WINDBER AND THE JOHNSTOWN FELLOWSHIP

Windber business district, early 1900's.
Nothing has changed.

Lots  of people descended upon our little town of Windber, PA, and then, a couple days later, they came to the Johnstown, PA airport for the meeting there.

I marvel at what God is doing in this little town here, drawing people to it. There is nothing special about this town. In fact, it is in many ways anti-special. Pennsylvania is not my favorite state. My deal is: I don’t love Pennsylvania, I love the Pilkingtons. I don’t love Windber, I love the Pilkingtons.

Windber is an old coal mining town named after a guy called, "Berwind"; somebody just switched his name around. It’s still a coal mining town. I don’t understand why anyone continues to live here, except maybe they were born here, and they’re stuck. Or perhaps they found a once-in-a-lifetime deal on three houses that used to be a funeral home complex, and thought it would be a great place to run an online book company.

As I live here, I am constantly reminded of Nazareth. Nazareth was a sad little “nothing town” in Judea where Jesus was raised. (Jesus is the One Who was born in the stable; you know, the Savior of the World.)

If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me. I say this to myself constantly, like a mantra. "If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me."

There is a little burg just outside of Windber—it might be considered in Windber—called, “Mine 40.” That’s it’s actual name. Some people actually live in “Mine 40.”

“Where do you live?”

“Mine 40.”

I swear it happens. I am an eye-witness to these events.

Mine 40, circa 1905.

Mine 40 today.

I take visitors down there, just to let them experience it. No one is ever the same after visiting Mine 40. There is an overlook one can drive to, overlooking Mine 40. This is sometimes the desired alternative to descending into Mine 40.

Mine 40 was a hastily put-up coal mining community, built in 1905, that produced 800,000 tons of coal annually. (Just what it has done for us lately, I don't know.)

Someone in Mine 40 drives a white hearse; I’ve seen it in their driveway. In my opinion, this is a completely appropriate vehicle choice, under the circumstances.

                                                            *  *  *

People come to this house (these houses) because the spirit of God and the spirit of love are here. No one shuns anyone, either in here, or from here. (We are, oddly, the objects of shunning, but we ourselves shun no one. We are conciliated to all. Those who shun us have personal problems; they fight there own demons; they are miserable in their own right; they missed the Love Boat.) Besides this, there is good Biblical teaching here and the kind of fellowship people can’t find in too many other places.

Two authors live here, who have written good books about the glory of God. People like the books these authors write, and enjoy visiting the authors. The residents here drink wine and laugh; they are not religious at all. They are so incredibly hospitable, and people are drawn to that. Lots of people from different places are drawn to it.

The Saturday before the conference at the airport, we entertained 21 people here for dinner. I think we had 12 overnight guests then. People came from Connecticut, Virginia, Michigan, and Alberta, Canada.

The Best brothers, Gary and Jim, from Michigan.

Terry Clemens of Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Clyde and Doug Witherspoon, of Virginia.

Pam Spires of Virginia; Marian Hoover of Connecticut.

Clyde turned chef.

Cindy at the breakfast buffet table.

Clyde Lynn Pilkington III, Aaron Locker, Nathan Pilkington.

Cindy and Steve Hill.

At the meeting; Johnstown Airport.

My view from the podium. That's Win Allabough, second-from-right,
who played my therapist, "Dr. Winbigler,"  in Psycho Boy.

Another view from the podium. (A snowstorm is raging outside.)

Back in Windber: Clyde, a  cur, and Terry Clemens.

Marian Hoover; Pam Spires.

Dominic and Deb Capece, from the Philadelphia area.

We have now started a website enabling anyone to stay here, for free. If you need fellowship, or sound teaching, or counseling, or you just plain need a break from life and want to come to a place of palpable peace and lovely love for a day, or a weekend, or a week, come here. It’s free. Just bring yourself, as you are. Go to www.fellowshipinn.com and make a reservation. Find out when we’re all going to be here, and come here and taste for yourself what God has produced in the middle of nowhere.