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BAZETTA -- Bazetta Christian Church has hit a milestone of 175 years.
Pastor Tim McCollum was joined by past pastors at a celebration service on Nov. 19. Pastor Robert Frantz, now a pastor in El Paso, Texas, said he grew up in the township church and remembers as a Boy Scout preaching on Scout Sunday and then would speak at Youth Sunday and other church events.
"What I saw here with the pastors led me to want to be a pastor. My grandmother, Helen Faler, always told me that one day I would be a minister and she was right," Frantz said.
"It's amazing to see the church has been a part of the community for 175 years," he said.
The Rev. Sanford Downs, who served as an interim pastor from 1998 to 2000, said not many of the Christian Disciples of Christ churches mark 175 years.
"This is a milestone. It is important that this congregation celebrates its past, but it has also positioned itself for the future, especially with technology and social media," Downs said.
He said there was another Christian Disciples of Christ church that reached 150 years.
McCollum said the congregation has a deep love for God and for each other and they attend many of the church's events.
He said even during the coronavirus pandemic, the congregation did what they could to continue participating in the church.
"We worshipped in the parking lot during COVID," he said.
McCollum said the church has survived for 175 years because the congregation puts God first.
"As long as the church keeps its focus on God, I know the church will stay strong," he said.
CHURCH HISTORY
Calvin Smith, founder of the church, called a meeting in November 1848 at a local schoolhouse near the Bazetta and Champion town line.
Within a month's time and with 35 members, he organized the Bazetta Community Church.
The first church building was built soon after on the southeast corner of Everett Hull and Hoagland Blackstub roads.
In 1893, the church building was moved across the road to the northwest corner, its present location, and over the next 130 years, several additions, improvements and name changes were made.
In 1963, the congregation adopted a new constitution for the church, changing the name once again from West Bazetta Christian Church to Bazetta Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
Church officials said this was followed by a successful building fund campaign to construct a fellowship hall and sanctuary.
In July 1965, the dedication of the new fellowship hall was held and in April 1972, a groundbreaking ceremony signaled the beginning of the sanctuary's construction.
Officials said as construction of the new building became imminent, the historic church building was given to the Trumbull County Historical Society and was moved to the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, where it remains today.
Since its inception, the church has been led by 12 ministers; the first being Ben F. Leach who served from 1911 to 1914.
Jeannette Callahan, a member of the church, said many past pastors were able to attend the anniversary service.
She said Pastor Paul Leone was a senior pastor at Bazetta Christian Church after Pastor Jeff Wheeler, who retired from the church and couldn't attend the celebration.
Also attending the celebration was Thomas Osuga, the son of former pastor James and Maureen Osuga. As a youth and into his teens, Thomas Osuga played the church's piano.
James Osuga, a professionally trained vocalist, gave free private vocal lessons to anyone in the church choirs, Callahan said.
"Thomas was invited to represent his father and to share his gift of music with us," Callahan said.
The 1980 Lakeview High School graduate grew up in the church and is an accomplished professional pianist living in Manhattan and teaching at Collegiate School, Midtown Manhattan.