Trusel Marks 50 Years of Ministry

 

Rev. Barb Moore of St. John's UM Church reads a letter of appreciation from Bishop Thomas Bickerton to Rev. Jim Trusel, left, as the Bishop's secretary, Tina Wilson, looks on. 

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The Rev. Jim Trusel marked 50 years of ministry on July 1 by returning to the pulpit of the small rural church where he started-- Saint John’s United Methodist Church, near Slippery Rock.

After earning his license to preach in 1962, his was appointed to Saint John’s and served there and at West Liberty UMC, which was added to his charge, for 17 years. In addition to serving as a pastor, he also worked full-time at Universal Rundle in New Castle until the plant closed in 1982. He completed the Graduate Course of Study and was ordained as a local elder in 1971 by Bishop Roy Nichols. While at St. John’s and West Liberty, Trusel and his wife Pat raised four boys.

In 1980, he accepted a call to Bridgewater UMC, where he ministered for 14 years, officially retired, and served four more years in retirement.

Trusel, who lives in Beaver Falls, said a highlight of his ministry was serving as a guest chaplain and offering a prayer to open a session of Congress in 1989.

Throughout his pastoral ministry, Trusel always worked another full-time job. He served as manager of The Carpenter’s Corner Christian Bookstore in Beaver from 1985-87 and worked at Beaver County Children and Youth Services from 1988-1994.

When Trusel finished his ministry at the Bridgewater church in 1998, he and his wife joined Rochester First UMC and he began a visitation ministry to shut-ins, nursing homes and hospitals. He continues that ministry with the help of others in the congregation two days each week. Until May of 2012, Trusel also preached every other Sunday at the First Congregational Church in Beaver Falls.