Members and friends of the Ada Presbyterian Church joined together on Sunday, June 4, to honor Rev. Patrick Allen’s 20 years of pastoring the local congregation.

The celebration began with morning worship and followed with a potluck luncheon. Following the meal, Rev. Allen received gifts of appreciation from the congregation along with well-wishes that he would continue his ministry at the Ada church for at least another 20 years.

With acknowledgment of his continuous service to the church, Rev. Allen thus became the longest serving pastor throughout the 175-year history of the church. A graduate of the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, Rev. Allen also holds a B.A. degree in English from Penn State University.

Nearing completion of his seminary education, he and his wife, Debra, had hoped to locate in a small town where they could raise a family. Meanwhile, the former pastor of the Ada church, Rev. Scott Pyle, had recently resigned to accept a call to establish a new church near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which left the Ada congregation without a pastor.

Rev. Allen said that he felt a strong sense that God was leading him to Ada. He has also stated many times that it was the overwhelming loving kindness of the people of the church that also attracted him here, and later would give him strong incentive to remain.

Noting that there was a strong match amongst the Ada church people and pastor, he accepted the call. His first sermon was preached on June 8, 1997, and the rest is history.

Over the 20 years the couple has raised seven children including six boys and one girl. The family is talented in numerous endeavors including music and a number of sports, including soccer, is active in the life of the church.