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.
Pastor William “Bill” Walters-Director
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. My life’s work has been in basically two fields. Early on, I worked in the food-service industry, eventually working all the way up to a major hotel chain. For a total of ten years in Omaha Nebraska, Bloomington, Illinois and Des Moines, Iowa I cooked for a living. By the end of my cooking, career I was the head chef of a large chain hotel’s restaurants. Even now, (but only on special occasions), I still don a chef’s hat.
My career direction changed at this point when God began significantly moving in my life. Beginning work for the Salvation Army in Omaha, NE as the Gym Director, I enjoyed being in charge of basketball, volleyball tournaments, as well as the indoor remote-control racing program. From here, I felt called into the ministry, thus in July of 1994 entered The Salvation Army Training College in Chicago (Seminary)to become an ordained Commanding Officer/Pastor in The Salvation Army church. This was not to be an easy time in my life, for while in training I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer. A very difficult and challenging time in my early years of ministry, still God was very present, and in fact, I grew deeply in my personal spirituality as a result of this arduous journey. Though I underwent Chemo for 8 months, I have been, Praise God!!, in remission for over 30 years!!
Twenty-one years in my prior ministry saw me as the Commanding Officer in several locations, in charge of The Salvation Army in Oshkosh Wisconsin (6 years), Minot, North Dakota, (3 years) and finally in Niles for almost 12 years. In each of these appointments, I had ultimate sole responsibility for all operations including fiscal solvency, youth programming, weekly ministry services, all staffing and HR matters, social service outreach programs, Bible studies, as well as all business operations of each location.
In 2018 I married Jan Nowak-Walters. She is a Social Worker in Social Ministry.
Also in 2018 I started as Pastor of Pokagon Bible Church and Berrien Springs Global Methodist Church. Both Were part time.
In 2022 I changed from Pastor of Berrien Springs to First Buchanan UMC, but I remained with Pokagon Bible Church. Both Churches were part Time.
In 2023 to present I am part time pastor at Buchanan Faith Global Methodist Church and Part time Pastor at Pokagon Bible Church!
Besides Pastoring at the two churches’, I also work at Respiratory Home Care and Convalescent Supply Part Time, and I am also the chairman of the board of Redbud Area Ministries (RAM)