The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc. (ORCF)is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit corporation, making donations tax deductible.
MISSION STATEMENT
The ORCF’s purpose is to maintain and preserve The Original Old Rugged Cross Church and Museum, and to offer a Christian ministry through programs of music and various opportunities for worshiping God.
The museum will be useful for historical research and the sanctuary will be available to rent for weddings and special services.
The Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 41, Niles, MI 49120
Contact Information:
Telephone: 1-269-362-4347
Postal address: P.O. Box 41, Niles, MI 49120
General Info: orcf@aol.com OR theoldruggedcrosschurch@gmail.com
Facebook: The Old Rugged Cross Church
Web site: the-oldruggedcross.org
Visit us for a tour (By appointment only,) at:
The Old Rugged Cross Church and Museum
61041 Vermont Street, Dowagiac, MI 49047
ORCF Executive Board of Directors:
Chairman of the Board,
Dr. Melchizedek M. Ponniah
Dr. Ponniah has served as the coordinator of the Graduate Program in the Andrews University Department of Communication (Berrien Springs, Mich.) where he is professor emeritus. He chaired the commission to develop a new campus television station for Andrews University. He has taught at Southwestern Michigan College, served as Vice President of Adventist World Aviation in Berrien Springs, and has extensive fund-raising experience. He and his family are members of the Pioneer Memorial Seventh Day Adventist Church on the Andrews University campus. Dr. Ponniah’s grandfather converted to Christianity (from Hinduism) in the early 1900s after hearing “The Old Rugged Cross” sung at a revival meeting in Tamil Nadu, India. His grandfather was consequently disowned by his father, a Hindu priest, but Dr. Ponniah is a Christian today because of this hymn.
President, Robert N. Shaffer
Mr. Shaffer (Bob) served two years in the Army National Guard and four years in the Air Force with Viet Nam service before attending and graduating from Lake Michigan College. In 1993 he retired after 31 years in management with Sears and, more recently, he retired from a career in real estate to devote his full attention to The Old Rugged Cross restoration effort. He is active in local government as a Trustee on the Pokagon Township Board, and Chairman and Secretary of the Pokagon Township Cemetery Board. He has also served on the Township zoning board of appeals. Bob is a Trustee and active member of the Pokagon Bible Church, which began as the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon in the building that is now The Old Rugged Cross Church. Bob and his wife, Molly, purchased the deteriorated church/barn, now called The Original Old Rugged Cross Church, from a private owner in 1998, and formed the multi-denominational Old Rugged Cross Foundation, Inc. for the purpose of restoring it and preserving its history. Bob worked as a volunteer laborer on each phase of the restoration for twenty-one years as Project Director. He currently manages the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
Vice-President, Daniel Stuglik
Daniel “Dan” attends Summit Church in Niles, Mich. and has had a lifelong interest in the restoration and preservation of the ORC Church and all aspects of local history. Dan is the past director of Crystal Springs Camp and Retreat Center and is retired from the Coloma Township Police Dependent, where he served as a community police and school resource officer. Dan was a member of the West Michigan Crime Prevention Association from 2006-2010 and served as the organization’s president in 2008. He has also served on the Pokagon Township Planning Commission and on the board of directors for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan. Dan and his wife Amy look forward to the opportunity to be stewards of a piece of history at the ORC Church for the next generation.
Secretary/Treasurer, Mary “ Molly” Tate Shaffer
Mrs. Shaffer “Molly” is retired from a career in corporate management and industrial sales. She is an active member of the Pokagon Bible Church, serving as chair of the Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee, associate choir director, and is a Lay Speaker at local churches. She has served as Treasurer and Vice Regent of the Schuyler Colfax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in South Bend, Indiana, and has served as a director on that board. She has also served on the board of the Key Colony Beach Community Association in Florida, and actively participated in a music ministry both in Michigan and in Florida. She is the current president of the Pilgrim Edward Fuller Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century. She and her husband Bob purchased the historic Old Rugged Cross church in 1998 for the purpose of saving it from imminent collapse and restoring it to its previous 1875 – 1914 church era appearance. They created and incorporated the ORCF for that purpose. In addition to serving as the foundation’s secretary/treasurer, Molly devotes the majority of her time to fund-raising, giving tours and presentations to various churches and civic groups, as well as the general public. She schedules all events promoting The Old Rugged Cross restoration project. Molly published a book “‘The Old Rugged Cross’ Lives On”, on the history of the church, the hymn, and its composer. The book includes more than five hundred pictures and stories related to the historic preservation efforts to save the building and its history.
Assistant Treasurer, Kevin Young
Kevin is currently employed as Administrative Office Manager and Bookkeeper of Shelton’s Farm Market in Niles, Mich., and serves as Treasurer of Pokagon Township since 2004. He is a member of the Morris Chapel UMC, serving as their treasurer since the mid 1990’s, part time pianist, and co-custodian. He is also a member of Morris Chapel’s Pastor/Staff Parrish Relations Committee. He has been a member of the Community Grange #1675 in Sumnerville, Mich. since 1987, holding numerous offices and currently serving as President. He has also held several offices with the Mich. State Grange, including Vice President, Treasurer and fund Raising Chairman, and has served on the Mich. State Grange Foundation Board. Kevin is Advisor to the Berrien County (Mich,) Youth Fair Board, is a member of the Finance Committee, the Livestock Auction Committee, and volunteers in the Cash Office during the week of the fair. Kevin joined the ORCF board in 2010 and currently assists the treasurer in the record keeping for the ORCF.