* THE GROWING SECT – 1958

By early 1958 the sect had grown to over 800 people. Harry quit the farm — his oldest son took over the major portion of the work on his twenty first birthday. It looked like Harry Junior and his wife would soon have the farm house to themselves. A building on the factory site was converted to a residence for Harry and the rest of the family. It wasn’t lavish but it was slightly bigger than the farmhouse and it was beautifully furnished. The congregation used this as an opportunity to bless the pastor they loved and it became exactly what Harry envisioned for his family. It seemed so perfect to everyone but as it was being finished Harry felt he should wait to move till a later time. His wife questioned him. She had watched the home she wanted come into being and had come to love the place. She even planted some flowers in the beds in front of the house. At first Harry rationalized that he and the other two boys were still helping on the farm in busy times and they should wait till the planting season was over. Finally he was pressed on the issue till he confided that he wouldn’t move until he heard from God. “He told me to fix it up but he didn’t tell me to move. When he does, I’ll move.” His family and some of the members of the sect were unhappy with the answer. Some detractors whispered that Harry thought it wasn’t good enough. They had fixed up the place for their pastor, he should have it. Harry’s wisdom would soon be seen.

The recession of 1958 was a tough time for many families in the sect. Six families became victims early in the year. The sect helped them as it was able. It wasn’t unusual to have food and clothing as well as money donated for their relief. For one family, the Sipes, the recession was a disaster. George Sipe was a hard worker who had always provided for his family. As the recession deepened he was laid off from one job, was unemployed for several months, then found another job only to have that company close its doors within three weeks of his being hired. He hit the street again, landed a retail job only to be notified the company was closing the store. When he reported for his first day of work he was given a week’s pay and sent home. As time went on the Sipes’ were unable to keep up the payments on their home and placed it on the market. It sold in a few weeks for a good price and they had enough to pay their debts but with just a few days to go to settlement on their home, they had no place to go. They were unable to find another home.