In 2014, Tim Witmer and his wife, Barbara, were shopping at a local grocery store when they met Barbara's cousin Carol Sprecher. The Witmers, who were originally from New Holland and who had become a couple when Stan Deen cast them as leads in "Brigadoon" in their senior year at Garden Spot High School, had just purchased a house in the area. Tim had recently stepped down from pastoring a church in Upper Darby, and the pair was looking forward to retirement.

"Little did we know what God had in store for us," said Tim. Sprecher wanted to know if Tim would help to pastor at her church, St. Stephen Reformed on Main Street, which was in a transitional period. Tim agreed to begin pastoring the approximately 60 attendees, and in November 2014, the church voted to change denominational affiliation to Presbyterian Church in America and to call Tim as part-time pastor.

"Our son said, 'You're a general in God's army, and He has another assignment for you,'" said Barbara.

Tim's part-time work at the church quickly became full-time, and the church began to grow. By 2016, attendance at the church had increased to about 200 and by 2019 to more than 250. On June 6, 2021, Tim preached his last sermon at St. Stephen. He had originally planned to retire at the end of 2020, but he extended his tenure into 2021 to see the church through the pandemic and to offer stability to the committee searching for his replacement - Andrew DiNardo - who will begin preaching at the church this summer.

While Tim was leading the church, it became apparent that the steeple was in a state of disrepair. By 2016, funds had been raised to repair the steeple, which was eventually removed from the church. When it was determined that the steeple was beyond repair, a replica was built to replace it. "Our greatest joy is that the light of the Gospel is shining brightly in the church," said Tim. "It was almost a metaphor when we relit the steeple." Barbara noted that the stained glass windows were refurbished as well.

In 2010, Tim wrote a book called "The Shepherd Leader." Now, he is looking forward to scheduled speaking engagements to share about the book in the Dominican Republic and at Greenville Seminary in South Carolina. He has other writing projects he would like to complete, and he noted he is anticipating spending time with his wife. While Tim noted he and Barbara will miss the people of St. Stephen, he said, "We are happy the church has found a successor."

Barbara agreed, saying, "To find a successor so quickly, that is a God thing."

"To God be the glory," Tim stated.

St. Stephen is located at 249 E. Main St., New Holland. In-person services are held at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. More information is available at http://www.ststephenpca.org.