To the Editor:

I thought Tim Tulloch did a great job of reporting on the Hilltown churches and their pastors in the Aug. 11 Enterprise [“Empty pews: Change is all around them, but churches’ mission stays the same,” online at altamontenterprise.com].        

From my ministry in St. John’s, Altamont (1961 to 1990) I know Jay Francis, Bob Hoffman, and Tim VanHeest; I don’t know Wendy Cook (we moved 10 years ago) but she sounds like she is one with them.

I commend these pastors for their dedication, honesty, caring, and the guts (faith) to “hang in there” in tough times.

I was still in the age of good church attendance (at least in St. John’s for 29 years).  I’m not bragging, as these pastors say!  It was the times, though Sunday sports was beginning to claim some parents and some schools were having graduation on Sunday mornings and there were plenty of non-religious, secular people.

I now talk with old friends on the phone who say they don’t go to church; they have their reasons why.  I myself do not go because I am too darned slow in old age to make it so who am I to complain?

I think the idea of having an evening for “God questions” for anyone concerned is a good one.  I’ll be interested to know how it turned out.

While I think getting people to church is important, I took my cue from Jesus to go to the people and meet them where they are.

I was a fireman, belonged to the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  I went to school events.  We were fortunate enough then to have a place to meet people like Cindy Pollard’s restaurant, Stewart’s, bingo, and the post office.

The post office was one of my favorites; I’d go there in the morning and come back two hours later.  After a while, my wife, Margie, didn’t even ask, “What have you been doing?”  She knew — talking!

Anyway, these Hilltown pastors seem to be on the right track — be available, help people whenever you can, and teach your faithful members to do the same.  In other words, love like Jesus loves, and never lose hope. Jesus is our hope.

Keen Hilton

Baldwinsville, New York

Editor’s note: James Keenholts “Keen” Hilton, an Altamont native, was the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in the village for 29 years. Hilton and his wife, Margie, now live in Baldwinsville to be with their daughter.