Mountain View Wesleyan Church in Bath has undergone many changes in the past two years. The church, formerly known as United Zion Wesleyan Church, welcomed a new pastor, Aaron Gadsby, and his wife, Casey, his high school sweetheart, this past January.

The Gadsbys, both originally from Mercer County, relocated from their Wesleyan church in South Carolina to begin their journey as leaders of the church in Bath.

They have three daughters - the oldest, Cynthia, 17, who is currently preparing herself for college; Iliana, 10; and the youngest, Lucy Jean, 4. The family enjoys quality time together, gardening, hiking, playing games and anything involving the great outdoors.

Gadsby earned his bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in 2004 and moved to South Carolina two years later, where he was a county planner and the deputy director of community development. He later went on to participate in the graduate program at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Miss., receiving his biblical teaching degree as a professor of ministry. There he was called to become a minister.

In 2013, he was ordained a minister of the Wesleyan church in South Carolina before moving with his family in 2016, back to their roots in Pennsylvania at Mountain View.

In 2014, Gadsby and his wife traveled to Haiti with a friend from Haiti. With them, they brought medical supplies for the people there, and together they spent time educating and mentoring pastors.

This experience moved Gadsby, and he went on to create a nonprofit organization called Resource Haiti Inc., whose mission and purpose are to connect God’s people in Haiti with God’s people in the United States to transform lives and to educate, preach and develop initiatives in partnership with churches in the U.S. One initiative Gadsby led was the collection of formal gowns for Haiti. The dresses were used, saved and reworn many times in Haiti for formal events since many Haitians do not have the funds or access to these resources.

Mountain View Wesleyan Church currently has services for community worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings in its newly remodeled large foyer area of the church, 1001 Deemer Road, Bath. The church is continuing to raise the funds needed to complete its new sanctuary at the same location. Following Sunday morning services, there is a meet and greet in the café/coffee shop for drinks and snacks, offering a chance to interact with other members.

Mountain View Wesleyan Church is a community that partners with Bath Area Food Bank on the collection of peanut butter and jelly for those less fortunate. The church also partners with Yokefellowship Prison Ministry, offering support to Pastor Loretta Oswald, who is one of the chaplains with the program. Additionally, at recent Easter services, an offering was collected and donated to children at Easton Children’s Home.

The church offers several ministry programs, such as a children’s ministry, a card and crochet ministry, which meets the fourth Thursday of every month, and a women’s Bible study.

Gadsby said building programs that create an environment where families can thrive and generations can come together for the good of others is important.

“I believe in the importance of families doing kind things for the good of others. I encourage our members to create a culture of response through acts of kindness toward others. God wants a relationship with us. God comes through us, and I want people to have that space to discover God and figure it out for themselves,” Gadsby said.

You can find out more about Mountain View Wesleyan Church through its facebook page, mvwchurch, or on its website, mvwchurch.org.