About Us
The first services of the Vinton Pilgrim Holiness Church were conducted by the Reverend Clyde Dooley in a tent located where the Municipal Building of the town of Vinton now stands. That was during the month of August, 1934. It was near the close of this tent revival that the Reverend James E. Kraus and family moved from Newport News, Virginia to Vinton on September 22, 1934 to take over the pastoral duties of the congregation on September 23, 1934.
After this, worship services were held in the old White Front building which, at that time, belonged to Mr. J.H. Upsons.
On December 10, 1934, the Vinton Pilgrim Holiness Church was organized with fourteen charter members including: Mrs. S.O. Abbott, Mrs. Lillian Abbott, Mr. James Dickens, Mr. Tuck Hicks, Mrs. Mary Hogan, Mrs. Dorothy Hill, Rev. James Kraus, Mrs. Beatrice Kraus, Mrs. Geneva Miller, Mrs. Jeff Overstreet, Miss Bertha Overstreet, Mrs. Virginia Petty, Mr. W.A. St. Clair, and Mrs. Shirley St. Clair.
Present and presiding for this first service was the Virginia District Superintendent of the Pilgrim Holiness Church, which at that time was the Rev. Elmer D. Joy.
The congregation continued to worship for some time in the White Front building until the summer of 1936. At the time the members of the church purchased from the St. Mark Lutheran Church in Roanoke, the lot on the corner of Jefferson and Poplar Streets on which a basement church was erected. Upon completion, the basement church was dedicated July 10, 1938.
To the left of the basement church was a lovely old home belonging to J.P. Stephen. This property would be purchased by the church in 1961 and is the current site of the Educational Wing and Sanctuary.
It was a time of rejoicing on November 15, 1942 when the burning of the mortgage on the basement church took place! Presiding at this great event was the Rev. S. M. Stikeleather, General Secretary of the Pilgrim Holiness Churches.
The lovely auditorium of the Pilgrim Holiness Church with a Hammond organ and chimes was completed in the Spring of 1949. The dedication service was conducted Sunday, July 16, 1949, with the Rev. J. E. Guill, District Superintendent of the Pilgrim Holiness Church, presiding. This was another joyful occasion for the congregation and the new building stood as a monument of love, labor, sacrifice, and prayer. It still stands today as a tribute to the members and friends of the church, especially, the visionary leadership of Founding Pastor, the Rev. James E. Kraus.
Vinton Pilgrim Holiness Church grew through the decade of the '50's under the steady leadership of Rev. Kraus. In February of 1961, the Founding Pastor ended 27 years of ministry at Vinton Pilgrim Holiness Church when he accepted a call to Abilene, Texas.
In April of 1961, the Rev. Gumey E. Laws became the second pastor of this church. He served as pastor until 1970. Under his leadership two significant changes occurred; the purchase of property adjacent to the church building and the meger of the Pilgrim Holiness Church with the Wesleyan Methodist Denomination to form The Wesleyan Church.
The 1970's brought a succession of capable and effective pastors to the Vinton Wesleyan Church. Under the dynamic leadership of Rev. Robert Emmons, the congregation grew to its largest average attendance to date. Pastor Emmons, VWC's third pastor, served from 1970 until 1973.
During the years of 1973 through 1976, the Rev. Jesse W. Garmon led the church through a building project that added the Fellowship Hall and Education Wing to the existing sanctuary. What a blessing that addition has been!
Former District Superintendent, the Rev. W. Albert Massey, came to serve the church from 1976 to 1978. Rev. Massey provided the church with experienced leadership crucial to a congregation following a major building project.
The sixth pastor was the youthful Rev. John W. Holland who served from 1978 through 1981. A gifted and energetic visionary, the Rev. Holland strengthened the church by his leadership. Morale and attendance returned to the high levels enjoyed in the early '70's.
When the Rev. Holland left the church in 1981, the Rev. Ralph A. Campbell assumed the pastorate of the church. The Rev. Campbell served VWC until 1985. While he was pastor, the church celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Dr. Flavy B. Brown came to Vinton Wesleyan Church in 1985 as its eighth pastor. Rev. Brown had the second longest tenure as pastor, serving until his retirement in 1997. Under the aggressive leadership of the Rev. Dr. Brown, Happy Times Child Care Center was begun and the beautiful new sanctuary was built. This modern worship center was dedicated on Saturday, June 27, 1993. Both of these accomplishments have contributed to the current growth that the church is enjoying.
In July of 1997, Dr. Brown retired and the church called the Rev. Bradley D. Snyder to be their ninth pastor. It now becomes Pastor Snyder's challenge to position the church for effective ministry in the 21st century. His job has been made easier by the addition of Rev. Steve Martin and Pastor Mike Ennis, Jr. to his leadership team at Vinton Wesleyan Church.
In May of 2003, Rev. Bradley Snyder felt the call to minister at Parkway Wesleyan Church. The church called Rev. Brady Stephens in September of 2003. Rev. Brady Stephens served as the tenth pastor. In July of 2004, Rev. Brady Stephens left Vinton Wesleyan to pursue a call into Evangelism with Clyde Dupin Ministries.
On July 25, 2004, the church called Rev. Ricardo Rodriguez as the eleventh pastor. Rev. Ricardo Rodriguez, Joyce, Cary, and Brittany became the pastor family of Vinton Wesleyan Church. His desire is to lead people to Jesus and encourage people to discover their God-given talents and to use those gifts to become ministers for Christ.
Senior Pastors Who Have Served Vinton Wesleyan Church
| Reverend James E. Kraus | 1934-1961 |
| Reverend Gumey E. Laws | 1961-1970 |
| Reverend Robert Emmons | 1970-1973 |
| Reverend Jesse W. Garmon | 1973-1976 |
| Reverend W. Albert Massey | 1976-1978 |
| Reverend John W. Holland | 1978-1981 |
| Reverend Ralph A. Campbell | 1982-1986 |
| Reverend Flavy B. Brown | 1986-1997 |
| Reverend Bradley D. Snyder | 1997-2003 |
| Reverend Brady Stephens | 2003-2004 |
| Reverend Ricardo Rodriguez | 2004-present |
