GRANGER TWP. — Weddings: 240 and counting. Funerals: 345 and counting.  Baptisms: 740 and counting. Sermons preached: 2,891 and counting.
Blessings? Too numerous to tally — and still counting.
“It’s amazing that God took a kid from Portage Lakes, sent him to college and used him in his ministry for 50 years,” said the Rev. Dr. John Mills, pastor of Remsen Christian Church. “There have been some bad days, as you’d expect, but there have been more fun days.”
Mills will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination into the Christian ministry from 2 to 4 p.m. today with a reception at Remsen Christian Church, 1500 Remsen Road. A “Distinguished Minister’s” pin will be presented to Mills on July 22 from the elders of the congregation.
Recalling his introduction to ministry during his sophomore year at Milligan College in Tennessee was a baptism by fire, Mills drove 150 miles from campus to Belmont Christian Church where he preached, called on the sick and worked with the youth.
In order to fulfill a request from a young couple at the church to officiate at their wedding, Mills was ordained by the president of Milligan College, Dr. Dean E. Walker.
“My home church, the Lakeview Church of Christ, south of Akron, made the arrangements,” said Mills, adding that his mother declared the day “was so hot you could smell the wet wool of the men’s suits.”
Mills, who earned a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree, has served at Man-chester Christian Church in Manchester, Okla., Boule-vard Christian Church in Baltimore, First Chris-tian Church in Chicago, First Church of Christ in Painesville, First Christian Church in Brunswick and Remsen Christian Church. Mills has remained engaged in regional and international evangelical efforts by being involved in church unity forums as a participant in the Stone-Campbell Dialogue, traveling abroad to teach and attending the North American Christian Convention.
In looking back over the past 50 years of ministry, Mills said witnessing the walk of faith that the Remsen Christian Church congregation embarked on in order to plan, build and finance the church’s fellowship hall, small meeting room, kitchen, nursery, gathering room and restroom, dedicated in 2005, has remained a special memory of God’s blessings.
Mills will celebrate this milestone anniversary with his wife Carol and his three daughters and six grandchildren.
Woodworking, or “making sawdust,” as Mills jokingly described his hobby, and gardening are his interests.
“My dad is a great man of prayer,” said Sue George, Mills’ daughter. “He is a people person who always tries to see the best in people, and he’s good with the details of people’s lives.”
“Ministry is about teaching others about Christ,” said Mills. “Why quit just because you reach that artificial number of 65 years old? I’m still having fun and being challenged. God has blessed me in so many ways and I’m in awe of his amazing grace.”