Pleasant Hill FBC earns village a new sign
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By BETH ZUMWALT
Beth Zumwalt/Pike Press
Members of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church were presented with a sign to be placed at the entrance to the village. The sign, presented by Serve Illinois, designates the village as a receiptant of the Governors’s Hometown Award. Those on the left were in Pleasant Hill from the Serve Illinois Organization to present the sign. They were: Kristen Bethke, Jacob Jenkins, Kimberly Horton Doyle, Amy Reuff and Andre Fernandez. On the right, accepting the sign, were, front row: Becky Brannan, Beth Smith, Donna Clowers. In back: LeAnn Knight, Mike Brenemann, Kathy Hart and C. D. Davidsmeyer.
The Summer Lunch Program at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church was honored in August with the Governor’s Cup. The cup was presented at the Illinois State Fair by the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, in partnership with Gov. J.B Pritzker’s office. The Village was awarded the honor for the First Baptist Church’s Summer Food Program which feeds children 0-18 years of age each summer. The group served over 2,300 meals this past summer. But the award did not stop with the Governor’s Cup.
Friday, Oct. 13, the group was presented with a sign to be placed at the entrance to the village.The presentation was made at Village Hall.
Kathy Hart, a member of the group and the church, nominated the group, never expecting anything to happen.
”The next thing I knew, I was at the church telling the group ‘I might have done something,’” Hart said.
A video of the program was made by J.T. Smith, narrated by Jennifer Bienemann from a script written by Hart.
The group was then asked to attend the Illinois State Fair for the Final Four portion of the competition.
“`I pulled into the fair about noon for the final four at 1 p.m. I was immediately told, ‘You have to give a speech, ‘“ Don Hannel, pastor of the church said. “ I just spoke from the heart.”
Hannel said the new church, built in 2014-15, was a big part of the program.
“When we were deciding on plans for the church, we planned out Fellowship Hall,” Hannel said. “We wanted a place for the community and a place to feed kid.”
The video was shown also, but Hart felt they were out manned.
“The other three finalists in our division had planned speeches, power point presentations,” Hart said. “We had a a video and spoke out hearts.”
The village was presented with the Governor’s Cup at that time. The cup stays part-time at Village Hall, where all residents can see it and the other portion of time at the church.
After the presentation, all were invited to a reception at the First Baptist Church
