Oak Hill Baptist Church welcomes new pastor
Rev. Edwards began stint in late August Oak Hill Baptist Church of Old Frame, Smithfield, announces the Rev. Alvie L. Edwards is its new pastor.
Edwards, who began his stint as pastor in late August, will be installed at a special service at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Edwards and his wife, Brenda, moved to Fayette County from Lewisburg, W.Va., near the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs.
Brenda Edwards was the granddaughter, daughter and niece of ministers. Her first cousin married the couple. Both Alvie and Brenda Edwards had lost their spouses. Brenda Edwards’ first husband was also a minister.
Natives of West Virginia, the couple wanted to move to Fayette County to be near Brenda Edwardses’ daughter Brooke Higinbotham, who is married to David Higinbotham, and living in Merrittstown.
The Edwards moved into a home in North Union Township on Aug. 22 and Edwards began his work as pastor at Oak Hill on Aug. 23.
Edwards became a minister in 1975 at age 35.
“I’ve been a farmer, soldier, salesman and worked at a chemical plant. I went through a lot of steps and God interfered with my life,” he said with a smile.
Turning serious, Edwards commented, “I just felt that this is what God intended for me to do. We say it’s a call.”
Edwards was the first man ordained a deacon and the first man ordained a minister in a church he helped found outside Parkersburg in 1968.
After his ordination, Edwards attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
“It’s a great school and I feel fortunate to have been allowed to go there,” he said.
Edwards served as a pastor in West Virginia churches from 1977 to 2009.
He retired in March 2003 and served as a supply minister until he became interim minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Oak Hill, W.Va., where he served until October 2006. Edwards became pastor at Springdale First Baptist Church from March 2007 until his move to Uniontown.
Edwards said of the ministry, “It’s been a good life. Very interesting. I met a lot of good people – unique people.”
Oak Hill Baptist Church offers worship at 9 a.m. on Sundays with Sunday school at 10:30 a.m. Youth meetings are held Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.