By Lydian Bernhardt From his youngest childhood, Rev. Matthew Allen knew he had a calling. When other kids would come home from church on Sunday to go outside or watch television, Allen would come home from Friedland Moravian Church in Winston-Salem to play preacher. “I would stand on the hearth and pretend to give a…
By Lydian Bernhardt For years, Nancy Harney was a dedicated and joyful church worker at College Hill Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pa. Church treasurer, co-Sunday School superintendent, board and committee member — she jumped in and did it all. Her husband Rich, however, took a longer path to church involvement. “Nancy got involved at the…
By Lydian Bernhardt If you ask Herbert Spaugh, Jr. to tell you about his father, the Rt. Rev. Herbert Spaugh, he’ll tell you about an extraordinary man. A minister, who founded Little Church on the Lane Moravian Church in Charlotte, served as chaplain to the Charlotte police department, wrote the thought-provoking, syndicated column “Everyday Counselor”…
In 1947 the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra hired Thor Johnson, son of a Moravian minister, as its first American-born conductor. Thor, a native of Wisconsin Rapids, attended Friedberg Moravian in Winston-Salem, NC, as a youth. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, went to the University of Michigan at…
Mrs. Jessie Stone was a life-long Moravian who treasured her church, its pastor, and the many valuable ministries of the Moravian Church in America. She and her husband, Joe, didn’t have any children, so she wanted to do something special to support the causes which were important to her; however, she also wanted to share…
On February 4, 2013, the Moravian Church lost a great father and dear friend: the Rt. Rev. Milo Loppnow. He cared so deeply about his beloved Moravian Church and its people; he always had time to talk, share a blessing, discuss a concern, or pray with any and everyone who called or walked through his…
Fred Masten was a modest man who spent years working for Western Electric, was involved at his church, and loved his wife, Betty, who he had lost some years before we met. He wanted to do something everlasting but also recognized he needed to be responsible for himself and remain in control of his assets…
Maxine Gail Garrett was a Moravian woman who lived grace, gratitude and generosity. Her story was one of the focal points of the workshop Laura and I presented at the 2015 Moravian Women’s Conference. Many of the women who came to our sessions knew Maxine and some even added stories of their own. Maxine was…
In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America (MMFA) launched a new Donor Advised Fund (DAF). The Board of MMFA hopes this new fund encourages giving in new and exciting ways. We also hope this opens up philanthropy to new donors who may desire more choice in their charitable contributions. The…