November 6th marked a sad day for our denomination as Pleasant Hill ARP Church in Heath Springs, SC, held its last Sunday service. Since 1899, Pleasant Hill has been very active in serving their community, Catawba Presbytery, Synod, and Synod’s agencies.

The Pleasant Hill congregation had the vision for their church to leave a legacy upon closing, and their wonderful choice of this legacy is worth sharing. Bonclarken and Pleasant Hill will forever be linked through the servant leadership of Rev. J.L. and Mrs. Eva Maloney. Beginning in the spring of 1950, Rev. Maloney became Director of Bonclarken, serving full-time during the summer season and returning to serve Pleasant Hill and Oak Ridge churches the rest of the year.

This arrangement continued through 1960, with Rev. Maloney serving Bonclarken skillfully with his abilities in carpentry, electrical repair, and all things ARP. Rev. Maloney died in 1971. His wife Eva recently turned 102 and is still a regular visitor to their home just outside our south entrance. They were both inducted into our Honor Roll of Visionaries and Servant Leaders as Charter Members in 2004.

This Bonclarken/Pleasant Hill relationship continued after Rev. Maloney’s death, as Pleasant Hill would hold church weekends with us for many years. However, it was through the church’s support of Camp Joy that the relationship thrived. Numerous volunteers from Pleasant Hill have served at Camp Joy in all areas of operation…from counselor to crafts to food service. For the past few years, a group of volunteers from Pleasant Hill have prepared all meals for each session.

(Editor’s Note: Camp Joy is a Christian Education Ministries event planned especially for adults with mental handicaps. Campers, each accompanied by a special friend, have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities including worship, Bible study, and recreation. Three weekly sessions are held year summer.)

Honoring Maloneys, Camp Joy
At the March 8 meeting of Catawba Presbytery, the motion to close Pleasant Hill was approved. Shortly thereafter, I received a phone call from Mitchell Faulkenberry, clerk of the Pleasant Hill Session, letting me know that the church desired to give Bonclarken $200,000 to establish the “Pleasant Hill / Dr. J.L. and Mrs. Eva B. Maloney Endowment Fund.” The proceeds from this fund are to be used solely for the support of Camp Joy.

I spoke with Ann Brice, director of Camp Joy, regarding Pleasant Hill’s contributions.

“Our wonderful friends at Pleasant Hill have played a major role in making Camp Joy happen for many years now. Not only with counselors and staff, but also through the work of Sheryl Thomas and her team of volunteers that provides our meals. Having Pleasant Hill honor Camp Joy with this wonderful gift means so much.”

On May 1, I joined Ann and Brent Turner, director of Christian Education Ministries, in visiting Pleasant Hill. We were able to thank them for this decision to honor the Maloneys, Camp Joy, and Bonclarken through their generous gift.

As demographics of an area change, churches are faced with difficult decisions such as the one faced by Pleasant Hill. Through the “Pleasant Hill / Dr. J.L. and Mrs. Eva B. Maloney Fund,” their church will live on in the changed lives of campers, counselors and staff of Camp Joy.

What a fine legacy to leave!

Chip Sherer is the President of the Board of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian’s conference center in North Carolina, known as Bonclarken. This article first appeared in the December issue of the ARP Magazine and is used with permission.