The Rev. Myron Guiler, of the Marietta Bible Center Church on Ohio 60, has noticed many changes since he first started at the church 50 years ago.
"Since I've been in Marietta, I think all of the doctors that were here when I came are gone, all of the lawyers are gone that were here when I came, all of the pastors of other churches have all changed...I guess I'm the only one still here," he said, laughing.
But inside the walls of the church, Guiler, 75, said things aren't much different now than they were 50 years ago.
"We still preach the same gospel, we still have the same type of music, we still have the same program of missions abroad and teaching the word of God at home," he said.
To recognize the 50th anniversary of his call to the church, a surprise celebration was held for Guiler a few weeks ago.
"The church was full and my pastor friends had come from far and near," he said. "It was a shocking surprise to me."
Guiler was teaching at Belle Valley High School in Noble County when he was approached about teaching at an evening bible institute at the church which eventually developed into the Marietta Bible College, affiliated with the center. He said more than 200 graduates of the college are ministering across the country. Guiler himself has preached more than 40,000 sermons in 40 different countries.
After just a year of teaching at the college, Guiler was called upon to become the church's minister, and to this day he still preaches on Sunday mornings and every other Wednesday night.
"My health's not the best," he said. "One year ago I had cancer and very serious surgery but I've recovered from that and I'm still carrying a full load of preaching but I can't do as much as I used to."
The Rev. Joe Offenberger said he stepped in to help out when Guiler fell ill last year, and he still serves as the church's co-pastor.
Offenberger said he started attending the church in 1978, and he graduated from the college there in 1982. Having known him for 32 years, Offenberger said Guiler has had a positive influence on the church, the college, the world, and him personally.
"I just thank God for him," Offenberger said. "He's been the spiritual leader in my life that not only trained me years ago but has been a great influence that I can look to with great confidence in my personal life."
Guiler said he has many things to be thankful for, including his close relationship with God and the many friends he's made in many different countries.
"The greatest thing in my life was to find Christ as my savior," he said. "The second greatest thing is the people that I've met along the way."
