Tribune Chronicle / Bob Coupland Bolindale Christian Church marked its 90th anniversary in November. Pastor Ray Blasko, left, was joined by guest speaker the Rev. William Edwards, regional pastor, for the celebration acknowledging the accomplishments of the Howland church.

HOWLAND — Bolindale Christian Church, 2749 Fairview Ave. SE,  has hit a milestone of 90 years.

Pastor Ray Blasko said the church has seen many accomplishments over the past nine decades. The church was established in November 1926  at its current location at 2749 Bolindale Ave.

In the summer of 1925, the Rev. J.M. VanHorn urged local residents to organize a church in the Bolindale area. On Dec. 7, 1926, VanHorn purchased for $1,600 a lot at the corner of Fairview Avenue and Center Street and deeded it to the church, which opened that fall.

The original church was removed, and a new church opened in 1941 at the present location. The building was expanded with an educational wing in the 1960s.

In the past 10 years, various improvements were made to the building, including new insulation, a new roof, new main electrical service, repainted sanctuary, restoring the ceiling to its original look and new sanctuary windows.

The Rev. William Edwards, regional pastor, was guest speaker at the recent 90th-anniversary worship service.

“The best is yet to come. Let us look back and remember what God has done. You have a testimony of 90 years,” Edwards said.

He said it is always a humbling experience to look back and see how God has worked in our lives.

“Look back on God’s goodness and greatness. Your next 90 years will be even better. … God is doing new things in your life and in your church’s life through the food pantry and clothing ministry,” Edwards said.

He and Blasko asked the congregation to look back and remember what God has blessed them with.

The church’s food pantry has expanded and is held 4 to 6 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.There is also a clothing closet that helps local residents.

”God will continue to be in this place because of people like you,” Edwards said.

The church has the motto ”We don’t judge anyone because Jesus said not to!”

The church members have taken on a variety of community service projects, including helping to  park cars for 58,000 people at the Trumbull County Fair and starting a children’s worship program.

Blasko said the church has added many new families in the past 10 years.

”The new members that are now here have given us a renewed spirit and call for ministry. We feel the future is wide open before us and that God, without question, has a plan and call for the church well into the future,” he said.

Recently, as part of National Day of Service, members of the Howland High School Interact Club collected nonperishable food items for the church’s food pantry.

Chuck Mackey, director of the food pantry, said the local need has grown, with 80 families helped two times a month. Items also were collected for Howland Community Church.

For the National Day of Service, Howland students had a friendly competition with Lakeview High School to see which school district could fill a school bus the most with donations. Howland schools won the competition.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com