in the winter time lay in bed and watch the wind blow the curtains through the windows.
       I remember the Palm Sunday morning our first born made his triumphant entry into the world. You folks helped us so much in that adjustment period with remedies and advice on parenting of which we both felt we didn't need.
       I remember people telling us that we would never make it at Dillon Chapel because it was too difficult a place to pastor. Isn't it great that God can take a situation and our availability and work for good regardless of what people think.
       In the formative years of a pastor's life and ministry a group of people known as Dillon Chapel United Methodist Church embraced him and his family with love and acceptance and helped him lay the foundation for a life of ministry in the Kingdom of God. With fond memories, great appreciation, and abiding love, we celebrate with you on the festive occasion of your centennial year of ministry in "Melissa".

       When Rev. Doran Houston came to Dillon Chapel in August, 1949, the basement was already completed, the roof of which was later to form the sub-floor for the upstairs. The entrance was on the side through the present kitchen. The basement served both as Sunday School rooms and sanctuary; social events were held in the little white church which was moved between the parsonage and the old store building.
       It fell to Rev. Houston to complete the building effort. When the Spirit is present, the programs follow. He first concentrated on the spiritual life of the church: emphasizing revival, cottage prayer meetings, visitation in the community. As the membership grew, so did the enthusiam for the building program. There were no fund-raising projects: the Church let its needs be known, and the funds were always provided.
       Everything was done on a cash-and-carry basis: when a load of bricks was needed, they were not purchased until the money came in. Month after month, the congregation -- and many in the community -- gave what they could. It was always sufficient.
      Alec Nash and Haskell Ullom were the Building Committee; Roy Doss, a grandson of Rev. Blankenship, did the rough carpentry work.Bennie Eden and Sam Hensley completed the finish work.
       Much of the interior oak was donated by the people in the community. They donated $50.00 for each pew -- and the donor's name was engraved on the sanctuary as well, as a permanent memorial to the generosity of the people and the community.
       In 1951, Freeman and Lola Sargent sold the land back of the church to the creek for $100.00, $50.00 of which was donated for a pew. This much needed land, greatly expanded the usable space for the activities of the church.
       Thus in 1952, without one penny of indebtedness, this phase of the building program was completed. When the Spirit of God is present, and the people work for a common goal, anything is possible.

       In 1927, a young lady from Boone County, Argie Dunford, came to Davis Creek as a young bride. Almost immediately she began to attend church at Dillon Chapel, whose minister then was Rev. R. C. Ellis.
       That was 62 years ago. Through all those years, Argie became a legend for her good cooking (remember those Italian cakes at church functions?) and her sweet attitude -- always kind, gentle, and concerned with others. It was always an inspiring sight to see Argie walking from her home to services. She had ben baptized at 13 in the Coal River and has attended church faithfully ever since.
       Asked about her special song, "How Great Thou Art," she says there is no particular event associated with it. "It just always moves me," she says, which is, after all, the purpose of church music.
       Her one disappointment was the failure of her husband, Earl, to give his life to the Lord. "I prayed for him from the time we were married -- oh sometimes I thought it just wasn't any use -- but that was the Devil tempting me. You just have to keep praying." So she continued to pray -- and to preach the greatest sermon: the example of a Christian life well lived.
       The years brought increasing health problems for Earl --and Argie devoted herself to caring for him. In spite of her own frailities, she sometimes drug him from the bedroom to the living room on a blanket. "The Lord gives you the necessary strength to do what has to be done," she says.
       One day he told Argie: "The Lord has forgiven me of all my sins and I want to be baptized. I don't want to be sprinkled, I want to be put under. Jesus was baptized in a river."
       Soon after he asked Rev. Vinson to baptize him. After talking to him for a while, he realized he had made peace with the Lord. So the preacher, Gene Gillespie, and Laddie Meadows carried Earl down to the Guyandotte River at Booten Creek. He was so weak that he had to be carried in a chair, but his wish was granted. On August 22, 1985, he was baptized. God still answers prayers -- ask Argie, who "prayed without ceasing" for 58 years!