By Monika Burkholder

Glendon Blosser ran into the pulpit for his sermon. His introduction immediately grabbed attention. His eyes danced with excitement as he enthusiastically gave his sermon. The energy, the positive attitude, the caring just radiated from Glendon when he talked. Glendon Blosser’s positive view on the church came through in his interest in people, investment in Christian education and involvement in Mennonite leadership.

Reba and Frank were a couple that Glendon and his family would frequently visit. Reba and Frank lived back a really long lane. When you arrived at their house, you would be welcomed with debris everywhere, because Frank collected junk cars. Reba always begged for Glendon to bring his family out for a picnic, and they enjoyed many together. Glendon spent so much time with this couple, who did not even go to church often, just to show he cared (Burkholder).

Moses Slabaugh, in his article "Family man for the church", quotes Diane Burkholder, "The big thing to me was to see mom and dad involved with people (Slabaugh 21)." In my interview with Diane Burkholder, she told me about the tedious hours of driving six people in a car up long lanes to see cross-eyed Reba and husband Frank, "Aunt Elsie", mountaineer Ezzie Ray, elderly Grandma Grogg, crippled Rob, and many others (Burkholder). I know these experiences left lasting impressions on Glendon and Dorothy’s only daughter.

Glendon views the church as a people, and wants to express interest by caring and being involved (Burkholder). He holds a philosophy that caring for people is another immense part of his ministry; instead of working to be a ‘rich farmer’, he works to develop his ministry (Burkholder). Diane Burkholder says, "People found added meaning [in his sermons] because they appreciated him so much (Burkholder)." Glendon took the time to listen to people, allowing them to build up their trust and friendship with him (Burkholder). Oswald quotes Glendon Blosser in a recent interview; "We don’t look at church as an institution. We look at it as the family of God (Oswald). " "That statement sums up why my dad cares for people," Burkholder states (Burkholder).

Glendon has given himself to helping people in many ways. He gives time, money, and helps many people spiritually (Burkholder). A few years back, a neighbor to Glendon and Dorothy Blosser called. She wanted her garden plowed, but the man that would do it professionally asked for too much money. She wondered if Glendon would be willing to plow her garden. Glendon agreed, and has plowed her garden every year since free of charge (Blosser). Another time, Glendon and Dorothy made a trip to Maryland and visited a man, Chris Mahabir, whom they became acquainted with while in Trinidad (Trust 35). Glendon has willingly given up so much time to help other people.

Glendon has also sacrificed his money for others. Jim was a man who went to Glendon’s church while he was pastoring. He needed a loan, and asked Glendon if he would let him borrow some money. Glendon agreed and Jim assured him he would pay back soon. Many years passed and Jim hadn’t paid back his loan. Glendon had forgotten about it, but one day he remembered the unpaid loan. Glendon told God he would forgive ‘Brother Jim’, that he didn’t need to pay him back. The next time he saw him Jim immediately told Glendon that he couldn’t pay back the loan because he was old. When Glendon forgave him, it allowed Jim to feel safe to come and talk to Glendon (Trust 10). Lois Wenger, a young woman who attended Zion Hill while Glendon pastored there, recalls him helping to finance her first car (Wenger). He offered a hand to anyone who needed his help.

Glendon still eagerly helps those who are in need. Glendon Blosser raises Black Angus steers for beef. One couple that was a regular customer decided to buy a quarter of an animal instead of the usual half because they had leftover beef. Hurricane Isabel came through, however, and flooded their house, ruining their freezer and extra beef. They called Glendon back, told him what happened, and asked if another quarter was available, and could they buy it as well? Glendon told them there was one at hand. When Glendon sent their bill, he only charged for a quarter of an animal, and explained in a note that they could have the other quarter for free (Blosser). Glendon Blosser sacrifices a lot and eagerly tries to help others in need.

Glendon has acted as a spiritual counselor to many people. While in Trinidad, he met a man named Joe. Joe previously had Hansen’s disease, which claimed his fingers. Many times Joe would be discouraged and downhearted because he constantly felt rejected due to his disease. Glendon had him read some Bible verses from Mark to help encourage and comfort Joe (Church 11). He also influenced Lois Wenger. He gave her a book to read titled, The Renewed Mind, by Larry Christenson, and then they discussed forgiveness. Lois has since used the book for her youth group (Wenger). Another man Glendon Blosser largely influenced was Petroc Khan. When Petroc was younger, he became a believer during one of Glendon’s tent crusades in Trinidad (Church 33). He encouraged Petroc while attending Eastern Mennonite University in the states. Petroc would often visit and enjoy meals with the Blossers. Glendon and Dorothy have kept in touch with him over the years (Burkholder). In 2000, the Blosser couple returned to Trinidad for two months as mentors for the new pastor, Ganesh and his wife, Risha Kalloo (Church 45). Glendon has truly touched many people’s lives. Lois Wenger states, "You can’t be around that type of a positive personality and not be affected." (Wenger)

Glendon Blosser is highly in favor of Christian Education. He thinks that every Mennonite child looking for higher education must go to a college that offers goals and an education with a mission (Glendon 5). Christian schools, like Eastern Mennonite High school / University, give Christian perspectives on world issues (Burkholder). Glendon Blosser claims in an article that going to a Christian college helped him develop a ‘Christian world view’ and an understanding of ‘holistic ministry’ (Glendon 5). Church schools are also able to integrate Christian beliefs into daily living (Burkholder). This is one reason Glendon pushes for Christian education so much. Diane Burkholder says, "My parents thought of Christianity as a daily walk, so they were glad faith could be intertwined with basic school subjects (Burkholder)." Glendon also wanted his children to grasp the church’s views as their own, and Christian education helped encourage that (Burkholder).

Glendon thinks Christian education helps train youth for Christian service (Trust 38). He upholds the idea that Christian colleges try to integrate missions into vocations (Glendon 5). This kind of schooling supports and emphasizes working for the church, but public schools do not (Blosser). Glendon’s wife describes Christian education by saying, "It is not just a good education, but Christian dedication (Blosser)." Glendon’s life has been filled with Christian service. He feels that by attending Eastern Mennonite College it helped urge him to combine making his living with Christian service (Glendon 5). He appreciates his past training, saying, "I just don’t think that I would be at all in church work or doing what I am doing for the church if I hadn’t had the stimulus of Christian education (Graybill 3)."

As a teen, Diane walked into her dad’s office one day and he said, "I just paid part of your bill to go to EMHS." When Diane thanked her dad, because she was aware it was a big expense, Glendon said, "Diane that’s one of the easiest bills for me to pay (Burkholder)." Glendon remarks in one of his articles, "I see Christian education as an investment (Glendon 5)." Not everyone may see the money gone into education as an investment instead of a cost, like Glendon does (Graybill 3). In a 1982 article he states his concern about this, "that Christian education will become so expensive in some people’s minds that the young people will go more to state schools (Graybill 3)." Glendon Blosser may have helped reduce some of this problem by starting a tuition assistance fund. This fund was supplied by endowment gifts, and then grants would be given to families with financial need (Trust 38). Another plan that Glendon started also helps out with high tuition costs. During 1970-1972, he established the congregational tuition plan for Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC) churches (10). The congregational tuition plan is when churches in the VMC pay some or all of tuition costs to go to Eastern Mennonite High School (38). This plan helps increase EMHS enrollment and, encourages congregations to believe Christian education is a part of ministry to the youth (10).

Glendon Blosser does not just ‘talk the talk’, but he ‘walks the talk’. Dave Graybill says in an article about Glendon, "the members of the Blosser family [starting with Glendon’s father] have spent 60 years as students of EMC, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Eastern Mennonite High School (Graybill 3)." Glendon attended EMHS and EMC (Slabaugh 20), and in 1990 he earned a masters in evangelism and church planting from EMS (Oswald). Support for education in the Blosser family did not start or stop with Glendon. Graybill quotes Glendon in saying, "At least one child, grandchild or great-grandchild of Daniel [Glendon’s grandfather] has been a student at EMHS or EMC every year since (Graybill 3)." All four of Glendon’s children and their spouses received a Bachelor degree from EMU (Trust 39). He also supported his son and son-in-law while they attended and graduated from EMS (Slabaugh 21). Moses Slabaugh asked Glendon how he supported all of his children through college. He answered that he pays half of each child’s college tuition (Slabaugh 21). Glendon and Dorothy still support Christian Education by encouraging their grandkids to attend Christian schools (Blosser).

Glendon Blosser has been deeply involved in Mennonite leadership. It started in the fall of 1951, when Glendon and his new wife, Dorothy, became youth sponsors at Beldor Mennonite Church (Trust 7). In the later 1950’s, he became one of three Sunday school superintendents for the children at Weavers Mennonite Church (8). Then, in May of 1959, Glendon had clear direction from the Lord as to which Bible he should take in the lot for a new minister (8). He was soon ordained to become a pastor at Zion Hill church (8). As a pastor, Glendon believed in the 3-fold ministry concept, where he saw himself to be a ‘servant leader’ and not a solo leader (19). He avoided solo leadership by informally getting counsel from his congregation (8).

In Laurie Oswald’s recent article about Glendon, she says how his involvement in the church started as a pastor, but the "ever widening circles" grew from "the congregation to the conference to the denomination to the world (Oswald)." Glendon has served 44 years being a pastor and a bishop (Blosser). He served nine years as the secretary- treasurer of Virginia Conference and moderator of Virginia Conference for seven (Slabaugh 20). For 15 years Glendon was an evangelist and led many tent crusades during that time (Blosser). The Blossers went to Trinidad under VMBM to encourage and develop the Trinidad people to be church leaders (Oswald). Glendon was a delegate for World Conference Council in Africa and also directed Theological Education by Extension classes in Trinidad (Blosser). He was an underclassmen Bible teacher at EMHS for 6 years (Slabaugh 20). Glendon was also the moderator of the whole Mennonite church (Blosser). Glendon Blosser enjoyed committees and had a personal interest in church administration (Trust 14). He served on approximately seven boards and committees and is currently on the Board of Gift and Thrift directors (Blosser).

Glendon was a church leader to be an example. He was very positive about the church and wanted to make sure it would move in the right direction; being involved helped him move the church in that positive route (Burkholder). Glendon was also very involved because he felt he could make a difference for the good of the church, so he devoted a lot of his time, money and efforts to the church (Blosser). He is so enthusiastic about the church, and by being a leader, he could influence other young leaders to mature and be enthusiastic (Burkholder). In the early 1970’s, he initiated the Paul-Timothy Program to help encourage people in leadership roles (Trust 40), Moses Slabaugh quotes Glendon, "Being a pastor is the most fulfilling work there is. It puts you in touch with people in a more direct way. You are in evangelism. Being a pastor is the apex of Christian service (Slabaugh 21)."

Glendon Blosser’s enthusiasm was reflected in his caring for people, promotion for Christian education and participation in Mennonite leadership. He has spent much time, money and efforts for the work of the church and it’s people. He has been very involved in the church, and while a leader, helped prepare the younger generation to be leaders through Christian education. I am amazed at the amount of people he has influenced and touched through his effective leadership.

Bibliography

Blosser,Dorothy. Personal Interview. 23 Dec. 2003.

Blosser, Glendon. "Glendon Blosser." Mennonite Church and Notes. Oct. 1982:5.

Blosser, Glendon. I Trust My Church. Harrisonburg: Eastern Mennonite University,

2000.

Blosser, Glendon. The Church Made Simple. Harrisonburg: Eastern Mennonite

University, 2003.

Burkholder, Diane. Personal Interviw. 29 Dec. 2003.

Graybill, Dave. "Mennonite Education is Tradition for Blossers." Alumni Update. Spring

1982:3.

Oswald, Laurie. "Longtime churchman was ‘backgrounder’ for Mennonite Church

USA." MennoLink. 5 Jan., 2004.

Slabaugh, Moses. "Family man for the church." Christian Living. Aug. 1981:20-21.

Wenger, Lois. Personal Interview. 10 Oct. 2003.

Monika Burkholder

5584 Shaver Mill Rd

Linville, VA 22834

TigherNsockher89@aol.com

Eastern Mennonite High School

U.S. History Class