"Milk Money" Leadership: From The Barn to The Building Fund







Lake Louise Church of the Nazarene, Ortonville, Michigan

In 1959 Jim Mellish, Sr. became the pastor of a new church in Ortonville, Michigan.  Planted by the Richfield Church of the Nazarene it started to quickly grow and it became evident that the congregation needed a new location and additional space to keep growing.  They went to prayer and a beautiful piece of land was purchased on the shore of Lake Louise and a church was built.  Some have said that Pastor Mellish, who was also a large dairy farmer in the area, kept the dream alive during difficult times.  He took all the "milk" money that came in to the farm and put it straight into the building fund.  His unselfish act of leadership sparked an incredible response from the other members and allowed the needed project to move ahead.  His faithful example also proved strong in his family as the Mellishes remain a vital part of parsonage life in Eastern Michigan.  Two, maybe three, additional generations of his family have served as pastors and pastor's wives.   


Pastor Matt Bailey

Now, 54 years later there remains a vibrant, faithful, determined congregation.  A congregation determined to continue to impact their community with the love of God.  They are now led by Pastor Matt Bailey.  Pastor Bailey is a young, recently ordained elder, who is facing the issues of a diverse congregation with grace and maturity.  He is a young man who understands that he has been called to love people and move them toward Holiness.  He knows that he has been "called" and that God's thumb is in his back.  I fully believe, after meeting so many young pastors, that our Zion is in good, strong, dedicated hands.  Man who, like John Mellish, Sr., will give totally of themselves to see the Kingdom advance and souls be saved.

Those cows in that humble central Michigan barn had no idea that they were going to be making a difference in people's lives for generations to come.  From now on, every glass of milk I drank will be a tribute to those men who sacrificially gave of themselves that we might have the churches we have today.  We owe so much to so many.  Let us follow their examples and give ourselves fully to the service of the King.  As laymen and clergy, let us be humbly obedient to His leadings.


Altar Service at Lake Louise Nazarene Church