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War II served without any wage, the congregations took up offerings for the support of their families and frequently paid their transportation home for communion.

The Fulton County churches were one large congregation until 1944 when Lockport became a separate congregation with Walter Stuckey and Simon Stuckey as pastors and D. Wyse Gratier as deacon. E. B. Frey was bishop. In the same year West Clinton, near Pettisville, was organized as a congregation, also under the bishop oversight of E. B. Frey. Present ministers at West Clinton are D. L. Sommers, Eldon Merillat, and Carl Smeltzer. In 1955 a new congregation known as the Zion Mennonite Church in Archbold was formed with P. L. Frey, a son of E. L. Frey, as pastor. Its membership came from a number of local congregations and its formation, being somewhat controversial, was guided by a committee of persons outside the conference who were called upon to assist in the early stages of its formation and life.

The growth of these churches, their changes and adaptations, their missionary zeal, the change from German to English, the change from agriculture to industry-all bespeak a direction in movement, the end of which is not possible to assess at this writing. Perhaps nowhere in the Ohio Conference has there been greater solidarity of community life and more dedication to the historic principles of the church. Yet an attempt to adapt to twentiethcentury needs and opportunities continues. More formal education, new economic enterprises, numerous church activities, more interaction and travel-these are among the forces that are transforming the church in ways which both perpetuate and challenge the past.