Jerry Mueller has been the full time minister here since 1991. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Williamsburg, OH just 17 miles west of Mowrystown. Jerry was raised in Deer Park, Ohio, and baptized at the Montgomery Road Church of Christ in Silverton, Ohio. In 1955 he married Barbara Bachman (who was raised in Lockland and became a member of the Lockland Christian Church). They both graduated in 1958 from The Cincinnati Bible College, now known as Cincinnati Christian University. During college days they both worked at Jerry’s home church as youth sponsors, and in Jerry’s Junior and Senior Year in college he preached at part time ministries in Kentucky (Hinton and Williamstown).
In 1958, after graduation he served as the associate minister to Lewis Foster at the Western Hills Church of Christ, Cincinnati, Ohio. During this ministry Jerry had enough time to take some graduate work at U.C. toward a teaching degree hoping to use the teaching degree as a means of doing overseas mission work. Both Lewis and his wife Betty taught both Jerry and Barbara effective ministering by example. This friendship and ministry together is one of the highlights of their life.
In 1962 Jerry and Barbara left Western Hills and Jerry accepted a position as Jr. High Teacher in Deer Park School and at the same time part-time youth minister with his home church in Silverton. This was done so he might qualify for overseas teaching with the military where Jerry and Barbara could assist missionaries they knew. During these years Barbara stayed home and cared for their three pre-school aged children, Jennifer, Mark and Andrew. These children are now grown and using their talents for the Lord in their local churches. Jerry loved both his jobs, but ministry more than teaching in public schools. After teaching for several years he found out he would not qualify for overseas teaching since requirements for majors had changed. He therefore felt he was being led into full time ministry.
In 1965 he answered the call from a rural church, Shaker Prairie Christian Church, Carlisle, Indiana. During these eleven years ministering there, a needed addition to the church building was completed and attendance records were set that have still not been broken. Barbara spent a great deal of time in working with Bible Bowl teams and being the church secretary and they traveled to the National Convention from the 2nd year Bible Bowl was in existence. She also started a nursery and pre-school program the church had never had which is still in existence. Their first full time church was an exciting experience and one which helped them learn how enjoyable a long ministry can be; they still enjoy returning and reuniting with those they served.
By 1975 Jerry and Barbara returned to Cincinnati because of the death of their fathers and where both their mothers lived. In 1976 Jerry began a ministry with the Lockland Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, serving as Associate to Hugh Sensibaugh. Barbara also had Bible Bowl teams here and gained experience with many computer skills as she worked full time at General Electric. Eventually Jerry felt he needed a full time preaching ministry so in 1979 he took a position as Senior Minister with the Forest Dale Church of Christ (Cincinnati, Ohio) where he worked for the next ten years. The elders there wanted Barbara to continue to train youth in Bible Bowl and she was happy to oblige. In 1989 the Muellers were asked and happily accepted filling in for a missionary from Wisbech, England, who had to take a year’s leave of absence. That year made them appreciate the missionary’s life better and their year in England and traveling through Europe were memorable times.
In 1991, after returning to the Cincinnati area Jerry began a full time ministry with Mowrystown Church of Christ, located 1 hour east of Cincinnati proper. Three and a half years later he received an urgent call from his home church (Montgomery Church of Christ) to come help them. They were experiencing hard times numerically and financially and wanted someone they knew and trusted. After much prayer Jerry answered the call. The church grew from an average attendance of 40 to 125 during the next 2 years. In July 2001 he left Montgomery and asked if he could return to Mowrystown Church of Christ as they had just lost their minister.
The Muellers are very happy ministering here; Barbara uses her computer skills to create power point programs for the sermon, and for other occasions, and continues her secretarial work for the church. A new fellowship center is in the works to be constructed within the next year, which will give the congregation better opportunities to minister to the Mowrystown community.
Some Personal Facts:
Jerry and Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2005 and as of this date have 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Both still enjoy their ministry at Mowrystown, and as a hobby have established a special hydrangea collection in their garden. Many visitors come each summer to see the collection and to enjoy an American-English inspired tea they enjoy fixing for the visitors. This is actually a part time job during the garden season to meet new people, raise money for church programs, and assist in personal projects.
